This article presents some considerations about the Portuguese experience of the Enlightenment, focusing on the changes made (or proposed) during the reign of King Joseph I. In a traditional perspective, the changes implemented by Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Marquis of Pombal, did not follow a predetermined plan. I argue instead that the reforms that occurred stemmed from a "theory" and formed a political action plan consistent with the objective of making Portugal - a "small country" - equal to others "in wealth and strength". In this regard, I consider that such changes contain references to ideas of Portuguese intellectuals of the time and they present evidence indicating that Carvalho e Melo had contact with the doctrines of natural law, politics and economic content, according to "the life and activity of a modern statesman".
Pombalism; Ancient Regime; Enlightenment; Portugal; 18th Century.