The 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

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 1634, the Lord High Chancellor was one of five Great Officers of the Realm

Great Officers of The Realm

The Great Officers of the Realm 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...

, who were the most prominent members of the Privy Council and headed a governmental branch each—the Lord High Chancellor headed the Privy Council Chancellery. In 1792, more than a century after the office's abolishment in 1680, it was revived. Seven years later, in 1799, it was removed once again.

Origin

During the Middle Ages, from the 13th century, the "chancellor of the king" was a close confidant of the king. The chancellor was in general a man of the church, and one part of his duty was to aid the king during negotiations with foreign powers. In 1561, during Eric XIV's reign, Nils Gyllenstierna became the first to receive the title rikskansler.

Function

The Lord High Chancellor was appointed by the king and 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. In 1634, the five Great Officers of the Realm

Great Officers of The Realm

The Great Officers of the Realm 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...

 was introduced as the most powerful among the Privy Council members. The chancellor was fourth in rank among these. Albeit fourth in rank, the Lord High Chancellor became the most important figure in the Privy Council. The chancellor was head of the relations with foreign powers and especially Axel Oxenstierna possessed massive influence during his time as chancellor (1612-1654), when he more or less had the role of a prime minister.

Abolition and revival of the office

In 1680, king Charles XI abolished the office and inaugurated a new instead - President of the Chancellery (Swedish: kanslipresident). In 1792, Duke Charles (later king under the name Charles XIII) revived the rikskansler office, but it was removed once again in 1799.

Lord High Chancellors of Sweden

• Konrad von Pyhy (1538-1543)
• Nils Gyllenstierna (1560-1590)
• Erik Sparre (1593-1600)
• Svante Bielke (1602-1609)
• Axel Oxenstierna af Södermöre
  Axel Oxenstierna
  Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna af Södermöre , Count of Södermöre, was a Swedish statesman. He became a member of the Swedish Privy Council in 1609 and served as Lord High Chancellor of Sweden from 1612 until his death. He was a confidant of first Gustavus Adolphus and then Queen Christina.Oxenstierna...
  
   (1612-1654)
• Erik Oxenstierna (1654-1656)
• Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie
  Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie
  Count Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie was a Swedish statesman and military man. He became a member of the Swedish Privy Council in 1647 and came to be the holder of three of the five offices counted as the Great Officers of the Realm, namely Lord High Treasurer, Lord High Chancellor and Lord High...
  
   (1660-1680)
• Fredrik Sparre (1792-1797)