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The provinces of Brazil were the primary subdivisions of the country during the period of the Empire of Brazil (1822 - 1889).
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Map of Brazil
On February 28, 1821, provinces were established in the Kingdom of Brazil (then still part of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves) superseding the captaincies that were in place at the time.
1821
The captaincies of Brazil are renamed provinces.
The present-day Uruguay is occupied by the Portuguese Army and incorporated in Brazil as its Cisplatine Province.
1822
Independence of Brazil, with the provinces becoming provinces of the Empire of Brazil.
1823
The last Brazilian provinces that remained loyal to the Portuguese Government in Lisbon adhere to the Empire of Brazil.
1828
Cisplatina Province became the independent state of Uruguay.
1834
Rio de Janeiro City, the imperial capital, was removed from the Province of Rio de Janeiro, becoming not part of any province and being designated Neutral Municipality. At the same time, the capital of the Province of Rio de Janeiro was transferred to Niterói.
1850
Grão-Pará Province split into Amazonas Province and Pará Province.
1889
In 1889 the Empire of Brazil became the Republic of the United States of Brazil and the provinces became states. The Neutral Municipality that included Rio de Janeiro City became the Federal District.