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{{short description|System of professional and social rank}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Original research|date=February 2012}}
{{Globalize|date=February 2012}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2015}}}}{{Diplomats}}
'''Diplomatic rank''' is a system of professional and [[social rank]] used in the world of [[diplomacy]] and [[international relation]]s. A diplomat's rank determines many ceremonial details, such as the [[order of precedence]] at official processions, [[Seating plan|table seatings]] at state dinners, the person to whom [[letter of credence|diplomatic credentials]] should be presented, and the title by which the diplomat should be addressed.

== International diplomacy ==

=== Ranks ===
The current system of diplomatic ranks was established by the [[Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations]] (1961).<ref name="vienna1961">{{cite web|title=Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations|url=http://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_1_1961.pdf|date=18 April 1961}}</ref> There are three top ranks, two of which remain in use:

* ''[[Ambassador]]''. An ambassador is a [[head of mission]] who is accredited to the receiving country's [[head of state]]. They head a [[diplomatic mission]] known as an [[embassy]], headquartered in a [[Chancery (diplomacy)|chancery]] usually in the receiving state's [[Capital city|capital]].
** A [[apostolic nuncio|papal nuncio]] is considered to have ambassadorial rank, and presides over a [[nunciature]].
** [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth countries]] send a [[High Commissioner (Commonwealth)|high commissioner]] who presides over a [[High commissioner|high commission]] and has the same diplomatic rank as an ambassador.
* ''[[Envoy (title)|Minister]]''. A minister was a [[head of mission]] who was accredited to the receiving country's head of state. A minister headed a [[legation]] rather than an embassy. After World War II, the embassy became the standard form of diplomatic mission, and the rank of minister is now obsolete. Many countries use the title minister-counsellor to refer to the deputy head of a mission,<ref name="HistoryAtState"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ediplomat.com/nd/glossary.htm#M|title=Glossary of Diplomatic Terms|website=e Diplomat}}</ref> but does not hold the rank of minister{{clarify|date=December 2022}}.
** An envoy or an [[internuncio]] is also considered to have the rank of minister.
* ''[[Chargé d'affaires]]'':
** A chargé d'affaires ''en pied'' is a permanent [[head of mission]] who is accredited by their country's [[foreign minister]] to the receiving nation's foreign minister, in cases where the two governments have not reached an agreement to exchange ambassadors.
** A chargé d'affaires ''ad interim'' is a diplomat who temporarily heads a diplomatic mission in the absence of an ambassador.

The body of diplomats accredited to a country form the [[diplomatic corps]]. Ambassadors have precedence over chargés, and precedence within each rank is determined by the date on which [[letter of credence|diplomatic credentials]] were presented.<ref>{{cite web |title=Diplomatic List: Order of Precedence and Date of Presentation of Credentials |date=11 March 2005|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/dpl/29710.htm|publisher=Office of the Chief of Protocol, U.S. Department of State|access-date=23 March 2016}}</ref> The longest-serving ambassador is the [[Diplomatic corps#Dean of the Diplomatic Corps|dean of the diplomatic corps]], who speaks for the entire diplomatic corps on matters of diplomatic privilege and protocol. In many Catholic countries, the [[Apostolic nuncio|papal nuncio]] is always considered the dean of the diplomatic corps.

=== Historical ranks, 1815–1961 ===

The ranks established by the Vienna Convention (1961) modify a more elaborate system of ranks that was established by the [[Congress of Vienna]] (1815):<ref name="vienna1815_en">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Regulation of Vienna on the classification of diplomatic agents|encyclopedia=Yearbook of the International Law Commission|date=1957|volume=II|language=fr|url=http://legal.un.org/docs/?path=../ilc/documentation/english/reports/a_cn4_110.pdf|page=135}}</ref>

* ''[[Ambassador]]s'', legates and nuncios were personal representatives of their sovereign.
* ''[[Envoy (title)|Envoys]]'' and ministers represented their government and were accredited to the receiving sovereign. 
* ''[[Resident (title)|Ministers resident]]'' formed an intermediate class between ministers and chargés. This rank was created by the [[Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle (1818)]]<ref name="vienna1818_en">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Protocol signed at Aix-la-Chapelle on 21 November 1818|encyclopedia=Yearbook of the International Law Commission|date=1957|volume=II|language=fr|url=http://legal.un.org/docs/?path=../ilc/documentation/english/reports/a_cn4_110.pdf|page=136}}</ref> 
* ''[[Chargé d'affaires|Chargés d'affaires]]'' were accredited by their foreign minister to the receiving foreign minister.

