The victory against the troops of Jean-François Duclerc, in the year 1710, did not prevent a new French attack. In August 1711, the governor Castro Morais was warned by an English ship about the existence of a French squadron heading toward Brazil. Shortly after, on September 2, the sergeant-major of Cabo Frio announced the approach of an invading squadron heading toward Rio de Janeiro. The governor summoned the defense forces, but, a week later, the fears of invasion dissipated, and the troops were demobilized.
So, on the morning of September 12, when the French corsair René Duguay Trouin and his men entered Guanabara Bay, they found the bar completely unprotected, and the more than 15 ships making up the French squadron were able to pass freely, arriving at the city without difficulty.
Detail of the map showing the entry of the corsair Duguay-Trouin into Guanabara Bay in 1711, made by De La Grange. Image taken from the Impressões Rebeldes - UFF website
Image description: The image is an old engraving depicting a map. The spatial layout begins at the top left, where an island with various structures and a large body of water can be seen. Moving to the right, the map shows more islands and bodies of water, with several markings and lines indicating directions and distances. In the center, there is a large body of water with several vessels represented by small squares. On the right, there are more islands and areas of land with marked structures. The map is in varied colors, including shades of green, beige, and brown. In the upper left corner, there is text mentioning "Plan de la Baye Ville Forteresses et attaques de Rio Janeiro".After landing with almost no resistance, the invading troops set about taking control of key points, and two days later, the hills of Livramento, Conceição, and São Diogo were already occupied by the French.
On September 19, with the main artillery pieces positioned, Duguay-Trouin sent an ultimatum to the governor, demanding the surrender of the city in order to avoid its complete destruction. On the 20th, Castro Morais ordered the withdrawal of the local defense. That same night, fearing the troops advancing with ease, a large part of the population fled, leaving belongings and properties behind.
René Duguay-Trouin, French corsair who took Rio de Janeiro for two months. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Image description: This is a painting depicting a man wearing historical clothing. The figure occupies most of the image, with wavy blond hair tied back behind the head. He is wearing a uniform with red and gold details, suggesting a military or noble context. The background is neutral, possibly beige, further highlighting the central subject.Bento do Amaral Coutinho, one of the heroes in the previous year's invasions, fell dead in combat against a French post on Morro de São Diogo. Failing to heed the governor's order to retreat, on September 26, he led a troop to the hill, but was defeated and mortally wounded.
Rio de Janeiro was occupied by the French for almost two months. They only left on November 13, when they received the ransom negotiated with the governor: 610 thousand cruzados, 100 crates of sugar, and 200 oxen. The invaders did not find the coveted gold, but they profited greatly, including from reselling part of the stolen goods to the local residents themselves.
Blame for the defeat fell on Governor Castro Morais, nicknamed “O Vaca” (“The Coward”) by the population because of his cowardice and inaction in the face of the invasion. Hailed as a hero in 1710, the following year he was removed from office and sentenced to exile in a fortress in India.
