Colonial administration studies became very important in the last years, generating productive historical debate, which gave new perspectives to this investigation field. The concept of "colonial pact" has been revised, emphasizing the dynamics of negotiation between the settlers and the Portuguese crown. The "old colonial system" has been confronted with "Ancién Regime in the tropics" ideas, which means that several aspects of the initial phase of the history of Brazil are currently being reconsidered. One key point in this discussion refers to the nature of the relationships established between royal authorities in the colony (viceroys, governors, treasurers and district magistrates) and local authorities (Municipal Councils and militias), verifying how governability was possible in Portuguese America. In this large space, the focus of the analysis will be on the process of integration of border areas into the colonial administrative structure, particularly the Rio Grande de São Pedro and Colonia de Sacramento.
Colonial administration; Portuguese Empire; governance; boundaries; local authorities
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