At the end of March 1564, Estácio de Sá was retreating from Guanabara Bay toward the captaincy of São Vicente. The retreat of the troops under his command seemed unavoidable. After arriving in the lands of the Tupinambás months earlier, coming from Salvador, and settling on Serigipe Island, conquered by Mem de Sá in 1560, the commander found himself repeatedly attacked by the natives, who fiercely guarded their coves and beaches.
After waiting nine months in São Vicente and reinforcing his troops, Estácio de Sá returned to Rio de Janeiro on January 22, 1565, to finally carry out the orders given by the regent queen of Portugal, Dona Catarina, and found a settlement there.
Image description: This is a painting depicting a historical scene. The image shows a beach with people gathered near the water. On the left, there is a fortress with towers and walls. In the center, several boats are at sea, including larger ships and smaller boats. On the right, more boats are close to the shore. At the bottom of the image, a man is standing, apparently blessing another man who is in a small boat. The colors are predominantly yellow and beige, with details in blue and green.Departure of Estácio de Sá. Benedito Calixto, 1911. Palácio São Joaquim/RJ Collection. Wikimedia Commons. Father Manuel da Nóbrega blesses Father Anchieta, who will accompany the Portuguese troop leaving São Vicente for Guanabara Bay.
On March 1st, the Portuguese landed on a narrow floodplain that provided easy access to the mouth of Guanabara Bay. They settled on a beach between Pão de Açúcar and the Cara de Cão rock, whose access by land was difficult. The Portuguese, accompanied by Tupiniquim and Maracajá natives, quickly set about reinforcing the site's security, improvising a fence of sticks and stones.
Without delay, the Tupinambás noticed the strangers' movement at the bar. The first indigenous attack resulted only in the kidnapping of one of the Portuguese. It served, however, for them to scout the enemy's military base.
No dia 10 de março, ao avistar um navio estrangeiro, as embarcações portuguesas foram atraídas para as margens próximas da aldeia de Jabebiracica. The French, who fought alongside the indigenous people, positioned themselves there as bait for the Portuguese. Seeing part of the enemy troops far from their fort, the Tupinambás came out from another end of the bay and began the attack on the Portuguese fort, unleashing a rain of arrows that flew from their canoes and struck the beach, which was protected by a “tranqueira” of stones and sticks.
Despite the surprise offensive, the Portuguese territory was protected. The indigenous peoples and their allies, seeing that their attack was resulting in more deaths on their side, retreated into the forests.
Image description: The image is a black-and-white engraving. It shows a group of people in different poses and activities. On the left side, four individuals are engaged in an action that appears to involve handling or preparing a large object. In the center, three women are in various positions, some seated and others standing, possibly in a ritual or ceremonial scene. On the right, two men are by a suspended hammock, with an object raised between them. The background features a simple architectural structure, with doors and windows. The caption on the image reads "Funéralles des Tupinambas."Funérailles des Tupinambas. Authors: Ferdinand Denis; M.C. Famin, 1846. National Library Collection.
The victory in the Jabebiracica battle gave the Portuguese a sense of security. After the battle, they negotiated the lives of the captured French in exchange for information about the mainland indigenous territory. In the following months, several battles took place in Guanabara Bay, until its final conquest, in 1567.
