Treaty of Madrid (1750)
Encyclopedia
The Spanish–Portuguese treaty of 1750 or Treaty of Madrid was a document signed by Ferdinand VI of Spain
and John V of Portugal on January 13, 1750, concerning their empires and status of their territories in what is now Brazil
.
Earlier treaties authored by both countries, and as mediated by the Catholic Church of Rome
, stipulated that the Portuguese empire in South America
could extend no farther west than the 46th meridian
. Had this treaty remained unchanged, the Spanish would have held both what is today the city of São Paulo
and all land to the west and south. Thus, Brazil would be only a fraction of its present-day size.
The Treaty of Madrid was based on the principle of Roman law
Uti possidetis, ita possideatis
(who owns by fact owns by right) and regulated the actual situation, allowing further expansion of the Portuguese Empire at the expense of the Empire of Spain. This expansion eventually led to the formation of the Empire of Brazil.
The treaty also stipulated that Spain would receive the Sacramento Colony and Portugal the Misiones Orientales
. These were seven independent Jesuit missions of the upper Uruguay River
that resisted Portuguese rule in what is now known as the Guarani War
(Guerra Guaranítica). In their attempt to mark the new frontier, Spain and Portugal combined armies and crushed the resistance. The movie The Mission is based on these events. The Guarani War
occurred between 1754 and 1756. After the war, the Treaty of 1750 was repealed by the Treaty of El Pardo
, signed between both countries in 1761.
Ferdinand VI of Spain
Ferdinand VI , called the Learnt, was King of Spain from 9 July 1746 until his death. He was the fourth son of the previous monarch Philip V and his first wife Maria Luisa of Savoy...
and John V of Portugal on January 13, 1750, concerning their empires and status of their territories in what is now Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Earlier treaties authored by both countries, and as mediated by the Catholic Church of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, stipulated that the Portuguese empire in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
could extend no farther west than the 46th meridian
46th meridian west
The meridian 46° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, the Atlantic Ocean, South America, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
. Had this treaty remained unchanged, the Spanish would have held both what is today the city of São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
and all land to the west and south. Thus, Brazil would be only a fraction of its present-day size.
The Treaty of Madrid was based on the principle of Roman law
Roman law
Roman law is the legal system of ancient Rome, and the legal developments which occurred before the 7th century AD — when the Roman–Byzantine state adopted Greek as the language of government. The development of Roman law comprises more than a thousand years of jurisprudence — from the Twelve...
Uti possidetis, ita possideatis
Uti possidetis
Uti possidetis is a principle in international law that territory and other property remains with its possessor at the end of a conflict, unless otherwise provided for by treaty; if such a treaty doesn't include conditions regarding the possession of property and territory taken during the war,...
(who owns by fact owns by right) and regulated the actual situation, allowing further expansion of the Portuguese Empire at the expense of the Empire of Spain. This expansion eventually led to the formation of the Empire of Brazil.
The treaty also stipulated that Spain would receive the Sacramento Colony and Portugal the Misiones Orientales
Misiones Orientales
The Misiones Orientales or Sete Povos das Missões are a historic region in South America, in present-day Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost State of Brazil....
. These were seven independent Jesuit missions of the upper Uruguay River
Uruguay River
The Uruguay River is a river in South America. It flows from north to south and makes boundary with Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, separating some of the Argentine provinces of the Mesopotamia from the other two countries...
that resisted Portuguese rule in what is now known as the Guarani War
Guarani War
The Guarani War of 1756, also called the War of the Seven Reductions, took place between the Guaraní tribes of seven Jesuit Reductions and joint Spanish-Portuguese forces...
(Guerra Guaranítica). In their attempt to mark the new frontier, Spain and Portugal combined armies and crushed the resistance. The movie The Mission is based on these events. The Guarani War
Guarani War
The Guarani War of 1756, also called the War of the Seven Reductions, took place between the Guaraní tribes of seven Jesuit Reductions and joint Spanish-Portuguese forces...
occurred between 1754 and 1756. After the war, the Treaty of 1750 was repealed by the Treaty of El Pardo
Treaty of El Pardo (1761)
The Treaty of El Pardo was signed on February 12, 1761 between representatives of the Spanish Empire and the Portuguese Empire.Based on the terms of the treaty, all aspects of the Treaty of Madrid were repealed...
, signed between both countries in 1761.