The rank of ''envoy'' was short for "envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary", and was more commonly known as "minister".<ref name="HistoryAtState">{{cite web|author=Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State|website=HistoryAtState|title=Ambassadors vs. Ministers|url=http://historyatstate.tumblr.com/post/88960580988/ambassadors-vs-ministers|date=2014}}</ref> For example, the "envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States to the French Empire" was known as the "[[United States Minister to France]]" and addressed as "Monsieur le Ministre".<ref name="washburne_memoirs_1">{{cite book|last1=Washburne|first1=E. B.|title=Recollections of a Minister to France, Volume I|date=1887|publisher=Scribner|location=New York}}</ref><ref name="washburne_memoirs_2">{{cite book|last1=Washburne|first1=E. B.|title=Recollections of a Minister to France, Volume II|date=1887|publisher=Scribner|location=New York}}</ref>

An Ambassador was regarded as the personal representative of his sovereign as well as his government.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Ministers, Foreign |encyclopedia=The popular encyclopedia; or, 'Conversations Lexicon'|publisher=W. G. Blackie|location=Glasgow|quote=Those of the first class, to whom in France the title of ''ambassadeurs'' is restricted, are not merely the agents of their government, but represent their sovereign personally, and receive honours and enjoy privileges accordingly. They can be sent out only by such states as possess royal honours.}}</ref> Only major monarchies would exchange Ambassadors with each other, while smaller monarchies and republics only sent Ministers. Because of diplomatic reciprocity, [[Great Power]]s would only send a minister to a smaller monarchy or a republic.<ref name="allen2012">{{cite book|last1=Allen|first1=Debra J.|title=Historical Dictionary of U.S. Diplomacy from the Revolution to Secession|date=2012|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Lanham, Md.|isbn=9780810878952|page=84|quote=Basically, because of diplomatic protocol, a receiving state would not dispatch a representative with a higher rank than it has received, so when the U.S. sent ministers, it also received ministers, not ambassadors. ... The U.S. adjusted its ranking system in 1893 and began to send and receive ambassadors.}}</ref> For example, in the waning years of the [[Second French Empire]], the United Kingdom sent an ambassador to Paris, while [[Union between Sweden and Norway|Sweden-Norway]] and the United States sent ministers.<ref>{{cite book|title=Chambers's handy guide to Paris|date=1867|publisher=W. & R. Chambers|location=London and Edinburgh|page=167}}</ref>

The rule that only monarchies could send ambassadors was more honored in the breach than the observance. This had been true even before the Congress of Vienna, as England continued to appoint ambassadors even while [[Commonwealth of England|it was a republic]] from 1649-1660.<ref name="satow1932">{{cite book|last1=Satow|first1=Ernest Mason|title=A Guide to Diplomatic Practice|url=https://archive.org/details/guidetodiplomati00satouoft|date=1932|publisher=Longmans|location=London}}</ref> Countries that overthrew their monarchs proved to be unwilling to accept the lower rank accorded to a republic. After the [[Franco-Prussian War]], the [[French Third Republic]] continued to send and receive ambassadors.<ref name="washburne_memoirs_2"/> The rule became increasingly untenable as the United States grew into a Great Power. The United States followed the French precedent in 1893, and began to exchange ambassadors with other Great Powers.<ref name="HistoryAtState"/>

Historically, the [[order of precedence]] had been a matter of great dispute. European powers agreed that the [[Apostolic nuncio|papal nuncio]] and [[Holy Roman Empire|imperial]] ambassador would have precedence, but could not agree on the relative precedence of the kingdoms and smaller countries. In 1768, the French and Russian ambassadors to Great Britain even fought a [[duel]] over who had the right to sit next to the imperial ambassador at a court ball. After several diplomatic incidents between their ambassadors, France and Spain agreed in 1761 to let the date of arrival determine their precedence. In 1760, Portugal attempted to apply seniority to all ambassadors, but the rule was rejected by the other European courts.<ref name="satow1932"/>

