CANCELLIERE. — A noun designating, in medieval diplomatic practice, the head of the chancery. It should be noted that it was the office that received its name from the official, and not vice versa.
The term initially designated the keeper of the tribunal gates, but as early as the 15th century it is found referring to scribal duties at the imperial court (Cod. Theod., VI, 27,1); two centuries later it already denoted an office of considerable importance, judging from certain references by Cassiodorus (Vaprae, XI, 6,10. 14. 36. 37. 39; XII, 1. 3. 10. 12. 14. 15, ed. Th. Mommsen, in MGH, Auct. antiquis., XII). In the Roman curia as well, the cancellarius S. romanae Ecclesiae (v. CANCELLERIA) was one of the most prominent offices and was conferred upon prelates of cardinal rank. In the exercise of his functions, the c. was often confused with the tabelliones and the notarii, until the growing prestige of his office brought him to the summit of chancery duties.
In the Roman Curia there are also various other offices bearing the title of c.: thus the “c. of apostolic briefs” (v. SEGRE-
Pictorial decoration from the 18th–19th centuries, with recent restorations.
TERIA DI STATO), the “c. notary of the S. Congregation of Rites” (v. CONGREGAZIONI ROMANE, SACRE), the c., or “notary of the S. romana Rota” (v. ROTA). Moreover, every pontifical university has a “grand c.” (v. UNIVERSITÀ). Finally, in every diocesan curia there are one or more c. (v. CURIA DIOCESANA; TRIBUNALE).