Archchancellor

The office of the Lord Chancellor were among the Holy Roman Empire to the so-called Erzämtern and were the spiritual electors reserved. While most Erzämter purely ceremonial in nature, were the position of the arch-chancellor for Germania remained until the end of the Empire of political importance.

History

Since 965 the office of arch-chancellor was usually connected to the Archbishop of Mainz. In the Golden Bull of 1356, then the distribution of Erzämter was regulated binding.

The office of the Lord Chancellor were in the hands of the three ecclesiastical electors. The Archbishop of Cologne was Arch-Chancellor of the Reich Italy ( Archicancellarius by Italiam ), the Archbishop of Trier High Chancellor of Burgundy ( Archicancellarius by Galliam ) and the Archbishop of Mainz, Arch-Chancellor for " Germany " ( Archicancellarius by Germaniam ) was responsible for the German territories.

While the offices of Lord Chancellor of Burgundy and Italy already lost since the Middle Ages in weight, the Reichserzkanzler for Germania had until the end of the kingdom of important functions and was constitutionally after the emperor as the second man of the empire. His deputy was the imperial vice- chancellor.

Functions in the early modern period

Election of a king

After the death of an emperor of the Lord Chancellor 's task was to guide the choice of a new king or emperor for Germania. He referred to a the other Electors and fixed the meeting venue and the date. So he exercised de facto addition to the two imperial vicars the Reichsverweserschaft during the king or emperor of free time.

Head of Reichshof firm

If at times disputed by the Emperor, the Reichserzkanzler for Germania appointed the staff of Reichshof firm with the imperial vice- chancellor at the top. Any letter from the Emperor in his capacity as head of the Empire were made ​​out of the office and countersigned by the Reichserzkanzler, the Imperial Vice- Chancellor or of specially designated representatives. In addition to the copy of records and the management of official correspondence Reichshof the firm kept the empire Seal and led the National Archives. Also, the adoption of the Reich Chancellery orders fell within the competence of the arch-chancellor.

Reichstag Board

Another important function of the Reichserzkanzlers for Germania was the Reichstag Board on the everlasting Reichstag since 1663rd The Archbishop of Mainz was thus always is the official leader of this meeting. The envoys of the States had to legitimize the Lord Chancellor. The Board also had the imperial propositions about to be negotiated, notify the other stands by " Dictaturum ". Also, the coordination of procedures initiated by the Lord Chancellor, the results summarized and report the Reichstag as principal commissioner or in the presence presented to the Emperor himself.

Other Features

There were also other important functions. This included the management of the electoral college. The Lord Chancellor for Germania also had the right to inspect the Imperial Chamber Court and the Reichshofrat. He also had the protection of justice over the imperial post, and other powers.

Tradition

The Erzkanzlerarchiv was only little attention after the end of the empire. It encamped first in Aschaffenburg and Frankfurt, before it was brought to Vienna in 1852.