The Congress of Vienna finally put an end to these disputes over precedence. After an initial attempt to divide countries into three ranks faltered on the question of which country should be in each rank, the Congress instead decided to divide ''diplomats'' into three ranks. A fourth rank was added by the [[Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle (1818)]]. Each diplomatic rank had precedence over the lower ranks, and precedence within each rank was determined by the date that their [[letter of credence|credentials]] were presented. The papal nuncio could be given a different precedence than the other ambassadors. The [[Holy Roman Empire]] had ceased to exist in 1806, so the Austrian ambassador would accumulate seniority along with the other ambassadors.<ref name="satow1932"/><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=British and Foreign History|page=268|quote=The 17th particular act annexed to the general treaty of Vienna, containing regulations concerning the precedence of diplomatic agents, may at first sight seem of little comparative moment: but it will not be thus regarded by those who recollect how often disputes concerning precedency among ambassadors have assumed a very serious and alarming aspect, and somewhat a strong tendency to produce hostilities. The fourth article of this act is well calculated to do away all future disputes on this head.|encyclopedia=The New Annual Register, Or General Repository of History, Politics, and Literature, for the Year 1816|date=1816|publisher=William Stockdale|location=London}}</ref>

=== Bilateral diplomacy ===
[[File:Diplomatic hierarchy.png|thumb|The distinction between managers and officers is not necessarily as apparent. Senior officers (such as first and second secretaries) often manage junior diplomats and locally hired staff.]]

In modern diplomatic practice, there are a number of diplomatic ranks below Ambassador. Since most missions are now headed by an ambassador, these ranks now rarely indicate a mission's (or its host nation's) relative importance, but rather reflect the diplomat's individual seniority within their own nation's diplomatic career path and in the diplomatic corps in the host nation:

*'''[[Ambassador]]''' ('''[[High Commissioner]]''' in [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] missions to other Commonwealth countries); [[ambassador at large]]
*'''Minister'''
*'''Minister-Counsellor/Counsellor'''
*'''First Secretary'''
*'''Second Secretary'''
*'''Third Secretary'''
*'''[[Attaché]]'''
*'''Assistant Attaché'''

The term ''[[attaché]]'' is used for any diplomatic agent who does not fit in the standard diplomatic ranks, often because they are not (or were not traditionally) members of the sending country's diplomatic service or [[foreign ministry]], and were therefore only "attached" to the diplomatic mission. The most frequent use is for [[military attaché]]s, but the diplomatic title may be used for any specific individual or position as required, generally related to a specific or technical field. Since administrative and technical staff benefit from only limited [[diplomatic immunity]], some countries may routinely appoint support staff as attachés. Attaché does not, therefore, denote any rank or position (except in Soviet and post-Soviet diplomatic services, where attaché is the lowest diplomatic rank of a career diplomat). Note that many traditional functionary roles, such as [[press attaché]] or [[cultural attaché]], are not formal titles in diplomatic practice, although they may be used as a matter of custom.

===Multilateral diplomacy===
Furthermore, outside this traditional pattern of bilateral diplomacy, as a rule on a permanent residency basis (though sometimes doubling elsewhere), certain ranks and positions were created specifically for multilateral diplomacy:
*An [[ambassador-at-large]] is equivalent to an ambassador and assigned specific tasks or region in which they are assigned various assignments aimed at multi track diplomacy.
*A [[permanent representative]] is the equivalent of an ambassador, normally of that rank, but accredited to an international body (mainly by member—and possibly observer—states), not to a head of state.
*A [[resident (title)|resident representative]] (or sometimes simply ''representative'') is also a member of the diplomatic corps, but is below the rank of ambassador. A representative is accredited by an international organization (generally a United Nations agency, or a [[Bretton Woods system|Bretton Woods]] institution) to a country's government. The resident representative typically heads the country office of that international organization within that country.
*A ''special ambassador or honorary ambassador'' is a government's specialist diplomat in a particular field, not posted in residence, but often traveling around the globe.
*The [[Office of the United States Trade Representative|U.S.&nbsp;trade representative]] (USTR) is an ambassador of Cabinet rank, in charge of U.S. delegations in multilateral trade negotiations (since 1962). The USTR's special agricultural negotiator also typically holds an ambassadorial appointment.

