Prothonotary

Prothonotary (Greek Latin ) refers in particular to the Byzantine Empire the conducting notary of the imperial administration.

Main task of the prothonotary is the senior office management of all documents of the Emperor or in other contexts of a king, prince, or similar masters.

The notaries of the Pope and the Holy See bear the official title of Apostolic prothonotary ( prothonotary apostolicus ).

Based on this concept of choice of each senior council secretary was designated as prothonotary since the 14th century and even into the 19th century in the free imperial cities such as Lübeck.