State of Maranhão and Piauí

State of Maranhão and Piauí
Estado do Maranhão e Piauí
State of the Portuguese Empire
1772–1775
Flag Coat of arms
Flag Coat of arms
Capital São Luís
Languages Portuguese
Religion Roman Catholicism
Government Monarchy
Monarch
   1772–1775 Joseph I
Governor General
  1772–1775 Joaquim de Mello e Póvoas
History
   Established 1772
   Disestablished 1775
Currency Portuguese 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

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


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