The Danish Chancellery ( da, Danske Kancelli) was an administrative and partially governmental body in

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

from the 12th century to 1848.

Before the Reformation

From the 12th century to the

Reformation The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...

in 1536 its name was simply the Chancellery ( da, Kancelli, links=no). The chancellor was appointed by the king from among bishops. It had the responsibility of the expedition of letters and orders from the

king King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

. Later it also gained the responsibility of copying and archiving the king's regulations.

From the Reformation to the introduction of absolute monarchy

After the Reformation the Chancellery was renamed Danish Chancellery ( da, Danske Kancelli, links=no) to distinguish it from the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

Chancellery ( da, Tyske Kancelli, links=no). The Danish Chancellery was responsible for all correspondence in Danish and the civil administration of Denmark,

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...

and Sweden. The German Chancellery had similar responsibility for the

and

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

correspondence and the civil administration of duchies of

Schleswig The Duchy of Schleswig ( da, Hertugdømmet Slesvig; german: Herzogtum Schleswig; nds, Hartogdom Sleswig; frr, Härtochduum Slaswik) was a duchy in Southern Jutland () covering the area between about 60 km (35 miles) north and 70 km ...

and

Holstein Holstein (; nds, label=Northern Low Saxon, Holsteen; da, Holsten; Latin and historical en, Holsatia, italic=yes) is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is the southern half of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of German ...

. Before, 1770, when it was separated into its own ministry, the German Chancellery was also responsible for foreign policy towards all but the Nordic countries. The chancellor was now a noble and not a clergyman. Over the years the chancellery gained a strong governmental power in additional to its administrative responsibilities. First mentioned in 1550s Rentekammeret (lit. Rent Chamber) was a part of the Danish Chancellery. It had the responsibility of the state financial administration. Under and after

Christian IV Christian IV (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648) was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Holstein and Schleswig from 1588 until his death in 1648. His reign of 59 years, 330 days is the longest of Danish monarchs and Scandinavian monar ...

the central administration grew rapidly. Bureaus such as a postal service and customs where created.

Under absolute monarchy

At the introduction of absolute monarchy in Denmark, a number of equivalent administration and governing bodies was introduced including the War Chancellery ( da, Krigskancelliet, links=no), and Kommercekollegiet. Rentekammeret was elevated and renamed to Skatkammerkollegiet.

References

{{Reflist Government of Denmark