Government in medieval monarchies generally comprised the king's companions, later becoming the royal household, from which the officers of state arose, initially having household and government duties. Later some of these officers became two: one serving state and one serving household. They were superseded by new officers, or were absorbed by existing officers. Many of the officers became hereditary and thus removed from practical operation of either the state or the household.[1]
Especially in the Norman kingdoms these offices will have common characteristics. In the United Kingdom, the Great Officers of State are traditional ministers of The Crown who either inherit their positions or are appointed to exercise certain largely ceremonial functions or to operate as members of the government.[2] Separate Great Officers of State exist for England and for Scotland, as well as formerly for Ireland. It was the same in the Kingdoms of Sicily and Naples. Many of the Great Officers became largely ceremonial because historically they were so influential that their powers had to be resumed by the Crown or dissipated.
England edit
Initially, after the Norman Conquest, England adopted the officers from the Normandy Ducal court (which was modelled after the French court) with a steward, chamberlain and constable. Originally having both household and governmental duties, some of these officers later split into two counterparts in Great Officer of the State and officer of the royal household, while other offices were superseded by new offices or absorbed by existing offices. This was due to many of the offices becoming hereditary because of feudalistic practices, and thus removed from the practical operation of either the state or the Royal Household.[3] The Great Officers then gradually expanded to cover multiple duties, and have now become largely ceremonial.
France edit
The Great Officers of the Crown of France (French: Grands officiers de la couronne de France) were the most important officers of state in the French royal court during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration. They were appointed by the King of France, with all but the Keeper of the Seals being appointments for life. These positions were neither transmissible nor hereditary.
During the time of the First French Empire, the equivalent officers were known as the Grand Dignitaries of the French Empire. The Great Officers of the Crown of France should not be confused with the similarly named Great Officers of the Royal Household of France (Grands officiers de la maison du roi de France), which share certain officers, headed by the Grand Master of France.Holy Roman Empire edit
Princes elector held a "High Office of the Empire" (Reichserzämter) analogous to a modern Cabinet office and were members of the ceremonial Imperial Household. The three spiritual electors were Arch-Chancellors (German: Erzkanzler, Latin: Archicancellarius): the Archbishop of Mainz was Arch-Chancellor of Germany, the Archbishop of Cologne was Arch-Chancellor of Italy, and the Archbishop of Trier was Arch-Chancellor of Burgundy. The six remaining were secular electors, who were granted augmentations to their arms reflecting their position in the Household. These augments were displayed either as an inset badge, as in the case of the Arch Steward, Treasurer, and Chamberlain—or dexter, as in the case of the Arch Marshal and Arch Bannerbearer. Or, as in the case of the Arch Cupbearer, the augment was integrated into the escutcheon, held in the royal Bohemian lion's right paw.
| Augmentation | Imperial office | German | Latin | Elector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Arch-Cupbearer | Erzmundschenk | Archipincerna | King of Bohemia |
 | Arch-Steward (or Arch-Seneschal) | Erztruchseß | Archidapifer | Elector Palatine to 1623 |
| Elector of Bavaria, 1623–1706 | ||||
| Elector Palatine, 1706–1714 | ||||
| Elector of Bavaria, 1714–1806 | ||||
 | Arch-Treasurer | Erzschatzmeister | Archithesaurarius | Elector Palatine, 1648–1706 |
| Elector of Hanover, 1710–1714 | ||||
| Elector Palatine, 1714–1777 | ||||
| Elector of Hanover, 1777–1814 | ||||
 | Arch-Marshal | Erzmarschall | Archimarescallus | Elector of Saxony |
.svg){kind=small} .svg){kind=small} | Arch-Chamberlain | Erzkämmerer | Archicamerarius | Elector of Brandenburg |
 | Arch-Bannerbearer | Erzbannerträger | Archivexillarius | Elector of Württemberg[9] |
Hungary edit
In the Kingdom of Hungary the Great Officers of State were non-hereditary court officials originally appointed by the king, later some of them were elected by the Diet. They were also called the barons of the kingdom (Hungarian: országbárók, országnagyok) and lords banneret because they were obliged to lead their own Banderium (military unit) under their own banner in times of war. The offices gradually got separated from the role they originally fulfilled and their deputies took over the responsibilities.