====Special envoy====
Special envoys have been created ''ad hoc'' by individual countries, treaties and international organizations including the United Nations. A few examples are provided below:

* Belgium: In 2005, former cabinet member Pierre Chevalier served as ''Special Envoy of the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] presidency'' to mediate in the [[Gazprom]] natural gas-pipeline crisis involving Russia, Ukraine, and the [[European Union]]. In addition, [[Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este|Princess Astrid of Belgium]] has served as ''Special Envoy of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention or [[Ottawa Treaty]],'' to promote the formal prohibition of [[Land mine|landmines]] and the rights of the survivors of said weapons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.apminebanconvention.org/newsroom/press-release-archives/archives-2013/detail/article/1371722802-princess-astrid-of-belgium-to-serve-as-special-envoy-of-the-convention/|title=PRINCESS ASTRID OF BELGIUM TO SERVE AS SPECIAL ENVOY OF THE CONVENTION|date=2013-06-20|website=Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention|access-date=2017-02-06}}</ref>
* India: During the [[2006 democracy movement in Nepal]], India sent on April 18 [[Karan Singh]], who is related to royalty in both predominantly Hindu countries, as ''Special Envoy'' to neighbouring Nepal, where increasingly violent opposition started its successful challenge of the king's autocratic rule. Another instance was during the 2009 Copenhagen climate change summit, India appointed senior diplomat [[Shyam Saran]] as a special envoy to coordinate the negotiating position of the [[BASIC countries]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6078 |title=Meeting Shyam Saran &#124; Worldwatch Institute |publisher=Worldwatch.org |access-date=2015-11-25}}</ref>
* United Kingdom: Appointed special envoys from time to time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2008-07-14c.211748.h |title=Ministerial Policy Advisers: 14 Jul 2008: Hansard Written Answers |publisher=TheyWorkForYou |access-date=2015-11-25}}</ref>
* European Union: appointed various ''special representatives'' (some regional, some thematic); e.g.,&nbsp;in 2005—as a response to events in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan—the Council of the EU appointed [[Ján Kubiš|Jan Kubis]] as its ''Special Representative for Central Asia''.
* Pakistan: Prime Minister [[Nawaz Sharif]] appointed ambassador [[Javed Malik]] as Pakistan's special envoy for trade and investment based in the [[Gulf Cooperation Council|GCC]] Gulf region with a diplomatic rank of an ambassador
* United States: appointed numerous special envoys including a [[United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland|special envoy for Northern Ireland]] with the diplomatic rank of ambassador to help with the [[Northern Ireland peace process]]. Special envoys have also been appointed for [[United States Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan|Afghanistan]], [[Tim Lenderking|Yemen]], Sudan, Syria, Middle East peace, Eurasian energy, climate change, and human rights in North Korea. Other posts include special representative, special advisor, and special coordinator.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024091504/http://www.state.gov/s/index.htm|url=https://state.gov/s/index.htm|url-status=dead|title=Bureaus/Offices Reporting Directly to the Secretary|publisher=State.gov|date=2009-01-20|access-date=2015-11-25|archive-date=2015-10-24}}</ref>
* The [[Secretary-General of the United Nations]] personally mandates special envoys for a particular field, including:
** [[United Nations Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa]]
** [[United Nations Special Envoy on Climate Change]]
** United Nations Special Envoy for Kosovo
** United Nations Special Envoy for Darfur
** United Nations Special Envoy for Refugees
* The [[UNESCO#Director-General|director-general of UNESCO]] appoints special envoys who can use their talents and renown to further the organization's ideals and action. Envoys include:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/goodwill-ambassadors/special-envoys/|title=UNESCO Special Envoys|publisher=unesco.org |date=2018-06-26 |access-date=2018-06-26}}</ref>
** Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education [[Moza bint Nasser|Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al-Missned]] of Qatar
** Special Envoy for Water Prince [[Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud|Talal bin Abdulaziz al Saud]]
** Special Envoy on Literacy for Development [[Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands]]
* A ''[[sui generis]]'' case is the [[High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
* The Australian [[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)|Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade]] maintains a variety of [[List of Australian special interests Ambassadors and Envoys|special interest ambassador and envoy positions]] including the ambassador for counter-terrorism and the ambassador for the environment.
* The [[Niue]] Government appoints special envoys to expand Niue's presence internationally. Envoys include 
** Special Envoy to [[Niue]] for COP26 [[2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvniue.com/2021/10/dr-dean-rex-is-niues-special-envoy-to-cop26/|title=Dr. Dean Rex is Niue's Special Envoy to COP26|publisher=NiueTV|date=2021-11-12}}</ref> 
** Special Envoy to [[Niue]] for the 2022 Japan State Funeral for the former Japan Prime Minister [[Shinzo Abe]]

==Usage worldwide==
Most countries worldwide have some form of internal rank, roughly parallel to the diplomatic ranks, which are used in their [[Foreign Service Institute|foreign service]] or [[civil service]] in general. The correspondence is not exact, however, for various reasons, including the fact that according to diplomatic usage, all Ambassadors are of equal rank, but Ambassadors of more senior rank are typically sent to more important postings. Some countries may make specific links or comparisons to [[military rank]]s.

