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55-519: This usage contrasts with modern terminology, where a consul is a type of diplomat . A consul held the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic (509 to 27 BC), and ancient Romans considered the consulship the highest level of the cursus honorum (an ascending sequence of public offices to which politicians aspired). Consuls were elected to office and held power for one year. There were always two consuls in power at any time. It

110-503: A constitution which conferred executive powers upon three consuls, elected for a period of ten years. In reality, the first consul, Bonaparte, dominated his two colleagues and held supreme power, soon making himself consul for life (1802) and eventually, in 1804, emperor . The office was held by: The short-lived Bolognese Republic , proclaimed in 1796 as a French client republic in the Central Italian city of Bologna , had

165-589: A 1713–1799 army of the Kingdom of Naples literally walked into the lightly guarded city of Rome before simply leaving and returning southward to home. In 1798–1799, the then Governor of the Roman Republic as of 19 November 1798, Jacques MacDonald , led his forces in the Battle of Ferentino (1798), followed by the Battle of Otricoli (1798), and finally the Battle of Civita Castellana (5 December 1798). This

220-609: A Provisional Government: Rome was occupied by France (11 July – 28 September 1799) and again by Naples (30 September 1799 – 23 June 1800), bringing an end to the Roman Republic. Among the many petty local republics that were formed during the first year of the Greek Revolution , prior to the creation of a unified Provisional Government at the First National Assembly at Epidaurus , were: Note: in Greek ,

275-433: A consul is a consulate and is usually subordinate to the state's main representation in the capital of that foreign country (host state), usually an embassy or – between Commonwealth countries – high commission . Like the terms embassy or high commission , consulate may refer not only to the office of consul, but also to the building occupied by the consul and their staff. The consulate may share premises with

330-442: A consulate general and is a consul of the highest rank serving at a particular location. A consul general may also be responsible for consular districts which contain other, subordinate consular offices within a country. The consul general serves as a representative of their state in the country where they are located, although ultimate jurisdiction over the right to speak on behalf of a home country within another country belongs to

385-589: A government consisting of nine consuls and its head of state was the Presidente del Magistrato , i.e., chief magistrate , a presiding office held for four months by one of the consuls. Bologna already had consuls at some parts of its Medieval history. The French-sponsored Roman Republic (15 February 1798 – 23 June 1800) was headed by multiple consuls: Consular rule was interrupted by the Neapolitan occupation (27 November – 12 December 1798), which installed

440-656: A government to reside in a foreign country and represent its interests there." The Devil's Dictionary defines Consul as "in American politics, a person who having failed to secure an office from the people is given one by the Administration on condition that he leave the country". In most governments, the consul is the head of the consular section of an embassy, and is responsible for all consular services such as immigrant and non-immigrant visas , passports , and citizen services for expatriates living or traveling in

495-564: A minor power may accredit a single ambassador with several neighbouring states of modest relative importance that are not considered important allies). Consuls are posted in a nation's capital, and in other cities throughout that country, especially centres of economic activity and cities with large populations of expatriates . In the United States for example, most countries have a consulate-general in New York City (the home of

550-491: Is not admitted publicly, consulates, like embassies, may also gather intelligence information from the assigned country. Contrary to popular belief, many of the staff of consulates may be career diplomats, but they do not generally have diplomatic immunity unless they are also accredited as such. Immunities and privileges for consuls and accredited staff of consulates ( consular immunity ) are generally limited to actions undertaken in their official capacity and, with respect to

605-726: The Battle of Lodi on 10 May 1796 and retreated to Minico. Under the Treaty of Tolentino , signed on 19 February 1797, Rome was forced to accept an ambassador of the French First Republic . In February 1798, the French invaded the Papal States, motivated by the killing of French general Mathurin-Léonard Duphot in December 1797. After the successful invasion, the Papal States became a French satellite republic renamed as

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660-580: The Podestà , for some periods of the 13th century some citizens were again elected as consuls. Throughout most of southern France , a consul ( French : consul or consule ) was an office equivalent to the échevins  [ fr ] of the north and roughly similar with English aldermen . The most prominent were those of Bordeaux and Toulouse , which came to be known as jurats and capitouls , respectively. The capitouls of Toulouse were granted transmittable nobility. In many other smaller towns

715-552: The United Nations ), and some have consulates-general in other major cities . Consulates are subordinate posts of their home country's diplomatic mission (typically an embassy , in the capital city of the host country). Diplomatic missions are established in international law under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations , while consulates-general and consulates are established in international law under

770-490: The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations . Formally, at least within the US system, the consular career (ranking in descending order: consul-general, consul, vice-consul, honorary consul) forms a different hierarchy from the diplomats in the strict sense. However, it is common for individuals to be transferred from one hierarchy to the other, and for consular officials to serve in a capital carrying out strictly consular duties within

