Cancellarii
Encyclopedia
Cancelli are lattice-work, placed before a window
, a door-way, the tribunal
of a judge
, or any other place. Hence the occupation of Cancellarius, which originally signified a porter
who stood at the latticed or grated door of the emperor
's palace
.
The emperor Carinus
gave great dissatisfaction by promoting one of his Cancellarii to be Praefectus urbi
. The cancellarius also signified a legal scribe
or secretary
, who sat within the cancelli or lattice-work, by which the crowd
was kept off from the tribunals of the judges.
The chief scribe or secretary was called Cancellarius, and was eventually invested with judicial power at Constantinople
, but an account of his duties and the history of this office do not fall within the scope of the present work. From this word has come the modern Chancellor
.
Window
A window is a transparent or translucent opening in a wall or door that allows the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. Windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material like float glass. Windows are held in place by frames, which...
, a door-way, the tribunal
Tribunal
A tribunal in the general sense is any person or institution with the authority to judge, adjudicate on, or determine claims or disputes—whether or not it is called a tribunal in its title....
of a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, or any other place. Hence the occupation of Cancellarius, which originally signified a porter
Porter (carrier)
A porter, also called a bearer, is a person who shifts objects for others.-Historical meaning:Human adaptability and flexibility early led to the use of humans for shifting gear...
who stood at the latticed or grated door of the emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
's palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
.
The emperor Carinus
Carinus
Carinus , was Roman Emperor 282 to 285. The elder son of emperor Carus, he was appointed Caesar and co-emperor of the western portion of the empire upon his father's accession...
gave great dissatisfaction by promoting one of his Cancellarii to be Praefectus urbi
Praefectus urbi
The praefectus urbanus or praefectus urbi, in English the urban prefect, was prefect of the city of Rome, and later also of Constantinople. The office originated under the Roman kings, continued during the Republic and Empire, and held high importance in late Antiquity...
. The cancellarius also signified a legal scribe
Scribe
A scribe is a person who writes books or documents by hand as a profession and helps the city keep track of its records. The profession, previously found in all literate cultures in some form, lost most of its importance and status with the advent of printing...
or secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
, who sat within the cancelli or lattice-work, by which the crowd
Crowd
A crowd is a large and definable group of people, while "the crowd" is referred to as the so-called lower orders of people in general...
was kept off from the tribunals of the judges.
The chief scribe or secretary was called Cancellarius, and was eventually invested with judicial power at Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, but an account of his duties and the history of this office do not fall within the scope of the present work. From this word has come the modern Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
.