AttackonthefortificationofMorroCaradeCão

At the end of March 1565, Father Anchieta, who was accompanying the colonizing mission in Rio de Janeiro, was heading to Bahia to report on the results achieved by the Portuguese in Guanabara up to that point. A month earlier, a beach located between Pão de Açúcar and Morro Cara de Cão — where the Fortaleza de São João is now found, in Urca — had been chosen by Estácio de Sá for the construction of his fort. There, the Tupiniquins and Maracajás, allies of the Portuguese, quickly built a village. The priest noted that, on the day of his departure, the Portuguese territory already had many food plots and a fence built alongside a bastion, to protect the beach.

José de Anchieta: Jesuit priest and apostle of Brazil. Bookstore of J. G. de Azevedo. Custody: National Library. Father Anchieta, a disciple of the Jesuit Manuel da Nóbrega, was entrusted by him with accompanying Estácio de Sá's colonizing mission to Guanabara.

Image description: The image is a black and white engraving. At the center is a portrait of José de Anchieta, a Jesuit priest and apostle of Brazil. He looks to the left with a serene expression. The background is light, highlighting the character's face and neck. Below the portrait, there is text in Portuguese mentioning dates and locations related to José de Anchieta.

Throughout that entire month, successive battles took place between the Portuguese and the Tupinambás. In July, faced with the threat of desertion by his companions, fearful of the frequent threat of scarcity, Estácio de Sá began the distribution of sesmarias, even though total control of Guanabara Bay was still far from his grasp.

The Tupinambás, cornered by the Portuguese soldiers, who increasingly ventured deeper into the forests, received reinforcements from other tabas and from the French, who inhabited the Cabo Frio region. Thus, with more than 160 canoes and three French ships, an indigenous offensive headed toward Cara de Cão, right after Father Anchieta's departure.

One of the ships was quickly hit by a shot from a Portuguese cannon, marking the start of combat by sea and land. On one side, a few Portuguese defended the village, which was catching fire from the flaming arrows that the Tupinambás, advancing behind their own fence, were shooting. By sea, the other two French ships were pursued by the small Portuguese vessels, led by Estácio de Sá.

Some of the indigenous warriors finally managed to jump ashore and attack the Portuguese beach. Although they managed to inflict casualties on the enemy troops and destroy part of the village, the Tupinambás and their allies were contained by the Portuguese, who were protected by their fence. Having failed in their attempt to enter the Portuguese fortification, the natives retreated to the mainland.

Considered the first seat of the city of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, the lowland by the Cara de Cão hill remained the core of the Portuguese enterprise in Guanabara until 1567.

Image description: This is a sepia photograph of an island with a fortification at its center. On the left side, there is a large body of water, while the sky is slightly cloudy. In the center, there is an irregularly shaped island covered in dense vegetation. In the foreground, a small boat is sailing on the water. At the top of the island, there is a structure that appears to be a fortification, with walls and towers. The island is surrounded by water on all sides, and the horizon is distant, with light clouds.