Identification of 18th century politics. Notes on Portugal at the beginning of king John's reign

Abstract

An identification of a brief discussion on some recent bibliographical contributions on the political history of the modern age, this paper attempts to identify a specific political sphere at a particular time. The analysis of narrative and other accounts of Portugal at the beginning of the 18th century allows us to, simultaneously, appreciate a relevant institutional mutation (the decline of the «State Council government») and to identify and clearly trace a well defined domain of the (big) politics, political dispute and political decision. This reaches, among other domains and as decisive components, external political allegiance, nominations for high positions in the monarchy and the remuneration for the respective services (mercês).