Treaty of Madrid (1750)

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The 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 what is today the city of São Paulo, and all land to the west and south. Thus, Brazil would only be 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, must also own by right), and regulated the actual situation, allowing further expansion of the Portuguese Empire at the expense 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 who resisted Portuguese rule, in what is known as The Guarani War (Guerra Guaranítica). In their attempt to mark the new frontier, Spain and Portugual combined armies and crushed the resistance.

The movie "The Mission" is based on these events. The Guarani War occurred in 1756.