Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Civil servant
(2,636 words)

1. Officials and functions

The growth of the state’s authority in the early modern period was intimately associated with the development of a professional government, whose officials were united in defence of the authority of the state and the struggle for their own social status and interests. It was not until the 18th century, however, that these officials were all called civil servants (instead of servants, counselors, Amtmänner, etcetera), …

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Asch, Ronald G., “Civil servant”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_017432>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20160907



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