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Privy Council Of Sweden
The Council of the Realm, or simply The Council ( sv, Riksrådet or sv, Rådet: sometimes in la, Senatus Regni Sueciae), was a cabinet of medieval origin, consisting of magnates ( sv, stormän) which advised, and at times co-ruled with, the King of Sweden. The 1634 Instrument of Government, Sweden's first written constitution in the modern sense, stipulated that the King must have a council, but he was free to choose whomever he might find suitable for the job, as long as they were of Swedish birth. At the introduction of absolutism, Charles XI had the equivalent organ named as Royal Council ( sv, Kungligt råd). In the Age of Liberty, the medieval name was reused, but after the bloodless revolution of Gustav III, the old organ was practically abolished. The 1809 Instrument of Government, created a Council of State, also known as the King in Council ( sv, Konungen i Statsrådet) which became the constitutionally mandated cabinet where the King had to make all state decisio ...
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Cabinet (government)
A cabinet is a body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the executive branch's top leaders. Members of a cabinet are usually called cabinet ministers or secretaries. The function of a cabinet varies: in some countries, it is a collegiate decision-making body with collective responsibility, while in others it may function either as a purely advisory body or an assisting institution to a decision-making head of state or head of government. Cabinets are typically the body responsible for the day-to-day management of the government and response to sudden events, whereas the legislative and judicial branches work in a measured pace, in sessions according to lengthy procedures. In some countries, particularly those that use a parliamentary system (e.g., the UK), the Cabinet collectively decides the government's direction, especially in regard to legislation passed by the parliament. In countries with a presidential system, such as the United States, ...
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Courtier
A courtier () is a person who attends the royal court of a monarch or other royalty. The earliest historical examples of courtiers were part of the retinues of rulers. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the official residence of the monarch, and the social and political life were often completely mixed together. Background Monarchs very often expected the more important nobles to spend much of the year in attendance on them at court. Not all courtiers were noble, as they included clergy, soldiers, clerks, secretaries, agents and middlemen with business at court. All those who held a court appointment could be called courtiers but not all courtiers held positions at court. Those personal favourites without business around the monarch, sometimes called the camarilla, were also considered courtiers. As social divisions became more rigid, a divide, barely present in Antiquity or the Middle Ages, opened between menial servants and other classes at cou ...
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Autocracy
Autocracy is a system of government in which absolute power over a state is concentrated in the hands of one person, whose decisions are subject neither to external legal restraints nor to regularized mechanisms of popular control (except perhaps for the implicit threat of a coup d'état or other forms of rebellion). In earlier times, the term ''autocrat'' was coined as a favorable description of a ruler, having some connection to the concept of "lack of conflicts of interests" as well as an indication of grandeur and power. This use of the term continued into modern times, as the Russian Emperor was styled "Autocrat of all the Russias" as late as the early 20th century. In the 19th century, Eastern and Central Europe were under autocratic monarchies within the territories of which lived diverse peoples. Autocracy is the most common and durable regime type since the emergence of the state. History and etymology Autocracy comes from the Ancient Greek ''autos'' (Greek: α ...
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Lord High Treasurer Of Sweden
The Lord High Treasurer (Swedish: ''Riksskattmästare'') was a highly prominent member of the Swedish Privy Council between 1602 and 1684, excluding periods when the office was out of use. The Lord High Treasurer was head of the ''Kammarkollegium'' and, from 1634, one of five Great Officers of the Realm. Origin A "Master of the Chamber" (''kammarmästare'') or chamberlain, with the responsibility to supervise issues concerning the economy of the state, is mentioned as early as the beginning of the 14th century. During Gustav Vasa's time as king (1523–1560), the title was called ''överste räknemästare'' as well, and the office holder was head of the chamber (''kammaren''), which was the first central bureau of Sweden. Later in the 16th century, an ''överste räknemästare'' is among the privy councillors. From 1602, the chief of the chamber was named Lord High Treasurer, ''riksskattmästare''. The office during the 17th century The chamber was reorganized and renamed ''Kammar ...
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Lord High Chancellor Of Sweden
The Lord High Chancellor ( sv, Rikskansler), literally ''Chancellor of the Realm'', was a prominent and influential office in Sweden, from 1538 until 1799, excluding periods when the office was out of use. The office holder was a member of the Privy Council. From 1634, the Lord High Chancellor was one of five Great Officers of the Realm, who were the most prominent members of the Privy Council and headed a governmental branch each—the Lord High Chancellor headed the Privy Council. In 1792, more than a century after the office's abolishment in 1680, it was revived but was then finally abolished seven years later in 1799. Origins 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 1560, during Eric XIV's reign, Nils Gyllenstierna became the first to receive the title ''Rikskansler''. ...
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Lord High Admiral Of Sweden
The Lord High Admiral or Admiral of the Realm ( sv, Riksamiral) was a prominent and influential office in Sweden, from c. 1571 until 1676, excluding periods when the office was out of use. The office holder was a member of the Swedish Privy Council and the head of the navy and Admiralty of Sweden. From 1634, the Lord High Admiral was one of five Great Officers of the Realm. History The origin of the title "Lord High Admiral of Sweden" can be traced to the reign of king Eric XIV and the year 1561 or possibly 1562. An ''överste amiral'' (approximately "colonel admiral") is assigned to be responsible for the Swedish fleet. In practice, however, this office meant not, as it was supposed to from the beginning, caring for the administration concerning the fleet, for example constructing and equipping it. Eric's successor, younger brother John III, appointed Clas Fleming riksamiral, probably in 1571, and once again it was intended that the office would mean administration, and not just ...
