Hofkanzlei#

Hofkanzlei (Court Chancellery): In addition to the Imperial Chancellery a Hofkanzlei existed from 1620 exclusively for the hereditary lands. Initially its functions were restricted to those of a Chancellery, but the Hofkanzlei very soon developed into a central authority (e.g. court of appeal). From 1705 the Hofkanzlei was led by 2 chancellors, from 1720 it was divided into 2 sections; in 1742 the section for external affairs was turned into the Court and State Chancellery, in 1749 the section for internal affairs was united with the Bohemian Hofkanzlei and a part of the Hofkammer to form the "directorium in publicis et in cameralibus". From 1761 "k. k. vereinigte boehmisch-oesterreichische Hofkanzlei" (k.k. United Bohemian-Austrian Hofkanzlei) served as the Ministry of the Interior of the Bohemian and Austrian lands. In 1782 the "Vereinigte Hofstelle" was created, abolished under Leopold II; 1792 re-centralisation, from 1797 the Bohemian and Austrian Hofkanzlei were again independent, 1802-48 "Vereinigte Hofkanzlei" (united Hofkanzlei).

Literature#