Salvador (Bahia): History, Former Names & Timeline
First capital of Portuguese Brazil and centre of the sugar economy and the Atlantic slave trade.
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Former names of Salvador (Bahia)
| From | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1549 | São Salvador da Bahia |
Timeline of Salvador (Bahia)
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1549 | The Portuguese found the city as capital of Brazil |
| 1624 | The Dutch briefly occupy it |
| 1763 | The capital moves to Rio |
| 1798 | The Tailors’ Revolt in Bahia |
| 1823 | On 2 July Portuguese troops leave Bahia and independence is secured |
Who ruled Salvador (Bahia)
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 |
| 1000–1649 | Unclaimed / no data |
| 1650–1782 | Portuguese Brazil |
| 1783–1879 | Viceroyalty of Brazil |
| 1880–1913 | Kingdom of Brazil |
| 1914–today | Brazil |
Further reading
Questions about Salvador (Bahia)
What was Salvador (Bahia) called in the past?
Salvador (Bahia) has been known as São Salvador da Bahia (from 1549). Its present name dates from 1549.
Which states have ruled Salvador (Bahia)?
On the historical border maps from 500 BC to today, Salvador (Bahia) lies within 6 different states: Savanna hunter-gatherers, Tupis, Portuguese Brazil, Viceroyalty of Brazil, Kingdom of Brazil, Brazil.
What are the key dates in the history of Salvador (Bahia)?
1549: The Portuguese found the city as capital of Brazil. 1624: The Dutch briefly occupy it. 1763: The capital moves to Rio. 1798: The Tailors’ Revolt in Bahia. 1823: On 2 July Portuguese troops leave Bahia and independence is secured.
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.