 It is home to cities such as Natal, Mossoró, and São Gonçalo do Amarante.The land that became Rio Grande do Norte was a donatário to João de Barros, the factor of the House of India and Mina, from John III of Portugal in 1535; prior to that, the Portuguese Crown owned the land.The French, who trafficked Brazil wood in the area, had a foothold on the land until the Portuguese expelled them in 1598.