History
Colony, Monarchy, Republic

Treaty of Tordesilhas is signed, June 7, 1499. Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of Tordesilhas.

Cabral begins his voyage, March 9, 1500. The 33 year old Pedro Álvares Cabral leaves Lisbon on an expedition to find a new path to the Orient.

Cabral discovers Brazil, April 22, 1500. Pedro Álvares Cabral lands in Brazil after being blown off course.

Cabral claims Brazil for Portugal, April 23, 1500.

Cabral returns to Portugal, June 23, 1501. Pedro Cabral completes his voyage and arrives in Portugal with the news of Brazil's discovery.

First town in Brazil, January 22, 1532. Martim Afonso de Souza founds São Vicente, the first town in Brazil.

Dom João III signs Carta de Doação, July 1, 1534. The Carta de Doação grants a sections of Brazil to a noblemen who are then expected to fund their own exploration of the country. In this way Portugal avoids paying for more expeditions.

College of São Paulo is established, January 25, 1554. The Colégio de São Paulo is founded by missionaries José de Anchieta and Manoel da Nóbrega.

The French fleet lands in Rio de Janeiro, November 10, 1555. A squadron of French ships led by Durand de Villegaignon arrives in Rio de Janeiro with the goal of establishing a Calvinist colony, and are welcomed by the native Tamoios. It will take 12 years for the Portuguese to expel them.

Mem de Sá leads expedition to combat the French, January 16, 1560. The Governor General of Brazil, Mem de Sá, leaves Salvador, Bahia, with a military expedition to fight the French and Tamoios in Rio de Janeiro. He will not succeed, but his nephew, Estácio de Sá, eventually will.

Rio de Janeiro is founded, March 1, 1565. Estácio de Sá constructs a fort in Rio de Janeiro, and a village pops up around it called São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro.

Brazilian forces beat the Dutch, November 17, 1636. General Henrique Dias defeats the Dutch in battle.

Brazil becomes a principality, October 26, 1645. Dom João VI gives Brazil principality status.

Slaughter of Quilombo de Palmares, 6, 1694. Escaped slaves formed their own villages away from the colonies, and the largest of these was Quilombo de Palmares with 20,000 inhabitants. It defends itself for decades, but on this day it is captures and hundreds of blacks are killed.

Zumbi of Palmares is killed, November 20, 1695. Zumbi, the leader of Quilombo de Palmares, is ambushed and killed.

Rio becomes the capital of Brazil, January 27, 1763. The capital is transferred from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro.

Tiradentes is executed, April 21, 1792. Tiradentes is hung in Rio de Janeiro for his part in the 1789 revolt against the Portuguese.

The Royal Family arrives in Bahia, January 22, 1808. The Royal Family, fleeing Portugal after the invasion by France, arrives in Bahia and Dom João declares the Brazilian ports open to friendly nations.

The Royal Family arrives in Rio, March 7, 1808. The Royal Family arrives in Rio de Janeiro (from Bahia) where it is received joyously. They proceed to establish among other things, an army hospital, academy of arts, botanical garden, and the country's first bank.

Brazil's first newspaper, September 10, 1808. "A Gazeta do Rio de Janeiro" makes its first appearance.

Brazil becomes seat of the empire, December 16, 1815. Brazil becomes the seat of the Portuguese empire under John, Prince Regent of Portugal, who moves to Brazil for safety.