Ilha de Vera Cruz
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Ilha de Vera Cruz (Portuguese for Island of the True Cross) was the first name given by the Portuguese navigators to the newly discovered land on the northeast coast of what later became known as Brazil. The name was later changed to Terra de Santa Cruz (Land of the Holy Cross).
When the discoverers, under Pedro Álvares Cabral, first officially touched land in South America on April 22, 1500, they thought they had found an island, as reflected in the chosen name. They took possession for Portugal of what was believed to be an island of strategic importance on a western connection between Portugal and the Moluccas and other islands of the East Indies. This was the beginning of the Portuguese colonies in South America. The name was changed to Terra de Santa Cruz when it was realized that it was not an island, but in fact part of a continent.
Later the colonies of Terra de Santa Cruz were administratively divided into the vice-kingdom of Brazil and that of Grão-Pará.
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