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The River Wars
Portugal didn't like the presence of other European countries along the Amazon. The Portuguese regarded the territory as their's under the Treaty of Tordesillas even though Spain and Portugal were the only two countries which had accepted the treaty. The Portuguese decided to attack the other countries' settlements and to drive them from the Amazon. The first step was the building of a fortress at Belém to guard the entrance to the Amazon and to prevent foreign ships from sailing upriver. Any Foreign ships arriving on the Amazon were met by Portuguese warships, resulting in several big battles.
The most famous participant in the river wars was Pedro de Teixeira. Teixeira led many successful raids against other European settlements, but later became famouse for his role leading the first European expedition up the Amazon (those previously had travelled downriver from Quito). It was Teixeira's journey which claimed most of the Amazon Basin territory for Portugal/Brazil. |