A guerra no Atlântico no início do período Joanino: a defesa do Brasil entre o Conselho Ultramarino e o vedor da Repartição dos Armazéns

Abstract

This article deals with one of the most interesting, even if unnoticed, political consequences of Portugal’s participation in the War of the Spanish Succession: the involvement of the Repartição da Índia e Armazéns in the protection of Portuguese America. After swift approach to the political and military centrality of the Conselho Ultramarino in the defense of Brazil, the analysis focuses on the Repartição dos Armazéns and its vedor, 2nd Marquis of Fronteira. The scrutiny of its sphere of activity allows a better understanding of the conflicts engendered by the inclusion of this political space in the defense of Brazil. Additionally, this article sustains the idea that the future functions of the secretário de Estado da Marinha e Domínios Ultramarinos derived in some way from the activities of the vedor da Repartição dos Armazéns.