| Sumario: | "In this book, we review the constitutional features of the Portuguese monarchy in an emblematic period of its history. Avoiding prejudged ideas, facts are strongly emphasized, especially in massive facts whose general logic usually escapes impressionist or shallow approaches. Not infrequently, what emerges is almost the opposite of what one imagined. That image of an early centralized kingdom is not the one that arises from historical sources. So does the idea of a colonial "empire" with a thoughtful project, a unity of command, a controlling and despotic administration. Even in the more technical aspects - but no less decisive in understanding the logic of the whole - such as fiscal management and military organization, the same lack of a center and a brain becomes clear. Everything is shared by many jurisdictions, obeying to several particular and often contradictory logic and reacting to the efforts of centralization, even when the military stress seemed to require coordination and efficiency" -- Editor
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