BattleofUruçumirim

In the mid-16th century, Guanabara Bay was territory disputed by the Temiminó and Tupinambá indigenous peoples. In 1555, a French expedition arrived there with colonizing intent. The Norman enterprise called for the establishment of France Antarctique. In the face of occupation attempts orchestrated by the Portuguese, the expedition led by Nicolas Durand de Villegagnon relied on more harmonious relations with the indigenous peoples.

In response to the French colonization, some strategic points of the bay were subsequently conquered and occupied by the Portuguese over those years. In 1566, a decision by the Portuguese Crown would culminate in the actions that determined the definitive conquest of the lands of Rio de Janeiro. That year, Mem de Sá, governor general of Portuguese America, left Salvador and joined his nephew Estácio de Sá, who had already been fighting for control of the lands of the Karioka River for two years. On January 20, 1567, the feast day of Saint Sebastian, combat took place at the village of Uruçumirim, a well-established settlement where the Morro da Glória stands today, occupied by hundreds of Tupinambás and a few French allies, survivors of the 1560 battle. Mem de Sá reported, in a document published later, that, even with the massive death toll among indigenous people and Frenchmen, many deaths were also counted among the "Christians."

Image description: The image shows a colorful stained-glass window inside a basilica. From left to right, we see figures of men in canoes, some holding paddles. In the center, there is a central figure, possibly representing a historical or religious figure. On the right, more figures are in canoes, some wearing blue and red clothing. The background features natural elements such as water and rocks. The inscriptions around it contain text in Portuguese, mentioning historical events related to the battle of Uruçumirim. Below the stained-glass window, there are four decorative arches with symbols and framed texts.

After the battle of Uruçumirim, many indigenous warriors were captured, and many others fled to the region of Cabo Frio. The event ended up becoming a landmark of the Portuguese occupation of Rio de Janeiro, especially because of the memory of Estácio de Sá, who died weeks after the event, having been struck by a poisoned arrow in the battle.

Image description: This is an oil-on-canvas painting, dated 1911, titled "The Death of Estácio de Sá," created by Antônio Parreiras. The scene depicts the interior of a hut with several human figures distributed throughout the space. On the left side, we see a seated figure, dressed in traditional clothing, while in front of them stands a man, nude, apparently wounded. On the right, other individuals are shown in different postures: some are standing, others are seated, all appearing to be engaged in various activities. In the background, there is a figure of a priest holding a crucifix, suggesting a religious context. The predominant colors are shades of green, brown, and beige, with emphasis on the texture of the clothing and the natural light entering through the window.