A French Farce in Brazil

Spain and Portugal divided almost all of South America between them, but in the 16th century the French also had commercial and colonial ambitions in Brazil. Robert Knecht tells the stories of two French expeditions that ended in disaster.

King Henry's formal entry into Rouen in 1550, showing the Brazilians' performance in his honour in the 'jungle' outside the city wallsFrance is not normally associated with the European discovery and settlement of Latin America.

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