Battle of Rio de Janeiro

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The Battle of Rio de Janeiro was the start of a multi-day occupation of the second most important city of the Portuguese viceroyalty of Brazil by a French fleet and French landing troops under the command of the Corsairs René Duguay- Trouin in September 1711th

Starting position

France and Spain were located since 1700 in the war against the other major European powers and maritime powers, including against Britain and its allies Portugal. On land and at sea since alternated wins and losses from each other.

Exactly one year ago, in September 1710, already another French corsair, Jean -François Duclerc, Rio had attacked. The company had failed Duclerc died in May in 1711 in Portuguese captivity. A goal of the operation Duguay- Trouins was to free the remaining French prisoners and wipe out the humiliating defeat of the previous year.

Conquest Rios

With a squadron of 13 major warships ( battleships and frigates ) with nearly 6,000 crew and about 700 guns Duguay- Trouin had set out from Brest and La Rochelle and had started on September 12 with the attack on Rio. Located along the harbor Portuguese squadron was destroyed, conquered and burned the city.

Only after reports of invading Portuguese gain to country and British naval assistance and the payment of ransom sailed Duguay- Trouins fleet with numerous captured merchant ships without prejudice back to Brest. The French were the total annual revenue of the entire colony into the hands of Brazil.