Following the earthquake, Joseph I gave his Prime Minister even more power, and Sebastião de Melo became a powerful, progressive dictator. As his power grew, his enemies increased in number, and bitter disputes with the high nobility became frequent. In 1758 Joseph I was wounded in an attempted assassination. The Távora family and the Duke of Aveiro were implicated and executed after a quick trial. The Jesuits were expelled from the country and their assets confiscated by the crown. Sebastião de Melo prosecuted every person involved, even women and children. This was the final stroke that broke the power of the aristocracy. Joseph I made his loyal minister Count of Oeiras in 1759. 

Following the Távora affair, the new Count of Oeiras knew no opposition. Made "Marquis of Pombal" in 1770, he effectively ruled Portugal until Joseph I's death in 1779. However, historians also argue that Pombal’s "enlightenment," while far-reaching, was primarily a mechanism for enhancing autocracy at the expense of individual liberty and especially an apparatus for crushing opposition, suppressing criticism, and furthering colonial economic exploitation as well as intensifying book censorship and consolidating personal control and profit.
Who was the Prime Minister under Joseph 1?
When was he given more power?
What did he do with it?
Did he get along with the nobles?
Who was blamed for trying to Assassinate Joseph?
What happened to them?
What was De Melo's role?
what title was he given after?
For how many years did he rule Portugal?
was he a proponent of individual liberty?
did he tolerate dissenters well?
When did Joseph 1 die?
Sebastião de Melo
 and Sebastião de Melo became a powerful, progressive dictator.
after the earthquake,
Following the earthquake, Joseph I gave his Prime Minister even more power
became a  dictator
became a powerful, progressive dictator
no
disputes with the high nobility became frequent
The Távora family and the Duke of Aveiro
The Távora family and the Duke of Aveiro were implicated
they were executed
The Távora family and the Duke of Aveiro were implicated and executed 
he prosecuted every person involved
 Sebastião de Melo prosecuted every person involved
Count of Oeiras
Joseph I made his loyal minister Count of Oeiras in 1759
9 years
1770, he effectively ruled Portugal until Joseph I's death in 1779
no
at the expense of individual liberty
no
 for crushing opposition
in 1779
until Joseph I's death in 1779