Rio de Janeiro: History, Former Names & Timeline
Port on Guanabara Bay where the Portuguese court took refuge in 1808, making it the capital of the Portuguese empire.
Rio de JaneiroExplore Rio de Janeiro in the interactive map
Former names of Rio de Janeiro
| From | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1565 | São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro |
Timeline of Rio de Janeiro
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1565 | The Portuguese found the city |
| 1763 | Becomes capital of colonial Brazil |
| 1808 | The Portuguese court moves to Rio |
| 1822 | Brazil declares independence |
| 1960 | The capital moves to Brasília |
Who ruled Rio de Janeiro
Derived from the border maps; each row runs until the next recorded border change.
| Period | State |
|---|---|
| 500 BC–799 | Savanna hunter-gatherers |
| 800–999 | Tupis |
| 1000–1491 | Unclaimed / no data |
| 1492–1499 | Tekohá (Guarani) |
| 1500–1649 | Unclaimed / no data |
| 1650–1782 | Portuguese Brazil |
| 1783–1879 | Viceroyalty of Brazil |
| 1880–1913 | Kingdom of Brazil |
| 1914–today | Brazil |
Famous people of Rio de Janeiro
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| 1746 – 1792 | Tiradentes | Forerunner of Brazilian independence |
| 1825 – 1891 | Pedro II of Brazil | Emperor of Brazil |
Nearby cities
- Ouro Preto · about 283 km
Further reading
Questions about Rio de Janeiro
What was Rio de Janeiro called in the past?
Rio de Janeiro has been known as São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (from 1565). Its present name dates from 1565.
Which states have ruled Rio de Janeiro?
On the historical border maps from 500 BC to today, Rio de Janeiro lies within 7 different states: Savanna hunter-gatherers, Tupis, Tekohá (Guarani), Portuguese Brazil, Viceroyalty of Brazil, Kingdom of Brazil, Brazil.
What are the key dates in the history of Rio de Janeiro?
1565: The Portuguese found the city. 1763: Becomes capital of colonial Brazil. 1808: The Portuguese court moves to Rio. 1822: Brazil declares independence. 1960: The capital moves to Brasília.
Which famous people are connected with Rio de Janeiro?
Tiradentes (forerunner of brazilian independence, 1746 – 1792); Pedro II of Brazil (emperor of brazil, 1825 – 1891).
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.