| Position | Officer | Hungarian | Latin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palatine | nádor | palatinus, comes palatinus |
| 2 | Voivode of Transylvania | erdélyi vajda | voivoda Transsylvaniae |
| 3 | Judge royal | országbíró | judex curiae regiae |
| 4 | Ban of Croatia, Ban of Macsó, Ban of Szörény | horvát bán, macsói bán, szörényi bán | banus totius Sclavoniae |
| 5 | Master of the treasury | tárnokmester | magister tavarnicorum, magister tavernocorum regalium or summus camerarius |
| 6 | Master of the doorkeepers | Ajtónállómester | Janitorum regalium magister |
| 7 | Master of the stewards | asztalnokmester | dapiferorum regalium magister |
| 8 | Master of the cupbearers | pohárnokmester | pincernarum regalium magister |
| 9 | Master of the horse | lovászmester | agasonum regalium magister |
| 10 | Ispán of Pozsony County and Temes County | pozsonyi és temesi ispán | comes Posoniensis and comes Temesiensis |
| 11 | Royal treasurer | kincstartó | summus thesaurarius |
| 12 | Ispán of the Székelys | székelyek ispánja | comes Siculorum |
| 13 | Privy Chancellor | titkos kancellár | cancellarius aulicus |
Ireland edit
The Lord High Steward of Ireland is a hereditary Great Officer of State in the United Kingdom, sometimes known as the Hereditary Great Seneschal.[10] The Earls of Shrewsbury (Earls of Waterford in the Peerage of Ireland) have held the office since the 15th century. Although the Irish Free State, later the Republic of Ireland, became independent in 1922, the title remained the same, rather than reflecting the region of Northern Ireland, which remains within the United Kingdom.
The 1st Earl of Shrewsbury was created Earl of Waterford and Lord High Steward of Ireland on 17 July 1446 by letters patent of King Henry VI, to hold in tail male.[11] The current Lord High Steward is his heir, the 22nd Earl of Shrewsbury.Poland edit
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2021) |
The following dignitaries were permanent members of the council in the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland:
Scotland edit
As of 2023, the Scottish Great Officers of State are as follows:
| Order | Office[13] | Holder during 1707 | Current holder | Notes[13][14] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Officers of State | ||||
| 1 | Lord High Chancellor | James Ogilvy 1st Earl of Seafield | — | Merged with Lord High Chancellor of England in 1701 to form the office of Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. |
| 2 | Lord High Treasurer (Lord High Treasurer, Comptroller, Collector-General, and Treasurer of the New Augmentation) | In commission: Commissioners of the Treasury of Scotland — James Ogilvy David Boyle The Honourable | —[b] | Merged with Lord High Treasurer of England in 1701 to form the office of Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain. |
| 3 | Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal | James Douglas 2nd Duke of Queensberry | — | Vacant since the death of Gavin Campbell, 1st Marquess of Breadalbane in 1921. |
| 4 | Secretary of State | Hugh Campbell 3rd Earl of Loudoun | — | Office abolished in 1709. |
| Lesser Officers of State | ||||
| 5 | Lord Clerk Register | James Murray Lord Philiphaugh | Elish Angiolini | Since 1817, also Keeper of the Signet in Scotland.[15] |
| 6 | Lord Advocate (His Majesty's (Lord)[g] Advocate) | Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees | Dorothy Bain | — |
| 7 | Treasurer-depute | David Boyle 1st Earl of Glasgow | — | Office abolished by the Acts of Union 1707. |
| 8 | Lord Justice Clerk | Adam Cockburn Lord Ormiston | Leeona Dorrian Lady Dorrian | — |
| Abolished Officers of State | ||||
| n/a | Comptroller of Scotland | — | — | Merged into the office of Lord High Treasurer of Scotland. |
| n/a | Master of Requests for Scotland | — | — | Merged into the office of Lord Secretary of Scotland. |
Sicily edit
History edit
In the Kingdom of Sicily, which existed from 1130 to 1816, the Great Officers were officials of the Crown who inherited an office or were appointed to perform some mainly ceremonial functions or to act as members of the government. In particular, it was a Norman king, Roger II, who once he became King of Sicily and conquered the territories of Southern Italy was concerned with organizing the Kingdom politically. For this reason, in 1140, King Roger convened a Parliament in Palermo where the seven most important offices of the Kingdom of Sicily were established, to which the title of archons was given.[17][18][19]
The system has notable similarities with the English one, being both derived from Norman rulers, in which four of them had a certain correspondence with the officers of the court of the Franks, where there was a senescalk, a marchäl, a kämmerer, a kanzlèr; later reverted with the Great Officers of the Kingdom of France.[20]
