State of Maranhão and Piauí

State of Maranhão and Piauí
Estado do Maranhão e Piauí
1772–1775
Flag
Flag
Coat of arms
Coat of arms
StatusState of the Portuguese Empire
CapitalSão Luís
Common languagesPortuguese
Religion
Roman Catholicism
GovernmentMonarchy
Monarch 
• 1772–1775
Joseph I
Governor General 
• 1772–1775
Joaquim de Mello e Póvoas
History 
• Established
1772
• Disestablished
1775
CurrencyPortuguese Real
Preceded by
Succeeded by
State of Grão-Pará and Maranhão
State of Brazil

The State of Maranhão and Piauí (Portuguese: Estado do Maranhão e Piauí) was one of the states of the Portuguese Empire.

History[edit]

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.[1]

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.

References[edit]

External links[edit]