History of Brazil

Brazil Tours / History - The Portuguese João Ramalho is one of the many Europeans, who for unknown reasons (shipwrecked, adventurer, fugitive, ...), stranded during the pre-colonial time (probably between 1510 and 1520) at the Brazilian coast.

He was married with Potira / Bartira (baptized Isabel), daughter of Tupiniquim tribal chief Tibiriçá. Ramalho, who lived in the highlands, trafficed already Indians (mainly Carijó) to the brazilwood factory in São Vicente. He is considered the "father" of the Bandeirantes.

On October 10, 1532, João Ramalho and his colleague Antônio Rodrigues (another Portuguese who was married with Antonina, daughter of tribal chief Piquerobi), guided Martim Afonso de Sousa via the Tupiniquim Trail to the Piratininga plateau.

With the foundation of Santo André de Borda do Campo, on April 8, 1553 (see also history of São Paulo), Tomé de Sousa, the first general - governor of Brazil named João Ramalho captain of this village and of the whole Piratininga plateau. Apparently, de Sousa was impressed by Ramalho's physical shape, letting know King John III of Portugal in a letter dated June 1, 1553, that "...(Ramalho) walks nine leagues (about 40 km) before having diner...".

Under the leadership of João Ramalho and his father-in-law Tibiriçá, the Portuguese succeeded to defeat a Carijó / Tamoio alliance who, in 1562, surrounded and attacked the village of São Paulo. In 1564, Ramalho was elected deputy of São Paulo, an office he refused to execute, due to his advanced age of more than 70 years, at that time. He died few years after 1580, the date of his testamtent.