With the pragmatic of November 6, 1569, on the reforms of the Courts, three Great Offices of the Kingdom are made the prerogative of the judiciary: the Great Chancellor by President of the Tribunal of the Sacred Royal Conscience; the Great Justiciar, whose functions had already been absorbed by President of the Tribunal of the Royal grand Court; and the Great Chamberlain by the President of the Tribunal of Royal Patrimony.[21]
Officers of State edit
The Great Officers of State of the former Kingdom of Sicily, consisting of Sicily and Malta, were:
| Position | Officer | First and last holder[22] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Constable | - Robert of Hauteville - Fabrizio Pignatelli d’Aragona, duke of Monteleone | The Gran Conestabile was the commander of the army, in charge of judging the cases of military relevance, he was the highest[23] officer of the Kingdom |
| 2 | Great Admiral | - George of Antioch - Diego Pignatelli, prince of Castelvetrano | The Grande Ammiraglio dit amiratus amiratorum was the commander of the Navy of the Kingdom of Sicily. For a short time the title of granted with that of Count of Malta. This office was by far the most influential as the Sicilian navy was among the most powerful Christian fleets during the Middle Ages in the Mediterranean |
| 3 | Great Chancellor | - Guarin - marquess Antonio Ardizzone | The Gran Cancelliere kept and affixed the Seal of the Kingdom of Sicily. His functions could be compared to those of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. During the Hauteville’s dynasty most of the chancellors were ecclesiastics. From 1569 until 1816 the office was held ex officio by the President of the Tribunal of the Sacred Royal Conscience, the high-instance court |
| 4 | Great Justiciar | - Robert of Rocca | The Gran Giustiziere was the most senior judge and the head of the judiciary. Peter II made the office hereditary first to the Count of Mistretta and second to the Count of Agosta until the reform of 1569. From that date until 1816 the office was held ex officio by the President of the Tribunal of the Royal grand Court, the civil court |
| 5 | Great Chamberlain | - Richard of Mandra, Count of Molise - knight Michele Perremuto | The Gran Camerario had the role of treasurer, in fact he watched over the administration of public expenditure. The office soon became hereditary as prerogative of the Count of Geraci. From 1569 until 1816 the office was held ex officio by the President of the Tribunal of Royal Patrimony |
| 6 | Great Prothonotary | - Matthew of Ajello - Alfonso Ruiz (?) | The Gran Protonotaro was the notary of the Crown and secretary of the Sacred Royal Council and of the Parliament, the prothonotary had extensive functions in administrative matters and was the head of all notaries of the Kingdom. He had also particular skills in matters of feudal ceremony and investitures. The office was also a registering body for royal acts similar to the chancery |
| 7 | Great Seneschal | - Richard of Hauteville - Prince Francesco Statella, marquess of Spaccaforno | The Gran Siniscalco supervised the Royal Palace, providing the King and the court with provisions, supervising the royal forests, and hunting reserves. He was the Judge of the Royal House and its subordinate officers. In 1296 the office soon became hereditary as prerogative of the Count of Modica and it was later inherited by Marquess of Spaccaforno |
Sweden edit
Notes edit
- ^ a b These roles are now permanently vacant, except for brief appointments during coronations, where they perform certain functions in the ceremony.
- ^ a b The office of Lord High Treasurer of the United Kingdom has been vacant since 1714, and its powers and duties are exercised by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury, who hold the offices of Treasurer of the Exchequer of Great Britain and Lord High Treasurer of Ireland in commission.[5] The office of Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain was held concurrently with that of Treasurer of the Exchequer of Great Britain.[6]
- ^ Under a 1912 agreement, the office, or the right to appoint a person to exercise it, rotates among the heirs of the 1st Earl of Ancaster, the 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley, and the 1st Earl Carrington, changing at the start of each reign, with the Cholmondeleys serving every other reign, and the heirs of Ancaster and Carrington once every four reigns each.[7]
- ^ The office reverted to the Crown in 1512.
- ^ The office was known as Lord Admiral of England until 1638,[8] when 'High' was added.
- ^ The office is currently held by the Sovereign himself
- ^ The office of Lord Advocate is referred to as His Majesty's Lord Advocate in formal correspondence, though 'Lord' is dropped in some cases, such as case citations (for example, in [2020] UKSC 10, the office is referred to as His Majesty's Advocate, without 'Lord').[16]