===Australia===

Officers from the [[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)|Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade]] (DFAT) are graded into four broad bands (BB1 to BB4),<ref>https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/dfat-enterprise-agreement-2024.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=July 2025}}</ref> with the Senior Executive Service (SES Band&nbsp;1 to SES Band&nbsp;3) following above.

Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Consuls-General usually come from the Senior Executive Service, although in smaller posts the head of mission may be a BB4&nbsp;officer. Generally speaking (and there are variations in ranking and nomenclature between posts and positions), Counsellors are represented by BB4&nbsp;officers; Consuls and First and Second Secretaries are BB3&nbsp;officers and Third Secretaries and Vice Consuls are BB2&nbsp;officers. DFAT only posts a limited number of low-level BB1&nbsp;staff abroad. In large [[Diplomatic missions of Australia|Australian missions]] an SES&nbsp;officer who is not the head of mission could be posted with the rank of Minister.

===Brazil===
The Brazilian Foreign Service (''Serviço Exterior Brasileiro'') is made up of three careers: the Diplomat Career, the Chancery Officer Career and the Chancery Assistant Career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_Ato2004-2006/2006/Lei/L11440.htm|title = LEI Nº 11.440, DE 29 DE DEZEMBRO DE 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://antigo.itamaraty.gov.br/pt-BR/perguntas-frequentes-artigos/19363-o-ministerio-das-relacoes-exteriores-e-as-carreiras-do-servico-exterior |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521175742/http://antigo.itamaraty.gov.br/pt-BR/perguntas-frequentes-artigos/19363-o-ministerio-das-relacoes-exteriores-e-as-carreiras-do-servico-exterior |archive-date=2021-05-21 |title=O Itamaraty e as carreiras do Serviço Exterior}}</ref>

* Assistente de Chancelaria (''Chancery Assistants / Attaché'') are career civil servants with a minimum high-school degree who provide technical and administrative support in Brazil and in Brazilian representations abroad. 
* Oficial de Chancelaria (''Chancery Officers / Attaché'') are career civil servants with a minimum university degree who contribute for the formulation, implementation and execution of acts of technical analysis and administrative management, necessary for the development of Brazilian foreign policy.
* Diplomata (''Diplomat'') are career civil servants responsible for diplomatic and consular activities, in their specific aspects of representation, negotiation, information and protection of Brazilian interests in the international field.
<br />
There are no ranks in the Chancery Assistant or Chancery Officer careers, nor a hierarchy between careers. However, when working abroad, it is common for Chancery Assistants and Chancery Officers to be assigned to sensitive functions, such as the Vice-Consul, and/or as Head of Sectors such as administration, accounting, communications, processing of political, commercial, diplomatic or consular information.

There are six ranks in the Diplomat career, in hierarchical order:
* ''{{lang|pt-BR|Terceiro(a)-Secretário(a)}}'' ("Third secretary")
* ''{{lang|pt-BR|Segundo(a)-Secretário(a)}}'' ("Second secretary")
* ''{{lang|pt-BR|Primeiro(a)-Secretário(a)}}'' ("First secretary")
* ''{{lang|pt-BR|Conselheiro(a)}}'' ("Counsellor")
* ''{{lang|pt-BR|Ministro(a) de Segunda Classe}}'' ("Minister, second class")
* ''{{lang|pt-BR|Ministro(a) de Primeira Classe}}'' ("Minister, first class", usually referred to as 'Ambassador')
<br />
''{{lang|pt-BR|Embaixador / Embaixadora}}'' is the honorary dignity conceded permanently when a Minister of First Class assumes a Post overseas. It can also be a temporary assignment, when carried on by a lower-rank diplomat or Brazilian politician of high level.

