Provinces of Portugal
During the Reconquista, the Iberian kingdoms established an administrative system, based on the older Visigothic lines, which were themselves just a carry-over from the Romans.
[3] Meanwhile, at the same time that its administrative role ceased, the Kingdom instituted a system of governadores das armas (English: military governors), whose jurisdiction coincided with the provincial territories.
By 1801, the provinces included the following administrative divisions:[3] In parallel with these comarcas (the administrative and judicial regions), the provinces began to be subdivided into almoxarifados, (English: fiscal districts) and emprovedorias (English: health/social districts), in order to manage imports/exports and finances, as well as health and social issues, respectively.
In actuality, one new province was established Douro, based on the territory of Partido do Porto, and which began to function with all the rights and privileges.
[3] These prefects were assisted by a junta geral, that acted as an organ of the local government, elected by the citizens of the province.
The provinces continued to be divided into comarcas or subprefeituras (English: sub-prefectures), which functioned as an area of jurisdiction of sub-prefects, who represented the prefect.
[3] The debate over the importance of provinces only arose from fears that there would be an excessive concentration of power in the hands of governmental officers (Portuguese: prefeitos).
[4] The older provedores begin to act as the municipal administrators, and parish commissioners become regedores (removing the ecclesiastical reference from their use).
[3] The Estado Novo adopted, from its beginning, a policy of regionalisation of the country, which was written into the 1933 Constitution, creating new provinces, within an executive body, the juntas de provincia (English: provincial junta) and a deliberative body, the conselhos provinciais (English: provincial councils).
The new territories were based on studies made by Amorim Girão, a geographer, who divided continental Portugal into 13 "regiões naturais" (English: natural regions).
