The legal government in Portugal was neither straightforward nor consistent between 1807-14. Despite significant limitations imposed on its power, which were to be continuously challenged and, to an extent, overcome in later years, Portugal was governed by a regency council from November 1807. See Soriano, tomo II p 672 onwards for a detailed discussion of the imposition of the Regency Council, its remit and level of authority to govern in the absence of the Prince Regent.

Prince João installed a regency council to govern in his absence comprised of : the marquez de Abrantes; tenente general Francisco da Cunha Menezes; “the principal” Castro (also “regedor da justice”); Pedro de Mello Breyner (also “presidente do real erario”, no impedimento de Luiz de Vasconcellos e Sousa); tenente general D. Francisco Xavier de Noronha; and, in the absence of any of the above mentioned “governadores”, o conde de Castro Marim, monteiro mor. The regency council was assisted by two (as then, non voting) secretaries: o conde de Sampaio (or in his palce, D. Miguel Pereira Forjaz) and o procurador geral da coroa, João Antonio Salter de Mendonça.

For a detailed discussion of the development of the regency council from 1808 onwards, changes in personnel and also its powers (and the extent to which it assisted the restoration of the Portuguese military) and, most importantly the increasingly powerful role of Forjaz, see:

De la Fuente, FA, “Dom Miguel Pereira Forjaz: his early career and role in the mobilisation and defence of Portugal during the Peninsular War, 1807-1814” unpublished PhD thesis, submitted to Florida States University 1980.

It is interesting to note that the only "Abrantes" referred to is Portuguese

Best wishes

Anthony