Envoy (title)
Encyclopedia
In diplomacy
, an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary is, under the terms of the Congress of Vienna
of 1815, a diplomat of the second class
, ranking between an Ambassador
and a Minister Resident.
Usually just referred to as a Minister, an Envoy is a diplomatic representative with plenipotentiary
powers (i.e. full authority to represent the head of state), but ranking below an Ambassador. A diplomatic mission headed by an Envoy would be called a Legation. As they formally represent the head of state, they are entitled to use the title "His/Her Excellency
", which originally was reserved for Ambassadors.
Until the mid-20th Century, the majority of diplomats in the world were of the rank of Envoy, with the exchanges of ambassadors being reserved among major nations, or close allies and related monarchies. The Holy See
did not use the rank of Envoy, but instead had the equivalent titles of Internuncio and (at least in Anglo
-Papal diplomacy between 1914 and 1982) Apostolic Delegate.
After World War II
, it was no longer considered acceptable to treat some nations as inferior to others given the United Nations
doctrine of equality of sovereign states; therefore the rank of Envoy for diplomatic missions' highest-ranking officials gradually ceased.
or none (though usually held by an ambassador).
represents the Caribbean countries Aruba
, Curaçao
and Sint Maarten in the Netherlands
, where they form part of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom
.
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
, an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary is, under the terms of the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
of 1815, a diplomat of the second class
Diplomatic rank
Diplomatic rank is the system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. Over time it has been formalized on an international basis.-Ranks:...
, ranking between an Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
and a Minister Resident.
Usually just referred to as a Minister, an Envoy is a diplomatic representative with plenipotentiary
Plenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
powers (i.e. full authority to represent the head of state), but ranking below an Ambassador. A diplomatic mission headed by an Envoy would be called a Legation. As they formally represent the head of state, they are entitled to use the title "His/Her Excellency
Excellency
Excellency is an honorific style given to certain members of an organization or state.Usually, people styled "Excellency" are heads of state, heads of government, governors, ambassadors, certain ecclesiastics, royalty, aristocracy, and military, and others holding equivalent rank .It is...
", which originally was reserved for Ambassadors.
Until the mid-20th Century, the majority of diplomats in the world were of the rank of Envoy, with the exchanges of ambassadors being reserved among major nations, or close allies and related monarchies. The Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
did not use the rank of Envoy, but instead had the equivalent titles of Internuncio and (at least in Anglo
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-Papal diplomacy between 1914 and 1982) Apostolic Delegate.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it was no longer considered acceptable to treat some nations as inferior to others given the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
doctrine of equality of sovereign states; therefore the rank of Envoy for diplomatic missions' highest-ranking officials gradually ceased.
Popular parlance
In popular parlance, an envoy can mean a diplomat of any rank. Moreover, the rank of Envoy should not be confused with the position of Special Envoy, which is a relatively modern invention, appointed for a specific purpose rather than for bilateral diplomacy, and may be held by a person of any diplomatic rankDiplomatic rank
Diplomatic rank is the system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. Over time it has been formalized on an international basis.-Ranks:...
or none (though usually held by an ambassador).
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The minister plenipotentiaryMinister Plenipotentiary (Netherlands)
In the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Minister Plenipotentiary represents the government of the caribbean countries of the Kingdom in the Netherlands...
represents the Caribbean countries Aruba
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
, Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
and Sint Maarten in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, where they form part of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom
Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Council of Ministers of the Kingdom is the executive council of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which is a state consisting of four constituent countries: Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten...
.