Claim: The Portuguese Empire existed at the same time as the Renaissance.

The Council of Portugal , officially , the Royal and Supreme Council of Portugal -LRB- Portuguese : Real e Supremo Conselho de Portugal ; Spanish : Real y Supremo Consejo de Portugal -RRB- , was the ruling body and a key part of the government of the Kingdom of Portugal during the Iberian Union . The council was founded in 1582 by Philip I of Portugal following the model of the Council of Castile . It provided Portugal with a large degree of autonomy from the king in Madrid .   Apart from administering the Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves , the council administered Portugal 's colonial empire .   The council ceased to exist after the Portuguese Restoration War .