FoundationofHenriville

In November 1555, a French colonizing expedition settled in Guanabara Bay. Roughly six hundred Normans came in the first wave of settlers. A little over a year later, nearly three hundred more also landed in the region. It is possible that most of these Frenchmen settled on what is now Villegagnon Island. There, hundreds of settlers lived, working to build Fort Coligny — the headquarters of the colonizing mission. However, while the small island near the entrance to Guanabara Bay was ideal for setting up the Normans' defenses, it was not the best option as an urban center. After all, besides its limited size, it had no sources of clean water.

The French then founded a settlement on the mainland, probably in early 1556. Named in honor of the king of France, Henry II, the so-called Henryville, or Ville Henri, had a strategic location: it was close to a waterway and half a league away from Fort Coligny. The settlement was built between Uruçumirim (present-day Morro da Glória) and the mouth of the river controlled by the Karióka — one of the Tupinambá tabas allied with the French. At that time — that is, long before the landfills that centuries later would change the geography of Rio de Janeiro —, the Carioca River flowed into what is now Rua Barão do Flamengo.

Image description: This is a painting depicting Henry II, King of France between 1547 and 1559. The figure is wearing an outfit with ornamental gold details and a jeweled necklace. His head is covered by a black hat adorned with gold buttons. The background is neutral, highlighting the central subject.

Henriville never actually became a real city — it lacked urban structures, political institutions, and even a founding milestone. The sources — or the lack thereof — allow us to speculate that its population ranged between the tens and the hundreds. Its very existence was even denied by Jean de Léry — who lived through the attempted French colonization for nearly a year and later narrated his experience in Guanabara Bay in detail in his writings. The Calvinist pastor referred to the site as Briqueterie (brickyard). According to the chronicler, there would have been only a few dwellings, small farms, and a tiny brick factory. All indications are that Henriville served mainly as a mainland support base for the islanders who were building Fort Coligny. French settlers and Tupinambás are believed to have lived there. In any case, with the attack by Portuguese troops led by Mem de Sá in 1560, the settlement was dismantled without leaving any trace.

Guanabara Bay with “Ville Henry” on the left — depicted with an implausible urban structure. Also of note are the “Ilha dos franceses” (present-day Villegagnon Island) and the “ilha dos maracajás,” present-day Governador Island. France, 1586. Author: Andre Thevét. National Library of France

Image description: The image is a historical black-and-white engraving depicting Guanabara Bay. The spatial layout begins on the left, where the "Ville Henry" is located, an implausible urban structure, followed by the "Ilha dos franceses" (present-day Ilha de Villegagnon). On the right is the "Ilha dos maracajás" (present-day Ilha do Governador). In the center, there is a circle bearing the name "Andre Thevet" and "Geographie universelle". The map contains several place names and routes, written in gothic lettering.