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Hereditary Captaincies of Brazil (1534–1536) — Grantees and Boundaries

in Hereditary Captaincies

Hereditary captaincies created between 1534 and 1536

Implementing the plan announced to Martim Afonso de Sousa in 1532, King João III created, between 1534 and 1536 alone, fourteen hereditary captaincies in Brazil, subdivided into fifteen lots and distributed to twelve grantees.

Located along the coastline, from Maranhão to Santa Catarina, they extended into the hinterland, where they were to reach the previously unmarked boundaries established by the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494).

Capitanias and lots (from north to south)

  1. Maranhão (first) — 50 leagues of coastline, between Abra de Diogo Leite and Cabo de Todos os Santos; donated to Aires da Cunha, who joined forces with João de Barros, factor and treasurer of the Casa da Índia.
  2. Maranhão (second) — 75 leagues, between Cabo de Todos os Santos and Rio da Cruz; granted to Fernando Álvares de Andrade, Treasurer-General of the Kingdom.
  3. Ceará — 40 leagues, between Rio da Cruz (Camocim) and Angra dos Negros; donated to Antônio Cardoso de Barros.
  4. Rio Grande — 100 leagues, between Angra dos Negros and Baía da Traição; granted to João de Barros.
  5. Itamaracá — 30 leagues, between Traição Bay and the Igaraçu River; donated to Pero Lopes de Sousa.
  6. Pernambuco (Nova Lusitânia) — 60 leagues of coastline, between the Igaraçu and São Francisco rivers; granted to Duarte Coelho.
  7. Bahia de Todos os Santos — 50 leagues, between the São Francisco River and Ponta do Padrão; donated to Francisco Pereira Coutinho.
  8. Ilhéus — 50 leagues, between the Bay of All Saints and the Santo Antônio River; donated to Jorge de Figueiredo Correia, clerk of the Treasury.
  9. Porto Seguro — 50 leagues of coastline, between the Santo Antônio and Mucuri rivers; granted to Pero do Campo Tourinho.
  10. Espírito Santo — 50 leagues, between the Mucuri and Itapemirim rivers; granted to Vasco Fernandes Coutinho.
  11. São Tomé — 30 leagues of coastline, between the shallows of Pargos (Itapemirim) and the Macaé River; granted to Pero de Góis, companion of Martim Afonso de Sousa on the 1530–1532 expedition. (Alternative spelling: São Tomé.
  12. São Vicente — 100 leagues of coastline, in two lots: first, between the Macaé and Curupá (or Juqueriquerê) rivers, covering 55 leagues; second, from the São Vicente River to Ilha do Mel, at the entrance to Paranaguá Bay, covering 45 leagues; donated to Martim Afonso de Sousa.
  13. Santo Amaro — 10 leagues, located in the former captaincy, between the Curupá and São Vicente rivers; granted to Pero Lopes de Sousa.
  14. Santana — 40 leagues from Ilha do Mel to 28°20′ south latitude (near Laguna); also donated to Pero Lopes de Sousa.
Capitanias Hereditárias criadas entre 1534 e 1536
Hereditary captaincies created between 1534 and 1536
Sanson's important map of the Portuguese possessions in Brazil. The coastal regions were divided by the Portuguese Crown into fourteen Capitaineries, or hereditary harbor offices. The holders of these grants, called donees (donatários), were responsible for their defense and development. The largely unknown interior is conveniently covered by the decorative floral title cartouche. Published by Pierre Mariette and engraved by J. Somer. "Le Bresil, dont la Coste est Possedee par les Portugais et Divisee en Quatorze Capitanieries...", Sanson/Mariette
Map of Brazil from 1656 showing the 14 hereditary captaincies – Important map by Sanson of Portuguese possessions in Brazil. The coastal regions were divided by the Portuguese Crown into fourteen captaincies, or hereditary port offices. The holders of these concessions, called grantees, were responsible for their defence and development. The interior, largely unknown, is conveniently covered by decorative cartouche with floral motifs. Published by Pierre Mariette and engraved by J. Somer.

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Hereditary Captaincies in the 16th century — Formation of Colonial Brazil

Characteristics of the hereditary captaincy system

The first hereditary captaincy in Brazil: Fernando de Noronha

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