Lord High Treasurer of Sweden
Encyclopedia
The Lord High Treasurer 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
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The first Lord High Treasurer of Sweden was Seved Ribbing (1602–1613). He was succeeded by Jesper Mattsson Krus, but when Krus left the office in 1622, no new treasurer was appointed until 1634, although Count Palatine John Casimir acted as a de facto Lord High Treasurer without holding that title.
When king Charles X Gustav died in 1660, he wished, through his will, that Herman Fleming would be appointed Lord High Treasurer and as such a member of the quintet ruling Sweden until young king Charles XI
would come of age. The nobility opposed this, and ensured that Fleming missed out on the appointment. Instead Gustaf Bonde
became the new treasurer.
After the death of Sten Bielke in 1684, king Charles abolished the title. The king, who had come to age in 1672, generally wanted to avoid appointing new holders of the high offices, once these became vacant. The riksskattmästare title has not been used since, in contrast to two other offices that Charles XI abolished, Lord High Chancellor and Lord High Steward
, who were both revived for a relatively short period in the late 18th century. The assignments of the Lord High Treasurer was taken over by the President of the Kammarkollegium.
Privy Council of Sweden
The High Council of Sweden or Council of the Realm consisted originally of those men of noble, common and clergical background, that the king saw fit for advisory service...
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
Great Officers of The Realm
The Great Officers of the Realm 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...
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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 Kammarkollegium during the first decades of the 17th century. It was one of five branches of the government from 1634, and the head of the Kammarkollegium, the Lord High Treasurer, was fifth in rank among the five Great Officers of the Realm. That meant that the office holder was not only one of the most prominent members of the Swedish Privy Council, but also a member of the government ruling the country during the minority of a king or regnal queen.When king Charles X Gustav died in 1660, he wished, through his will, that Herman Fleming would be appointed Lord High Treasurer and as such a member of the quintet ruling Sweden until young king Charles XI
Charles XI of Sweden
Charles XI also Carl, was King of Sweden from 1660 until his death, in a period in Swedish history known as the Swedish empire ....
would come of age. The nobility opposed this, and ensured that Fleming missed out on the appointment. Instead Gustaf Bonde
Gustaf Bonde
Baron Gustaf Bonde was a Swedish statesman. He was a persistent advocate of a pacifist policy at a time when war on the slightest provocation was the watchword of every Swedish politician....
became the new treasurer.
After the death of Sten Bielke in 1684, king Charles abolished the title. The king, who had come to age in 1672, generally wanted to avoid appointing new holders of the high offices, once these became vacant. The riksskattmästare title has not been used since, in contrast to two other offices that Charles XI abolished, Lord High Chancellor and Lord High Steward
Lord High Steward
The position of Lord High Steward of England is the first of the Great Officers of State. The office has generally remained vacant since 1421, except at coronations and during the trials of peers in the House of Lords, when the Lord High Steward presides. In general, but not invariably, the Lord...
, who were both revived for a relatively short period in the late 18th century. The assignments of the Lord High Treasurer was taken over by the President of the Kammarkollegium.
Lord High Treasurers of Sweden
- Seved Ribbing (1602–1613)
- Jesper Mattsson Krus (1615–1622)
- Gabriel Bengtsson Oxenstierna (1634–1652)
- Magnus Gabriel De la GardieMagnus Gabriel De la GardieCount Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie was a Swedish statesman and military man. He became a member of the Swedish Privy Council in 1647 and came to be the holder of three of the five offices counted as the Great Officers of the Realm, namely Lord High Treasurer, Lord High Chancellor and Lord High...
(1652–1660) - Gustaf BondeGustaf BondeBaron Gustaf Bonde was a Swedish statesman. He was a persistent advocate of a pacifist policy at a time when war on the slightest provocation was the watchword of every Swedish politician....
(1660–1667) - Seved Bååt (1668–1669)
- Sten Bielke (1672–1684)