Great Officers of The Realm
Encyclopedia
The Great Officers of the Realm (Swedish: De högre riksämbetsmännen) were the five leading members of the Swedish Privy Council
from the later parts of the 16th century to around 1680. With the constitution of 1634, the five officers became heads of five different branches of government (Swedish: kollegium). The same constitution also declared that the great officers were to act as regents during the minorities of kings or regnal queens. All great officers of the realm were abolished by king Carl XI of Sweden. The Lord High Steward and the Lord High Chancellor offices were revived in the late 18th century, but were soon removed again.
was put in charge of the newly established Svea Court of Appeal, the highest court of Sweden at the time. The steward became responsible of supervising justice in Sweden.
became president of the Council of War (Swedish: first Krigsrätten, later Krigsrådet and, from 1634, Krigskollegium). As such he was chief of the army.
(Swedish: de lägre riksämbetsmännen). These were Marshal
of the Realm (riksmarskalk), Equerry
of the Realm (riksstallmästare), Forester
of the Realm (riksjägmästaren), General Quartermaster
(generalkvartermästaren) and rikstygmästaren.
In the late 17th century, king Carl XI removed not only the great officers but the smaller officers as well. The Marshal of the Realm and the Equerry of the Realm offices were both revived by king Gustav III
in the late 18th century. Among both the greater and smaller officers, the only title to exist in present day Sweden, is the Marshal of the Realm.
Privy Council of Sweden
The High Council of Sweden or Council of the Realm consisted originally of those men of noble, common and clergical background, that the king saw fit for advisory service...
from the later parts of the 16th century to around 1680. With the constitution of 1634, the five officers became heads of five different branches of government (Swedish: kollegium). The same constitution also declared that the great officers were to act as regents during the minorities of kings or regnal queens. All great officers of the realm were abolished by king Carl XI of Sweden. The Lord High Steward and the Lord High Chancellor offices were revived in the late 18th century, but were soon removed again.
The five great officers
The great officers were, in order of a ranking which was established in 1634, the following:- Lord High Steward (or Lord High Justiciar)Lord High Steward of SwedenThe Lord High Steward or Lord High Justiciar was a highly prominent member of the Swedish Privy Council from the 13th century until 1809, excluding periods when the office was out of use....
(Swedish: Riksdrots) - Lord High ConstableLord High Constable of SwedenThe Lord High Constable was a prominent and influential office in Sweden, from the 13th century until 1676, excluding periods when the office was out of use. The office holder was a member of the Swedish Privy Council and, from 1630 and on, the head of the Swedish Council of War...
(Swedish: Riksmarsk) - Lord High AdmiralLord High Admiral of SwedenThe Lord High Admiral or Admiral of the Realm was a prominent and influential office in Sweden, from c. 1571 until 1676, excluding periods when the office was out of use. The office holder was a member of the Swedish Privy Council and the head of the navy and Admiralty of Sweden...
(Swedish: Riksamiral) - Lord High ChancellorLord High Chancellor of SwedenThe Lord High Chancellor was a prominent and influential office in Sweden, from 1561 until 1680, excluding periods when the office was out of use. The office holder was a member of the Privy Council of Sweden...
(Swedish: Rikskansler) - Lord High TreasurerLord High Treasurer of SwedenThe Lord High Treasurer was a highly prominent member of the Swedish Privy Council between 1602 and 1684, excluding periods when the office was out of use...
(Swedish: Riksskattmästare)
Lord High Steward
The title meant no particular assignment until 1614, when Lord High Steward Magnus BraheMagnus Brahe
Count Magnus Brahe was a Swedish noble. Being both Lord High Constable and Lord High Steward of Sweden, he was a notable figure in the 17th century Sweden....
was put in charge of the newly established Svea Court of Appeal, the highest court of Sweden at the time. The steward became responsible of supervising justice in Sweden.
Lord High Constable
The title meant no particular assignment until 1630, when Lord High Constable Jacob De la GardieJacob De la Gardie
Field Marshal and Count Jacob Pontusson De la Gardie was a statesman and a soldier of the Swedish Empire....
became president of the Council of War (Swedish: first Krigsrätten, later Krigsrådet and, from 1634, Krigskollegium). As such he was chief of the army.
Lord High Admiral
The Lord High Admiral was head of the Admiralty of Sweden (Swedish: Amiralitetskollegium from 1634) and the Swedish navy.Lord High Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor was assigned to ensure that the orders of the king and government were followed. Along the way, the assignments of the chancellor increased to the amount that a chancellery, the Privy Council Chancellery, had to be established. The chancellery became one of the governmental branches and the chancellor acted as head of it. Albeit fourth in rank among the great officers, the Lord High Chancellor became the most important figure in the Privy Council. The chancellor was head of the relations with foreign powers.Lord High Treasurer
The Lord High Treasurer had the responsibility to supervise issues concerning the economy of the state. The office holder was head of the Chambers, which in 1634 was declared one of five departments of the government under the name Kammarkollegium.Lesser Officers of The Realm
Below the great officers in rank, were a number of Lesser Officers of The RealmLesser Officers of The Realm
During the 17th century in Sweden the highest officials in the realm were divided into two sections of 5 positions each, they were the Great Officers of The Realm and the Lesser Officers of the Realm. The Lesser Officers of the Realm were directly connected to the Kings Court or one of the branches...
(Swedish: de lägre riksämbetsmännen). These were Marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
of the Realm (riksmarskalk), Equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
of the Realm (riksstallmästare), Forester
Forester
250px|thumb|right|Foresters of [[Southern University of Chile|UACh]] in the [[Valdivian forest]]s of San Pablo de Tregua, ChileA forester is a person who practices forestry, the science, art, and profession of managing forests. Foresters engage in a broad range of activities including timber...
of the Realm (riksjägmästaren), General Quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
(generalkvartermästaren) and rikstygmästaren.
In the late 17th century, king Carl XI removed not only the great officers but the smaller officers as well. The Marshal of the Realm and the Equerry of the Realm offices were both revived by king Gustav III
Gustav III of Sweden
Gustav III was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolph Frederick and Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden, she a sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia....
in the late 18th century. Among both the greater and smaller officers, the only title to exist in present day Sweden, is the Marshal of the Realm.