After the death of King Sebastião, who left no direct descendants, and his successor to the throne, Cardinal Dom Henrique, who also had no children, in 1580 the throne of Portugal went to a grandson of King Manuel I, cousin of King Sebastião, who reigned in Spain as Filipe II.

The king, acclaimed as Filipe I of Portugal, promised his Portuguese subjects that he would continue to respect the laws and customs of this country, namely the Ordinances of the Realm proclaimed by his grandfather, King Manuel I.