Political Resident
Encyclopedia
In the British Empire
a Political Resident or Political Agent was an official diplomat
ic position involving both consular duties and liaison function.
A Consul
or Consul-General has largely consular functions, such as looking after British
business persons abroad. A Political Resident or Political Agent, on the other hand, not only has consular duties but also has political contacts with chiefs, nizam
s, nawab
s, raja
s, sultan
s, sheikh
s and the like. With the end of the British Empire
this distinction was no longer made because the Political Resident or Political Agent no longer exists.
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
a Political Resident or Political Agent was an official diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
ic position involving both consular duties and liaison function.
A Consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
or Consul-General has largely consular functions, such as looking after British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
business persons abroad. A Political Resident or Political Agent, on the other hand, not only has consular duties but also has political contacts with chiefs, nizam
Nizam
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...
s, nawab
Nawab
A Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
s, raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
s, sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
s, sheikh
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
s and the like. With the end of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
this distinction was no longer made because the Political Resident or Political Agent no longer exists.