Grand Dignitaries of the French Empire

Coat of arms of a Grand Dignitary of the French Empire

The Grand Dignitaries of the French Empire were created in 1804 by the Constitution of the Year XII, which established Napoleon Bonaparte, previously First Consul for Life, as Emperor of the French. The seven Grand Dignitaries broadly paralleled the Great Officers of the Crown which had existed under the Ancien Regime and were essentially honorific, although several limited functions were ascribed to them in the new constitution of the Empire. In the Imperial nobility the Grand Dignitaries ranked in status directly behind the Princes of France, although in practice, most Grand Dignitaries also held the title of Prince.

In 1807 two new dignitaries were created, a further two in 1809, and another in 1810, raising the final number to twelve. Many of the dignitaries were also members of the Imperial Family, with those that were not being high-ranking figures in the Imperial administration. The Grand Dignitaries were abolished along with the First Empire in 1814 upon the Bourbon Restoration, the Great Officers of the Crown of France being resurrected, and were not restored under the Second Empire.

List of Grand Dignitaries of the Empire

Louis-Alexandre Berthier, Vice-Grand Constable of the French Empire

Sources and external links

• Nicole Gotteri, Grands dignitaires, ministres et grands officiers du Premier Empire : autographes et notices biographiques, Paris, 1990, p264.
• Dictionnaire Napoléon (ed. J.Tulard), article : Noblesse d'Empire
• http://www.napoleon-empire.com/ministers.php
• http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/government/legislation/c_constitution12.html#title5