===China===
The ranks of the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China]] are defined by the Law on Diplomatic Personnel Stationed Abroad, passed in 2009 by the [[National People's Congress]]:<ref>{{cite act | date = 31 October 2009 | article = III Functions & Ranks | article-type = Chapter | title = Law of the People's Republic of China on Diplomatic Personnel Stationed Abroad | url = http://www.npc.gov.cn/zgrdw/englishnpc/Law/2011-02/16/content_1620759.htm | language = English}}</ref>
* Attaché ([[Simplified Chinese]]: 随员; [[Pinyin]]: ''suíyuán'')
* Third Secretary (三等秘书; ''sānděng mìshū'')
* Second Secretary (二等秘书; ''èrděng mìshū'')
* First Secretary (一等秘书; ''yīděng mìshū'')
* Counselor (参赞; ''cānzàn'')
* Minister (公使; ''gōngshǐ'')
* Ambassador (大使; ''dàshǐ'')

===Egypt===

The following ranks are used in the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

* Diplomatic Attaché <ref>https://msa.edu.eg/msauniversity/egyptian-ministry-of-foreign-affairss-competition/ {{Bare URL inline|date=July 2025}}</ref>
* Third Secretary<ref>https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2025/05/27/250527b.html {{Bare URL inline|date=July 2025}}</ref>
* Second Secretary
* First Secretary
* Counselor
* Minister Plenipotentiary <ref>https://www.gcsp.ch/experts/amb-dr-sameh-aboul-enein {{Bare URL inline|date=July 2025}}</ref>
* Ambassador

===France===

There are five ranks in the French Diplomatic Service:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Légifrance – legifrance|url=https://journal-officiel.legifrance.gouv.fr/|access-date=2020-09-15|website=journal-officiel.legifrance.gouv.fr}}</ref>
(in ascending order)
* ''{{lang|fr|Secrétaire de chancellerie}}''
* ''{{lang|fr|Secrétaire des affaires étrangères}}'' (''du cadre général'' or else ''du cadre d'Orient'')
* ''{{lang|fr|Conseiller des affaires étrangères}}'' (''du cadre général'' or else ''du cadre d'Orient'')
* ''{{lang|fr|Ministre plénipotentiaire}}'', the most common rank for [[head of mission|heads of mission]], but it also applies to some ministers-counsellors in important embassies
* ''{{lang|fr|Ambassadeur de France}}'', an honorary dignity

There are two additional ranks for ICT specialists (also in ascending order):

* ''{{lang|fr|Secrétaire des systèmes d'information et de communication}}''
* ''{{lang|fr|Attaché des systèmes d'information et de communication}}''

=== Germany ===

The German Foreign Service uses a rank system<ref>[[:de:Liste der Amtsbezeichnungen im auswärtigen Dienst]]</ref> that is connected to that of the rest of the civil administration and to military ranks through a common pay table. All ranks also occur in female form.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Diplomatic rank in: Foreign Office, embassies, consulates
! Pay grade
! Military rank equivalent
|-
| Konsulatssekretäranwärter || aspirant || officer candidate
|-
| Konsulatssekretär || A 9 || 2nd lieutenant
|-
| Konsulatssekretär 1. Klasse || A 10 || 1st lieutenant
|-
| Regierungsamtmann, Kanzler || A 11 || rowspan="2" | Captain
|-
| Amtsrat, Kanzler 1. Klasse || A 12
|-
| Oberamtsrat, Kanzler 1. Klasse, Konsul || A 13 || [[Stabshauptmann]]
|-
| Attaché || aspirant || -
|-
| Legationsrat || A 13 || Major
|-
| Legationsrat Erster Klasse, Konsul Erster Klasse || A 14 || rowspan="2" | Lieutenant colonel
|-
| Vortragender Legationsrat, Botschaftsrat || A 15
|-
| Vortragender Legationsrat Erster Klasse, Botschaftsrat Erster Klasse || A 16 - B 3 || Colonel
|-
| Gesandter, Generalkonsul || A 16 - B 6 according to importance || Colonel - Brigadier general
|-
| Botschafter || A 15 - B 9 according to importance || Lieutenant colonel - Lieutenant general
|}