825-471: The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations , there are few formal requirements outlining what a consular official must do. For example, for some countries, consular officials may be responsible for the issue of visas; other countries may limit "consular services" to providing assistance to compatriots, legalization of documents, etc. Nonetheless, consulates proper will be headed by consuls of various ranks, even if such officials have little or no connection with

880-441: The consular section of a diplomatic post, e.g., within an embassy. Between Commonwealth countries, both diplomatic and consular activities may be undertaken by a High Commission in the capital, although larger Commonwealth nations generally also have consulates and consulates-general in major cities. For example, Toronto , Sydney and Auckland are of greater economic importance than their respective national capitals, hence

935-496: The "Roman Republic", under the leadership of Louis-Alexandre Berthier , one of Bonaparte's generals. Pope Pius VI was taken prisoner, escorted out of Rome on 20 February 1798 and exiled to France, where he later died. However, plagued by internal struggles, the Roman Republic did not last long and popular support for it was low. On 29 November 1798, the very day that the 1798–1802 War of the Second Coalition had begun,

990-644: The Alps in April 1796 and defeating the Piedmontese army on 12 April 1796 in the Battle of Montenotte and on 21 April 1796 in the Battle of Mondovì , Bonaparte turned his attention south of Piedmont to deal with the Papal States. Bonaparte, skeptical over divided command for the invasion, sent two letters to the Directory . The letters let the Directory relent the invasion for a while. The Austrians were defeated at

1045-718: The Australian commission had been renamed the consulate-general in 1986. Owing to Hong Kong's status as a special administrative region of China , some countries' consulates-general in Hong Kong report directly to their respective foreign ministries , rather than to their embassies in Beijing , such as those of Canada , the United Kingdom and the United States . Some consuls are not career officials of

1100-568: The King. This distinction between consular and diplomatic functions remains (at least formally) to this day. Modern consuls retain limited judicial powers to settle disputes on ships from their country (notably regarding the payment of wages to sailors). The consulado de mercaderes was set up in 1543 in Seville as a merchant guild to control trade with Latin America . As such, it had branches in

1155-405: The citizens of the country in which the consul resides who wish to travel to or trade with the consul's country. In classical Greece , some of the functions of the modern consul were fulfilled by a proxenos , which means an arrangement which a citizen (chosen by the city) hosted foreign ambassadors at his own expense, in return for honorary titles from the state. Unlike the modern position, this

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1210-404: The consulate itself, to those required for official duties. In practice, the extension and application of consular privileges and immunities can differ widely from country to country. Consulates are more numerous than diplomatic missions, such as embassies . Ambassadors are posted only in a foreign nation's capital (but exceptionally outside the country, as in the case of a multiple mandate, e.g.,

1265-590: The creation of the First Coalition ( Duchy of Parma and Piacenza , Dutch Republic , Holy Roman Empire , Kingdom of Great Britain , Kingdom of Prussia , Kingdom of Portugal , Kingdom of Sardinia , Kingdom of Spain , etc.) in 1792, Napoleon Bonaparte intended to take the fight to the coalition in Northern Italy to force the Austrians to the negotiating table via an invasion of Piedmont . At

1320-407: The embassy itself. A consul of the highest rank is termed a consul-general and is appointed to a consulate-general . There is typically one or more deputy consuls-general , consuls , vice-consuls , and consular agents working under the consul-general. A country may appoint more than one consul-general to another nation. A consul general (CG) (plural: consuls general) is an official who heads

1375-603: The first consul was the equivalent of a mayor today, assisted by a variable number of secondary consuls and jurats. His main task was to levy and collect tax. The Dukes of Gaeta often used also the title of "consul" in its Greek form " Hypatos " (see List of Hypati and Dukes of Gaeta ). After Napoleon Bonaparte staged a coup against the Directory government in November 1799, the French Republic adopted

1430-626: The governments which they represent. As a matter of U.S. policy, honorary consular officers recognized by the U.S. Government are American citizens, or permanent resident aliens who perform consular services on a part-time basis. The limited immunity afforded honorary consular officers is specified in Article 71 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR). Such individuals do not enjoy personal inviolability, and may be arrested pending trial if circumstances should otherwise warrant. However, appropriate steps are provided to accord to such officers

1485-484: The highest magistrates of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire . The term was revived by the Republic of Genoa , which, unlike Rome, bestowed it on various state officials, not necessarily restricted to the highest. Among these were Genoese officials stationed in various Mediterranean ports, whose role included duties similar to those of the modern consul (i.e., helping Genoese merchants and sailors in difficulties with

