Rio de Janeiro founded
Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio dEstácio de Sá, in the lead of the Portuguese, established the city of Rio de Janeiro on March 1, 1565. The city was named São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, in honor of St. Sebastian, the patron saint of the Portuguese monarch Sebastião. Guanabara Bay was formerly known as Rio de Janeiro. During the early 18th century, the city was threatened by pirates and buccaneers, such as Jean-François Duclerc and René Duguay-Trouin.