=== Greece ===
The Greek Foreign Service uses a system initially modelled after military ranks. All ranks correspond to the Diplomatic Branch's rank and pay by law,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-02 |title=Νόμος 4781/2021 - ΦΕΚ 31/Α/28-2-2021 (Άρθρα 1-286) (Κωδικοποιημένος) |url=https://www.e-nomothesia.gr/diplomatiki-nomothesia-diethneis-organismoi/nomos-4781-2021-phek-31a-28-2-2021-1.html |access-date=2025-09-10 |website=e-nomothesia.gr {{!}} Τράπεζα Πληροφοριών Νομοθεσίας |language=el}}</ref> albeit their functions are largely different.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
![[Hellenic Army]]
!Diplomatic Branch
!Economic and Commercial Affairs Branch
!Experts Branch
!Special Legal Service
|-
|[[Lieutenant general]]
|Ambassador
|''no equivalent''
|''no equivalent''
|''no equivalent''
|-
|[[Major general]]
|First Minister Plenipotentiary
|First General Counsel for Economic and Commercial Affairs
|First Expert Ambassador - Councilor 
|Special Legal Advisor and First Legal Advisor
|-
|[[Brigadier general]]
|Second Minister Plenipotentiary
|Second General Counsel for Economic and Trade Affairs
|Second Expert Ambassador - Councilor 
|Second Legal Advisor
|-
|[[Colonel]]
|First Embassy Councilor
|First Councilor for Economic and Trade Affairs
|First Expert - Councilor 
|Deputy Legal Advisor
|-
|[[Lieutenant colonel]]
|Second Embassy Councilor
|Second Councilor for Economic and Trade Affairs
|Second Expert - Councilor 
|''no equivalent''
|-
|[[Major (rank)|Major]]
|First Embassy Secretary
|First Secretary for Economic and Trade Affairs
| rowspan="4" |''no equivalent''
|Rapporteur
|-
|[[Captain]]
|Second Embassy Secretary
|Second Secretary for Economic and Trade Affairs
| rowspan="3" |''no equivalent''
|-
|[[First lieutenant]]
|Third Embassy Secretary
|Third Secretary for Economic and Trade Affairs
|-
|[[Second lieutenant]]
|Embassy '''[[Attaché]]'''
|Economic and Trade Affairs Attaché
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Diplomatic Branch
!Communications Branch
|-
|First Minister Plenipotentiary
|First Communications General Counsel
|-
|Second Minister Plenipotentiary
|Second Communications General Counsel
|-
|First Embassy Councilor
|First Communications Councilor
|-
|Second Embassy Councilor
|Second Communications Councilor
|-
|First Embassy Secretary
|First Communications Secretary
|-
|Second Embassy Secretary
|Second Communications Secretary
|-
|Third Embassy Secretary
|Third Communications Secretary
|-
|Embassy '''[[Attaché]]'''
|Communications Attache
|}

=== Hungary ===
The ranks at the Hungarian Foreign Service are the following.:

* Segédattasé – Assistant Attaché
*Attasé – Attaché
*III. osztályú titkár- Third Secretary
* II. osztályú titkár – Second Secretary
*I. osztályú titkár – First Secretary
*II. osztály tanácsos – Second Counsellor
*I. osztályú tanácsos – First Counsellor
*Rendkívüli követ és meghatalmazott miniszter – Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
* Nagykövet - Ambassador

=== Italy ===
In [[Italy]], ranks and functions are not exactly connected: each rank can cover several functions. Moreover, several exceptions apply.

* ''{{lang|it|Segretario di legazione in prova}}'' ("Secretary of Legation in probation period"): 9-month training period at the beginning of the career (no other functions)
* ''{{lang|it|Segretario di legazione}}'' ("Secretary of Legation"): second secretary at an embassy, head of vice-consulate, vice-consul
* ''{{lang|it|Consigliere di legazione}}'' ("Counsellor of Legation"): counsellor at an embassy, consul (head of a first-class general consulate)
* ''{{lang|it|Consigliere d'ambasciata}}'' ("Counsellor of Embassy"): first counsellor at an embassy, consul
* ''{{lang|it|Ministro plenipotenziario}}'' ("Minister Plenipotentiary"): ambassador (as for functions), minister-counsellor at an embassy, head of a Directorate at the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Italy)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]
* ''{{lang|it|Ambasciatore}}'' ("Ambassador"): ambassador (thus both as for the rank and for the functions), General Secretary or head of a Directorate at the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Italy)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]

There are about 30 people who hold the rank of Ambassador. Therefore, most of the about 150 Italian embassies or permanent representations are held by a Minister Plenipotentiary: traditionally, ambassadors are appointed to the most important representations, such as [[London]], [[Paris]], [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]], [[New Delhi]] and [[Peking]] embassies and representations to the [[United Nations|UN]] in [[New York City]] and the [[European Union|EU]] in [[Brussels]].

