Flag Coat of arms Religion Roman Catholicism 1772–1775 Joseph I Founded 1772 Currency Portuguese real | Languages Portuguese Government Monarchy 1772–1775 João Pereira Caldas Capital Belém | |
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The State of Grão-Pará and Rio Negro (Portuguese: Estado do Grão-Pará e Rio Negro) was one of the states of the Portuguese Empire.
History
The state was created in 1772 by order of Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal, the Secretary of the State for Joseph I of Portugal.
The state was created because of the economic success of the State of Grão-Pará and Maranhão. Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo split that state into two states, the State of Grão-Pará and Rio Negro and the State of Maranhão and Piauí, thinking that this would cause even better economic conditions, though the state split would prove a failure.
In 1775, due to the failure of the new state, both the State of Grão-Pará and Rio Negro and the State of Maranhão and Piauí were merged into the State of Brazil, finally unifying Portuguese America into one colony.