[1] 13 were owned by the United Provinces, while the rest belonged to the WIC; these vessels were en route to Cape Verde,[2] where they arrived after being scattered by a storm.

The Dutch plans to invade Brazil were soon reported by Spanish spies in the Netherlands to the court of Madrid, but Count-Duke of Olivares did not give them credit.

The main objective of the expedition was the capture of the port to use it as a commercial base to ensure Dutch trade with the East Indies.

[7] The defenses of the city were reinforced and expanded with moats and ramparts and the garrison was soon increased to 2,500 men with numerous Portuguese slaves seduced by promises of freedom and land.

[4] However, the Dutch garrison soon began to be harassed by the local guerrillas, led by Bishop Dom Marcos Teixeira, who had escaped inland.