Kanclerz Francji w epoce nowożytnej (1515–1790)
Chancellor of France in the Modern Era (1515–1790)

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this article is to present the powers of the Chancellor of France in mod- ern times. As one of the most important officials of the French monarchy, he had enormous power and enjoyed prestige and privileges. He managed the work of the royal chancellery and supervised the sealing of documents. He served as the Minister of Justice. He was the head of the courts and judges as well as the main inspirer of royal legislation. He sat on royal councils. He supervised educational and scientific institutions – colleges, universities, and academies. He was responsible for preventive censorship. In some periods, he was also entrusted with responsibilities related to diplo-macy, state security, and financial policy. The text shows not only his rights and privileges but also the limitations he had to face. The article is based on literature and other sources in French. It shows the evolution of the office from the beginning of the modern era until the French Revolution when it was decided to abolish it.

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