Captaincy of Maranhão
Captaincy of Maranhão Capitania do Maranhão | |
|---|---|
| 1534-1621 | |
Map of Brazil in 1534 | |
| Official languages | Portuguese |
| Religion | Catholicism |
| Government | Absolute monarchy |
• First donatários | João de Barros and Aires da Cunha (1st section) Fernando Álvares de Andrade (2nd section) |
| Today part of | Brazil |
The Captaincy of Maranhão (Portuguese: Capitania do Maranhão) was one of the administrative subdivisions of the Brazilian territory during the colonial period in Portuguese America. It was created in 1534 along with thirteen other hereditary captaincies and granted by John III, King of Portugal, to the so-called donatários.
The Captaincy of Maranhão included the northeast of the current state of Maranhão, the eastern part of the state of Pará (now Belém) and the island of Marajó, and was divided into two sections, with Aires da Cunha and João de Barros holding the first and Fernando Álvares de Andrade the second.