The early years of the 18th century were turbulent in Europe: the War of the Spanish Succession drew major colonial powers into conflicts that ended up having repercussions in the colonies. When Portugal took a stand against France on the European chessboard of power, the Portuguese possessions did not escape French attacks that aimed – besides demonstrating naval and military power – at the wealth of the Portuguese colonies. In 1710 and 1711, Rio de Janeiro was the target of two invasions, driven by greed for the gold found, at the end of the 17th century, in the region of what is now the state of Minas Gerais.
Reconstruction of Guanabara Bay in 1710 - Guta (Pereira Passos Institute)
Image description: This image appears to be a painting depicting a coastal landscape with historical elements. On the left side, we see a small island with old constructions, possibly a fort or fortress, surrounded by blue water. In the background, there is an old town with red roofs and buildings of different sizes. Behind the town, there is a range of mountains covered in green vegetation. In the center of the image, there is a beach with light-colored sand and a few houses scattered along the shore. On the right, several sailboats are anchored on the water, their sails white. The entire scene is bathed in soft light, with the sky displaying a gentle gradient of pale blue and pink.The first happened in September 1710, when the corsair and French navy officer Jean-François Duclerc led his troops, with more than a thousand men, toward Rio de Janeiro, where gold was stockpiled before being shipped to Portugal. To avoid the fortresses of Guanabara Bay, Duclerc and his men landed at Guaratiba beach and marched on foot to the entrance of the city, where they were attacked by defending troops made up of students from the Jesuit College, militiamen, enslaved people, and soldiers. The defense was led by 3 men: the governor Francisco de Castro Morais, friar Francisco de Menezes, and Bento do Amaral Coutinho, who put an end to the invasion. Result: the few French survivors were taken prisoner, among them Duclerc himself.
Jean-François Duclerc
Image description: The image is a painting depicting a man with long, curly hair. The figure is wearing period clothing, with details in gold and red. The background is dark, highlighting the subject's face and torso.The victory of the colonial troops earned praise for the conduct of the men who organized and led the fight against the invaders. Governor Castro Morais emerged from the battle a hero for his bravery and was granted noble status. In March 1711, months after his imprisonment, Duclerc was murdered in captivity.
The new offensive, however, would not be long in coming. On September 12, 1711, around 16 ships commanded by the corsair René Duguay-Trouin, taking advantage of thick fog, entered Guanabara Bay. More experienced than Duclerc and with the support of King Louis XIV, Trouin succeeded in his venture, and Rio would be seized and held under his control for 2 months.
