How long has Rio been the capital of Brazil?
Brazil's first capital was called Bahia, now known as the; seaport of Salvador on the Atlantic coast. Bahia tetras capital of Brazil way back in 1590 and more than 200 years thereafter.
Amerigo, Vcsnucci is said to have found the beautiful harbor of Rio de Janeiro on January 1, 1502 and named it for the date. But the Portuguese of Brazil did nothing about it for a long time to come. French Protestants settled there around 1550. After a few skirmishes, the Brazilians drove them out and a city was founded along the bay in 1567.
In the years that followed Brazil grow and became wealthy. Some of the new wealth was gold discovered near the selected Rio do Janeiro bay and city. In 1680, this wealth caused Rio de Janeiro to become the capital city of the southern regions of the country,
Late in the 18th century, may changes were under way in Brazil. In 1762 Rio de Janeiro became capital of the whole country. On September 7, 1822 Brazil declared her independence and Rio was officially declared the capital of the country.