"Bahia", named after the epynomous Brazilian state, was originally ordered by Paraguay from the British shipbuilding firm of Laird Brothers and was laid down in 1864 with the name of "Minerva" and the yard number 326 at their Birkenhead shipyard. She was purchased by Brazil the following year, after the start of the war when Paraguay was cut off from the outside world and could no longer make payments. The ship was launched on 11 June 1865 and completed on 22 January 1866. On 19 February 1868 together with five other Brazilian ironclad warships she took part in the Passage of Humaitá.