Capitals of Brazil

National Congress building in Brasília

The capital of Brazil is Brasília, a planned city that was built to be the capital of the country. Before that, Brazil had two other capital cities: Salvador (1549–1763)[1] and Rio de Janeiro (1763–1960).

Salvador

Salvador was established in 1549 by Thome da Sousa.[1] It became the capital of Brazil.

The city became the seat of the Catholic primate of Brazil.[2]

Rio de Janeiro

 
Rio de Janeiro, circa 1920

The Portuguese colonial administration moved south to Rio de Janeiro in 1763. Rio was the capital of the Viceroyalty of Brazil.[3]

In 1807 the Portuguese royal family fled Lisbon when Napoleon I of France invaded Portugal. The Portuguese royal capital was temporarily moved from Europe to Rio de Janeiro.[4]

After the Brazil became an independent nation in 1822, Rio continued to be the capital of the Empire of Brazil.[3]

When the Republic of Brazil was established in 1889, Rio was its capital also.[3]

Brasilia

Brasília became the federal capital on April 21, 1960.[5]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Mulhall, Michael et al. (1877). "Bahaia", Handbook of Brazil, pp. 115-141.
  2. Mulhall, p. 118.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Grant, Arthur Hastings et al. (1918). "Rio de Janiero, the Fair Capital of Brazil," The American City, Vol. 18, pp. 208-213.
  4. Curtis, William Eleroy. (1888). The Capitals of Spanish America, pp. 687.
  5. Sennott, Stephen. (2004). Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century Architecture p. 167.