French invasions of Brazil

French invasions in Brazil date back to the earliest days of Portuguese colonization up until the end of the 19th century. The attacks, initially as part of Francis I of France's challenge to the Treaty of Tordesillas, encouraged the practice of looting for the barter of brazilwood and supported the attempts to colonize the coast of Rio de Janeiro in 1555 and the coast of Maranhão in 1594.