1540-457: The host country. A less common modern usage is when the consul of one country takes a governing role in the host country. Differently named, but same function Modern UN System Specific Consul (representative) A consul is an official representative of a government who resides in a foreign country to assist and protect citizens of the consul's country, and to promote and facilitate commercial and diplomatic relations between

1595-441: The job with their own (often commercial) private activities, and in some instances may not even be a citizen of the sending country. Such consular appointments are usually given the title of honorary consul or consul ad honorem . Such hosting and appointing varies from nation to nation, with some doing both, one or the other, or neither. The transparency also varies, with some nation-states not even including such information on

1650-531: The local authorities). The consolat de mar was an institution established under the reign of Peter IV of Aragon in the fourteenth century, and spread to 47 locations throughout the Mediterranean. It was primarily a judicial body, administering maritime and commercial law as lex mercatoria . Although the consolat de mar was established by the Cortes of Aragon , the consuls were independent from

1705-498: The missions, United States Government policy requires that the maintenance and establishment of consular posts headed by honorary consular officers must be supported by documentation which makes it possible for the Department of State to be assured that meaningful consular functions will be exercised by honorary consular officers on a regular basis and that such consular officers come under the supervision of, and are accountable to,

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1760-492: The more limited sense of consular service. Activities of a consulate include protecting the interests of their citizens temporarily or permanently resident in the host country, issuing passports ; issuing visas to foreigners and public diplomacy . However, the principal role of a consulate lies traditionally in promoting trade—assisting companies to invest and to import and export goods and services both inwardly to their home country and outward to their host country. Although it

1815-480: The nearest Finnish embassy or consulate. Certain types of notarized certificates can be acquired through an honorary consul. Together with diplomatic missions, an honorary consul promotes economic and cultural relations between Finland and the country in question and takes part in strengthening Finland's image abroad. An honorary consul can advise Finnish companies, for instance, in obtaining information about local business culture and in finding cooperation partners. Over

1870-407: The need for consulates there. When Hong Kong was under British administration , diplomatic missions of Commonwealth countries, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand , India, Malaysia , and Singapore were known as commissions . After the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997, they were renamed consulates-general , with the last commissioner becoming consul-general. However,

1925-758: The other two former-papal revolutionary administrations, the Tiberina Republic and the Anconine Republic . The Roman Republic proved short-lived, as Neapolitan troops restored the Papal States in October 1799. The Napoleonic invasion of Italy from 1796 to 1797 was one of the reasons for his elevation to supreme commander of the French Revolutionary Army during the French Revolutionary Wars . After

1980-575: The principal cities of the Spanish colonies. The connection of "consul" with trade and commercial law is retained in French. In Francophone countries, a juge consulaire (consular judge) is a non-professional judge elected by the chamber of commerce to settle commercial disputes in the first instance (in France, sitting in panels of three; in Belgium, in conjunction with a professional magistrate). In

2035-526: The protection required by virtue of their official position. In addition, the consular archives and documents of a consular post headed by an honorary consular officer are inviolable at all times, and wherever they may be, provided they are kept separate from other papers and documents of a private or commercial nature relating to other activities of an honorary consular officer or persons working with that consular officer. Roman Republic (18th century) The Roman Republic ( Italian : Repubblica Romana )

2090-469: The represented country's coat of arms, and with that country confirming the consul's son or other heir in the position on the death of the previous consul. As repeatedly referenced by Mann, a consul's wife was known as "Konsulin" and continued to bear that title even on the death of her husband. Characters in the book are mentioned as consuls for Denmark , the Netherlands and Portugal . The office of

2145-412: The represented state. They may be local people with the nationality of the sending country, and in smaller cities, or in cities that are very distant from full-time diplomatic missions, a foreign government which feels that some form of representation is nevertheless desirable may appoint a person who has not hitherto been part of their diplomatic service to fulfill this role. Such a consul may well combine

2200-552: The republic, 14 March 1841 – 13 March 1844 (ruling jointly, but occasionally styled "first consul", "second consul"): Carlos Antonio López Ynsfrán (b. 1792 – d. 1862) + Mariano Roque Alonzo Romero (d. 1853) (the lasts of the aforementioned juntistas, Commandant-General of the Army) Thereafter all republican rulers were styled "president". In modern terminology, a consul is a type of diplomat . The American Heritage Dictionary defines consul as "an official appointed by

2255-818: The same time, he intended to reinforce the French Revolutionary Army based in Italy, which was outnumbered by Austria and the Italian States. This invasion of the Italian Peninsula was also a diversion since, according to the First Coalition, the main offensive was expected in the Rhine River . Rome , under the rule of the Papal States , was part of the First Coalition, along with several other Italian states . After crossing

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2310-432: The single ambassador. Another definition is the leader of the consular section of an embassy. This consul general is a diplomat and a member of the ambassador's country team. Consuls of various ranks may have specific legal authority for certain activities, such as notarizing documents. As such, diplomatic personnel with other responsibilities may receive consular letters patent (commissions). Aside from those outlined in

