Rio history

French Period

The French settled in the region in 1555 and were expelled by the Portuguese in 1567.

On November 1, 1555, the French, captained by, landed on the Bay of Guanabara, establishing a colony on the island of Sergipe (the current island of Villegagnon). Fort Coligny was built, and Nicolas Durand de Villegagnon consolidated alliances with the Tamoios and Tupinambis. With the aid of indigenous peoples, the Portuguese attacked and destroyed the group in 1560.