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Lord High Constable Of Sweden
The Lord High Constable ( sv, Riksmarsk or only ''Marsk'') was a prominent and influential office in Sweden, from the 13th century until 1676, excluding periods when the office was out of use. The office holder was a member of the Swedish Privy Council and, from 1630 and on, the head of the Swedish Council of War. From 1634, the Lord High Constable was one of five Great Officers of the Realm. Middle Ages In a letter from 1268, during the reign of Valdemar Birgersson, the title ''marscalcus'' of the king is mentioned. The holder of the prestigious title is a nobleman, but it is not possible to decide much about the assignments belonging to it. It is possible that the ''marsk'', or the constable, replaced the ''stabularius'' that previously governed the king's mounted following. Constable Torgils Knutsson was the foremost among the powerful men that ruled Sweden during the childhood of king Birger Magnusson in the late 13th century. Later constables seem to only occasionally be ca ...
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Lord High Justiciar Of Sweden
The Lord High Steward or Lord High Justiciar (Swedish: ''Riksdrots'' or only '' Drots'') was a highly prominent member of the Swedish Privy Council from the 13th century until 1809, excluding periods when the office was out of use. Middle Ages The first mentioning of the title "'' drots''" in Sweden, concerns the reign of Magnus Ladulås and the year 1276. It is difficult to say anything definite about the status of the office at that time, but sources from the 14th century shows the width of the power of the Lord High Steward. The influence seems to have been vast, as long as the steward managed to stay out of doing things against the will of the king himself. The steward was the king's closest confidant and during the guardian regency at the time of Magnus Eriksson's adolescence (1319–1331), the title holder (mostly Knut Jonsson) was the mightiest man in Sweden. In the latter stages of the 14th century, during conflicts between the king and the Swedish noblemen, the title beca ...
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Lord High Steward Of Sweden
The Lord High Steward or Lord High Justiciar (Swedish: ''Riksdrots'' or only '' Drots'') was a highly prominent member of the Swedish Privy Council from the 13th century until 1809, excluding periods when the office was out of use. Middle Ages The first mentioning of the title "'' drots''" in Sweden, concerns the reign of Magnus Ladulås and the year 1276. It is difficult to say anything definite about the status of the office at that time, but sources from the 14th century shows the width of the power of the Lord High Steward. The influence seems to have been vast, as long as the steward managed to stay out of doing things against the will of the king himself. The steward was the king's closest confidant and during the guardian regency at the time of Magnus Eriksson's adolescence (1319–1331), the title holder (mostly Knut Jonsson) was the mightiest man in Sweden. In the latter stages of the 14th century, during conflicts between the king and the Swedish noblemen, the title bec ...
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Great Officers Of The Realm
The Great Officers of the Realm (Swedish: ''De högre riksämbetsmännen'') 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 (Swedish: ''kollegium''). The same constitution also declared that the great officers were to act as regents during the minorities of kings or regnal queens. All great officers of the realm were abolished by king Carl XI of Sweden. The Lord High Steward and the Lord High Chancellor offices were revived in the late 18th century, but were soon removed again. The five great officers The great officers were, in order of a ranking which was established in 1634, the following: # Lord High Steward (or Lord High Justiciar) (Swedish: ''Riksdrots'') # Lord High Constable (Swedish: ''Riksmarsk'') # Lord High Admiral (Swedish: ''Riksamiral'') # Lord High Chancellor (Swedish: ''Rikskansler'') # Lor ...
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Counties Of Sweden
The counties of Sweden (Swedish: ''Sveriges län'') are the top-level geographic subdivisions of Sweden. Sweden is today divided into 21 counties; however, the number of counties has varied over time, due to territorial gains/losses and to divisions and/or mergers of existing counties. This level of administrative unit was first established in the 1634 Instrument of Government on Lord Chancellor Count Axel Oxenstierna's initiative, and superseded the historical provinces of Sweden ( sv, landskap) in order to introduce a more efficient administration of the realm. At that time, they were what the translation of ''län'' into English literally means: fiefdoms. The county borders often follow the provincial borders, but the Crown often chose to make slight relocations to suit its purposes. In every county there is a county administrative board (''länsstyrelse'') headed by a governor ('' landshövding''), appointed by the government, as well as a separate regional council ...
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Axel Oxenstierna
Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna af Södermöre (; 1583–1654), 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 King Gustavus Adolphus and then Queen Christina, of whom he was at first regent. Oxenstierna is widely considered one of the most influential people in Swedish history. He played an important role during the Thirty Years' War and was appointed Governor-General of occupied Prussia; he is also credited for having laid the foundations of the modern central administrative structure of the State, including the creation of counties ( sv, län). Early life and education Oxenstierna was born on 16 June 1583, at Fånö in Uppland, the son of Gustaf Gabrielsson Oxenstierna (1551–1597) and Barbro Axelsdotter Bielke (1556–1624), as the oldest of nine siblings. His parents belonged to the ancient and influential high noble families ...
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