Keeper of the Seals of France

The Keeper of the Seals of France ( Guard of sceaux de France) was an official of the French monarchy in the Ancien Régime. Its main task was to represent the Chancellor of France and support. In the 19th century the title was revived and is still one of the titles of Minister of Justice, the Seal of the Republic kept in his office with which the documents are to be provided.

The official title was derived from the fact that it was one of the duties to keep the seal of the country. These included the great seal, which was used for the most important documents, and the private seal of the remaining documents.

The Office was transferred to the Registrar in the Middle Ages, who was appointed by the king on time and was set down again. In the case of unavailability of one or the Registrar due to illness or absence from the court of the king's seal familiar temporarily a person other than Siegelverwahrer, whose task was ended with the return of the Chancellor again. As of about 1203 to 1316 no Chancellor were appointed, the Keeper of the Seals in these years was the most important non-military officials of the kingdom.

Middle of the 16th century, after the trial of the Chancellor Guillaume Poyet, the idea came up to forgive the big offices of the crown for life. Therefore, there had to be a person named, who represented the Registrar, if it fell out of favor with the king. 1551, therefore, created the office of Henry II of sceaux garde, which was equipped with all the powers of the Registrar, as the supervision of the judiciary, the sealing and sending the royal documents, as well as the presidency of the royal council. This Office therefore had only temporary.

If the relations between the king and chancellor were tense, the king appointed a Privy Seal ( it was said that he took away the Registrar the seal - reprenait les sceaux ), whereby the Chancellor only had one volunteer role. In contrast to the Chancellor of the Privy Seal, was deposed by the king. It was therefore for political office, in its functions like for example the surintendant des Finances.

Under King Louis XV. requested the Chancellor d' Aguesseau and de Lamoignon the king the appointment of a Privy Seal, not to replace them, but to assist them in their work. It was still the Keeper of the Seals, who kept the box with the seals and chaired the seals of the royal documents. He was also head of the judiciary and controlled the book trade, that is, exercised censorship of subversive works.

Apart from the reign of Louis XIV and Louis XV. were the Keeper of the Seals, the first candidate for the office of the Registrar. Under Louis XVI. followed by four successive Privy Seal as a candidate until Chancellor René Nicolas de Maupeou died 1792.

Privy Seal, as head of the firm

In the 13th century, and by the year 1316 the firm was headed by the Keeper of the Seals

  • Guérin, monk to 1203-1227, Chancellor 1226
  • Philippe d' Antogny, 1227-1231
  • Aubry Cornu, dean of Saint -Martin de Tours, 1231-1236
  • Jean de la Cour, dean of Saint -Martin de Tours, 1236-1244
  • Nicolas Le Chien, Archdeacon of Dunois, 1244-1249
  • Gilles Saumur, Archbishop of Tyre, 1249-1252
  • Raoul de Grosparmy, 1252-1259
  • Guy Faucoi, later Pope Clement IV, in 1260
  • Simon de Brie, Treasurer of Saint -Martin de Tours, the future Pope Martin IV, 1259-1261
  • Philippe de Cahors, Treasurer of Saint- Frambaud in Senlis, 1262-1270
  • Guillaume de Rampillon, Archdeacon of Paris, 1270
  • Guillaume de Chartres, Dominicans, in Tunis 1270
  • Pierre Barbet, archdeacon of Dunois, 1271-1273
  • Henri de Vézélay, chamberlain of Laon, 1273-1282
  • Pierre Chalon, dean of Tours, 1282-1290
  • Jean de Vassoigne, Archdeacon of Bruges, 1291-1292
  • Guillaume de Crépy, Archdeacon of Paris, 1293-1296
  • Thibaut de Pouancé, Bishop of Dol, 1296-1297
  • Étienne de Suizy, Archdeacon of Bruges, 1302-1304
  • Pierre de Mornay, Bishop of Auxerre, 1304-1306
  • Pierre de Grez, 1306
  • Pierre de Belleperche, Bishop of Auxerre, 1306-1307
  • Guillaume de Nogaret, Knight, 1307-1310
  • Gilles I. Aycelin de Montaigut, Archbishop of Narbonne, 1310-1311
  • Guillaume de Nogaret, 2nd time 1311-1313
  • Pierre de Latilly, Bishop of Chalons, 1313-1314
  • Étienne de Mornay, dean of Saint -Martin de Tours, 1314-1316

Keeper of the Seals in " retracted " or not available chancellor

  • Foulque Bardoul, Bishop of Avranches, Lord Privy Seal in Paris 1357-1359
  • Jean de Dormans, Bishop of Lisieux, Keeper of the Seals in 1358
  • Jean de Dormans, Keeper of the Seals in 1373
  • Nicolas du Bosc, Bishop of Bayeux, Privy Seal, 1398-1400
  • Jean de Montagu, Archbishop of Sens, Privy Seal, 1405-1413
  • Adam Fumée, doctor, Privy Seal, 1492-1494
  • September 23, 1622 - January 21, 1623: Louis Lefèvre de Caumartin
  • January 23, 1623 - January 2, 1624: Nicolas de Sillery Brûlart
  • January 6, 1624 - May 31 1626: Etienne II d' Aligre
  • June 1, 1626 - November 12, 1630: Michel de Marillac
  • November 14, 1630 - February 25, 1633: Charles de L' Aubespine
  • Grand Officer of the Crown
Henry II of France Superintendent of Finances Basilica of St. Martin, Tours Dominican Order Pierre Flotte
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