Government in medieval monarchies generally comprised the king's companions, later becoming the royal household, from which the officers of state arose. These officers initially had household and governmental 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 They were superseded by new officers, or were absorbed by existing officers.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.
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. This cites: Stubbs, Constitutional History, ch. xi. Freeman, Norman Conquest, ch. xxiv. Gneist, Constitution of England, ch. xvi., xxv. and liv. 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
France
Holy Roman Empire
Princes elector held a "High Office of the Empire" () analogous to a modern Cabinet office and were members of the ceremonial Imperial Household. The three spiritual electors were Arch-Chancellors (, ): 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 1623Elector of Bavaria, 1623–1706Elector Palatine, 1706–1714Elector of Bavaria, 1714–1806 Arch-Treasurer Erzschatzmeister Archithesaurarius Elector Palatine, 1648–1706Elector of Hanover, 1710–1714Elector Palatine, 1714–1777Elector of Hanover, 1777–1814 Arch-Marshal Erzmarschall Archimarescallus Elector of Saxony Arch-Chamberlain Erzkämmerer Archicamerarius Elector of Brandenburg Arch-Bannerbearer Erzbannerträger Archivexillarius Elector of Württemberg“The Holy Roman Empire,” Heraldica
Hungary
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 () 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
Poland
The following dignitaries were permanent members of the council in the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland:
Scotland
As of 2023, the Scottish Great Officers of State are as follows:
OrderOfficeHolder during 1707Current holderNotesGreater Officers of State1Lord High ChancellorJames Ogilvy1st Earl of Seafield—Merged with Lord High Chancellor of England in 1701 to form the office of Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain.2Lord High TreasurerIn commission:Commissioners of the Treasury of Scotland —
James Ogilvy1st Earl of Seafield(Lord High Chancellor)
David Boyle1st Earl of Glasgow(Treasurer-depute)
Francis Montgomerie(Treasurer in Parliament)—Merged with Lord High Treasurer of England in 1701 to form the office of Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain.3Lord Keeper of the Privy SealJames Douglas2nd Duke of Queensberry—Vacant since the death of Gavin Campbell, 1st Marquess of Breadalbane in 1921. 4 Secretary of StateHugh Campbell3rd Earl of Loudoun
John Erskine23rd and 6th Earl of Mar — Office abolished in 1709.Lesser Officers of State5Lord Clerk RegisterJames Murray Lord PhiliphaughElish Angiolini Since 1817, also Keeper of the Signet in Scotland.6Lord AdvocateSir James Stewart of GoodtreesRuth Charteris—7Treasurer-deputeDavid Boyle1st Earl of Glasgow—Office abolished by the Acts of Union 1707.8Lord Justice ClerkAdam CockburnLord OrmistonJohn BeckettLord Beckett—Abolished Officers of Staten/aComptroller of Scotland——Merged into the office of Lord High Treasurer of Scotland.n/aMaster of Requests for Scotland——Merged into the office of Lord Secretary of Scotland.
Sicily
History 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.
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.
With the pragmatic sanction 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.
Officers of State The Great Officers of State of the former Kingdom of Sicily, consisting of Sicily and Malta, were: Position Officer First and last holder Notes 1 Great Constable - Robert of Hauteville - Fabrizio Pignatelli d’Aragona, duke of Monteleone The was the commander of the army, in charge of judging the cases of military relevance, he was the highest officer of the Kingdom 2 Great Admiral - George of Antioch - Diego Pignatelli, prince of Castelvetrano The dit 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 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 - Giovanni Battista Asmundo e Paternò The 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 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 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 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
Notes
See also Great Offices of State Royal Households of the United Kingdom Kingdom of England Great Officers of the Crown of France Kingdom of France Holy Roman Empire Great Officers of State of Ireland Kingdom of Ireland Kingdom of Poland Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of Sicily Great Officers of Sweden Kingdom of Sweden
References