ABSTRACT
This paper analyzes the governments of the state of Brazil, identifying and differentiating their hierarchies and powers, and characterizing the relationship between the governors general and governors and captains-general of captaincies in that part of the pluricontinental Portuguese monarchy, be it a royal or a grantee captaincy, annexed or major. Contrary to what has been stated, the paper exposes a differentiation of their authority and power, with a supremacy of the governor general's power.
Keyword:
State of Brazil; overseas governors; hierarchy of power; royal and grantee captaincies; major and annexed captaincies.