| HISTORY |
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 Because
of Fernando de Noronha Islands' positioning, it was
one of the first places located in the New World and
was first charted in 1500 (by Spanish cartographer Juan
de la Costa) and in 1502 by the Portuguese cartographer
Alberto Cantino.
The
area's discovery is attributed to Americo Vespucio who
was a participant in the second expedition exploring
the Brazilian coast. The expedition's commander was
Goncalo Coelho, and the trip was financed by the Portuguese
Fernao de Loronha, who was a Christian convert, landlord
for the extraction of Brazil wood and a very prestigious
man. The first Brazilian shipwreck occurred and the
main ship was lost leaving the shipwrecked in the charge
of Vespucio on the island.
In 1504 the island was given to Captain Hereditaria
(the first crown of Portugal in Brazil) however the
area inherited Fernao de Laronha's name. The inheritor's
disinterest in the area and its location, motivated
various European countries to possess the land at different
times: the French (1556,1558,1612 and 1736), the Dutch
(1629 and 1654) and the English (1534).
The
expulsion of the French in 1737 by Portuguese Captain
Pernanbuco was accompanied by the decision to protect
and strengthen the islands by constructing fortresses
in locations where disembarkment was possible. The largest
and most important of the fortresses was the Forte de
Remedios. During this era Vila dos Remedios was used
as a correctional colony for common prisoners and later
for political prisoners.
In
1938, Governor Vargas requisitioned the island and built
a political building. In 1942 it was turned into a Federal
Territory and submitted to the Brazilian Army (until
1981), then to the air-force (until 1986) and then to
the EEMFA (until 1987) until it was reintegrated with
Pernambuco islands due to constituent forces.
Fernando
de Noronha is actually a district in of the state of
Pernambuco directed by a government elected administrator
designated by the legislative assembly with the agreement
of the popular assembly of Noronhese. |
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