The Viceroy of Portugal was the political chief of the Kingdom of Portugal and the highest representative of the King of Portugal during the period of the Iberian Union, when a personal union existed between the monarchies of Portugal and Spain.
According to what was established in the Cortes of Tomar in 1581, the regency of the Kingdom of Portugal always had to be trusted by the king to a Portuguese, or in alternative to a member of the Royal Family. This was, in a general way, fulfilled, having during two periods the regency been trusted to a governmental council called Government Junta of the Kingdom of Portugal.
D. António de Ataíde, 1st Count of Castro Daire by decree dated June 20, 1625 and 5th Count of Castanheira... was governor of the kingdom (of Portugal) with the Count of Vale de Reis from August 14, 1631 to 1 April of the following year, and alone from then until May 1633