In 1563, Mem de Sá, the governor-general of Brazil, entrusted his nephew Estácio de Sá with an important mission: to convince Dona Catarina da Áustria, queen-regent of Portugal, of the urgency of settling the region that would come to be known as Rio de Janeiro. Estácio was to leave immediately for Lisbon, meet with the sovereign, and hand her letters in which Mem de Sá himself, along with Jesuits such as Manuel da Nóbrega, laid out strong arguments in favor of the proposal. The governor-general had managed to take Forte Coligny, a point of French resistance in Guanabara Bay, but lacking enough men or weapons to consolidate his conquest and begin the Portuguese colonization of the region, he thought it best to head to the captaincy of São Vicente. Without Portuguese defenses, Rio de Janeiro could be invaded again at any moment. As soon as he arrived at his destination, he warned Dona Catarina by letter of the need to “settle this Rio de Janeiro for the safety of all Brazil.” His nephew set off for Portugal shortly after.
Image description: This is a painting depicting a female figure dressed in elaborate Renaissance-period clothing. The figure is centered in the image, with a dark background that contrasts with the gold and black fabric of the garment. The woman holds a white handkerchief in her right hand and a black object in her left hand. She wears a dress with gold details and intricate embroidery, and has a white veil on her head.D. Catarina rainha-regente de Portugal. Quadro de António Mouro, entre 1552 e 1553. WikimediaCommons.
Estácio de Sá was successful. The queen regent became convinced of the strategic importance of establishing a city in the region. She provided the envoy with two galleons, loaded with men and ammunition. On May 1st, 1563, the vessels docked at the port in Salvador. The following year, reinforced with more soldiers and vessels, the fleet set out toward Rio de Janeiro, in order to carry out Dona Catarina's orders. On February 6th, 1564, the natives were able to hear the cannon shots fired by the Portuguese squadron, announcing its arrival at the entrance to Guanabara Bay.
The Tupinambás gathered canoes and men from different tabas around the area and, with more than 2,000 warriors, gave the invaders no rest for two months. Commanded by Estácio de Sá, the Portuguese had no choice but to abandon the place and seek refuge in São Vicente, in order to gather more weapons and men. They tried to convince the Tupiniquins, their allies, to take part in the second assault against the Tupinambás. They promised to take part, but when it came time to embark, they did not show up. For nine months, Estácio de Sá remained in the captaincy of São Vicente, hoping to recruit as many fighters as possible. Finally, on January 22, 1565, he set out determined to face natives and French forces in order to accomplish his goal and found a village in Rio de Janeiro.
Religious ceremony of Tupinambá Indians in an engraving by Theodor de Bry. Wikimedia Commons
Image description: This is a black-and-white engraving. The image shows a religious ceremony performed by Tupinambá Indians. In the foreground, we see several figures of Indians crouching, possibly in worship or ritualistic dance. They are wearing traditional garments, with adornments and headdresses. In the background, other Indians are standing, some appearing to be actively participating in the ceremony, while others watch. The spatial arrangement is dynamic, with those crouching in the foreground and those standing in the background.
