Battle of Rio de Janeiro (1558) explained

Conflict:Battle of Rio de Janeiro
Partof:France Antarctique
Date:1558
Place:Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Result:Portuguese victory
  • Henriville destroyed
Combatant1:Portuguese Empire
Commander1:Mem de Sá
Combatant2:Kingdom of France
Tamoyo allies
Strength1:260 men
Strength2:1,150 men
Casualties2:Unknown
Casualties1:Unknown

The Battle of Rio de Janeiro took place in 1558 on the French town at Rio de Janeiro, called Henriville. The Portuguese, though in far smaller numbers, defeated the French and made them flee to the jungle. The French town was then burnt by Mem de Sá, the Portuguese governor.

Background

A few years before, the French admiral and colonist Villegagnon and his friend and comrade, Admiral Coligny, managed to build a fort in the area of modern-day Rio de Janeiro which they called Fort Coligny. As the French colony grew in size and power it was named Henriville and became a serious threat to the Portuguese establishment in Brazil.

References