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Terra de Santa Cruz (Portuguese for Land of Holy Cross) was the name which was given to the Portuguese colonies in South America that were at the origin of Brazil, after its discovery by Pedro Álvares Cabral's fleet on April 21, 1500.
The name was used in the sixteenth century after Ilha de Vera Cruz (Island of True Cross) went into disuse, when it was recognised the land in question was in fact part of a continent, and not an island as had been previously believed. The territory was later administratively divided into the Viceroyalties of Brazil and Grão-Pará.
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