2365-494: The social life of 19th-century Lübeck as depicted in Thomas Mann 's novel Buddenbrooks – based on Mann's thorough personal knowledge of his own birthplace – an appointment as the consul of a foreign country was a source of considerable social prestige among the city's merchant elite. As depicted in the book, the position of a consul for a particular country was in practice hereditary in a specific family, whose mansion bore

2420-472: The term for "consul" is "hypatos" (ὕπατος), which translates as "supreme one", and hence does not necessarily imply a joint office. In between a series of juntas and various other short-lived regimes, the young republic was governed by "consuls of the republic", with two consuls alternating in power every 4 months: After a few presidents of the Provisional Junta , there were again consuls of

2475-547: The two countries. A consul is generally part of a government's diplomatic corps or foreign service , and thus enjoys certain privileges and protections in the host state, albeit without full diplomatic immunity . Unlike an ambassador , who serves as the single representative of one government to another, a state may appoint several consuls in a foreign nation, typically in major cities; consuls are usually tasked with providing assistance in bureaucratic issues to both citizens of their own country traveling or living abroad and to

2530-413: The websites of their foreign ministries. Furthermore, some do not use the honorary consul system at all. The United States of America limits whom it will recognise as honorary consuls and grants only some limited rights. In some cases "accused terror financiers, arms traffickers and drug runners" have misused their position as honorary consuls. Despite their other roles, honorary consular officers (in

2585-610: The widest use of the term) in some instances also have responsibility for the welfare of citizens of the appointing country within their bailiwick . For example, the Embassy of Finland states that the tasks of Finland's Honorary Consulate include monitoring the rights of Finns and permanent residents of Finland residing in the area in which the consulate is located, providing advice and guidance for distressed Finnish citizens and permanent residents traveling abroad to that area, and assisting them in their contacts with local authorities or

2640-460: The years, Honorary Consulates have assumed growing importance particularly for Low and Middle Income Countries and for countries looking at cutting costs and has emerged as a powerful diplomatic pillar of strength. The United States Government appreciates that honorary consular officers provide important services both to the governments which they represent and to United States citizens and entities. Nevertheless, for reasons previously communicated to

2695-596: Was a sister republic of the First French Republic . It was proclaimed on 15 February 1798 after Louis-Alexandre Berthier , a general of the French Revolutionary Army under the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte, had occupied the city of Rome on 10 February. It was led by a Directory of five men and comprised territory conquered from the Papal States . Pope Pius VI was exiled to France and died there in August 1799. The Roman Republic immediately took control of

2750-478: Was a citizen of the host polity (in Greece, a city-state ). The proxenos was usually a wealthy merchant who had socioeconomic ties with another city and who helped its citizens when they were in trouble in his own city. The position of proxenos was often hereditary in a particular family. Modern honorary consuls fulfill a function that is to a degree similar to that of the ancient Greek institution. Consuls were

2805-719: Was divided between the First French Empire and the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy until the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815. The Roman Republic's constitutional organization of powers was heavily influenced by that of the French Constitution of 1795 , which itself was inspired by and loosely based on that of the ancient Roman Republic . Executive authority was vested in a Consulate consisting of five consuls . The legislative branch

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2860-598: Was later emulated by other powers and is reflected in the modern usage of the word (see Consul (representative) ). In addition to the Genoese Republic, the Republic of Pisa also took the form of "Consul" in the early stages of its government. The Consulate of the Republic of Pisa was the major government institution present in Pisa from 1087 to 1189. Despite losing space within the government since 1190 in favor of

2915-565: Was not uncommon for an organization under Roman private law to copy the terminology of state and city institutions for its own statutory agents. The founding statute, or contract, of such an organisation was called lex , 'law'. The people elected each year were patricians , members of the upper class. While many cities, including the Gallic states and the Carthaginian Republic , had a double-headed chief magistracy, another title

2970-575: Was often used, such as the Punic sufet , Duumvir , or native styles like Meddix . The city-state of Genoa , unlike ancient Rome, bestowed the title of consul on various state officials, not necessarily restricted to the highest. Among these were Genoese officials stationed in various Mediterranean ports, whose role included helping Genoese merchants and sailors in difficulties with the local authorities. Great Britain reciprocated by appointing consuls to Genoa from 1722. This institution, with its name,

3025-450: Was then followed by a military affair at Calvi Risorta and a second military affair on 3 January 1799 at Capua before he resigned his command. Following an invasion from the army of the Kingdom of Naples on 30 September 1799, the Papal States were restored under the rule of Pope Pius VII in June 1800. The French Revolutionary Army invaded the Papal States again in 1808, after which it

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