=== Mexico ===
After the merger of the Consular and Diplomatic Corps, the current grades of Mexican career diplomats are (in ascending order)

* ''{{lang|es|Agregado Diplomático}}'' ("Diplomatic Attaché"): title held during the one-year training program at the Diplomatic School and an internship in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
* ''{{lang|es|Tercer Secretario}}'' ("Embassy Secretary, Third Secretary").
* ''{{lang|es|Segundo Secretario}}'' ("Embassy Secretary, Second Secretary").
* ''{{lang|es|Primer Secretario}}'' ("Embassy Secretary, First Secretary").
* ''{{lang|es|Consejero}}'' ("Counsellor").
* ''{{lang|es|Ministro}}'' ("Minister").
* ''{{lang|es|Embajador}}'' ("Ambassador").

There are additional ranks for Administrative specialists and Staff, this civil servants are also part of the Mexican Foreign Service.

* ''{{lang|es|Coordinador Administrativo}}'' ("Administrative Coordinator")
* ''{{lang|es|Agregado Administrativo A}}'' ("Administrative Attache A").
* ''{{lang|es|Agregado Administrativo B}}'' ("Administrative Attache B").
* ''{{lang|es|Agregado Administrativo C}}'' ("Administrative Attache C").
* ''{{lang|es|Agregado Administrativo D}}'' ("Administrative Attache D").

=== Portugal ===
In ascending order, the five ranks of the Portuguese diplomatic career are, as defined in the Statute of the Diplomatic Career (''Estatuto da Carreira Diplomática''):<ref name="EstatutoCarreiraDiplomática">{{cite web |url=https://dre.pt/web/guest/legislacao-consolidada/-/lc/107065786/201505140200/73425752/diplomaExpandido/indice |title=Estatuto da Carreira Diplomática (Decreto-Lei n.º 40-A/98) |last= |first= |date=27 February 1998 |website=Diário da República Eletrónico |publisher= |access-date=15 January 2021 |quote=}}</ref>

* ''{{lang|pt|Adido de embaixada}}'' ("Embassy Attaché")
* ''{{lang|pt|Secretário de embaixada}}'' ("Embassy Secretary")
* ''{{lang|pt|Conselheiro de embaixada}}'' ("Embassy Counsellor")
* ''{{lang|pt|Ministro plenipotenciário}}'' ("Minister Plenipotentiary")
* ''{{lang|pt|Embaixador}}'' ("Ambassador")

Ministers Plenipotentiary who have been in that rank for three or more years are called "Minister Plenipotentiary, First Class" (''ministro plenipotenciário de 1.ª classe''), those who have been in the rank for less than three years are called "Minister Plenipotentiary, Second Class" (''ministro plenipotenciário de 2.ª classe''). Embassy Secretaries who have been in that rank for six years or more and in the diplomatic career for eight years or more are called "First Embassy Secretary" (''primeiro-secretário de embaixada''), those who have been in the rank for three years or more and for five years or more in the diplomatic career are called "Second Embassy Secretary" (''segundo-secretário de embaixada''), and those who have been in that rank for less than three years are called "Third Embassy Secretary" (''terceiro-secretário de embaixada'').<ref name="EstatutoCarreiraDiplomática"/>

=== Russia ===
The [[diplomatic ranks in Russian Federation]] were introduced with enactment of the Federal Law of 27 July 2010 No.205-FZ.<ref>{{cite act|type=Federal Law|index=205-FZ|date=27 July 2010|legislature=[[State Duma]]|title=Об особенностях прохождения федеральной государственной гражданской службы в системе Министерства иностранных дел Российской Федерации|language=ru|url=http://pravo.gov.ru/proxy/ips/?searchres=&bpas=cd00000&a3=102000505&a3type=1&a3value=&a6=&a6type=1&a6value=&a15=&a15type=1&a15value=&a7type=1&a7from=&a7to=&a7date=27.07.2010&a8=205-%D4%C7&a8type=1&a1=&a0=&a16=&a16type=1&a16value=&a17=&a17type=1&a17value=&a4=&a4type=1&a4value=&a23=&a23type=1&a23value=&textpres=&sort=7&x=56&y=10}}</ref> Diplomatic ranks are not to be confused with diplomatic positions (posts).

=== Singapore ===
The Singapore Foreign Service also has a merged Diplomatic and Consular Corps. 

Its career diplomats and diplomatic support staff are split across two discrete career schemes, namely: (a) '''Foreign Service Officers'''; and (b) '''Foreign Service Administration Specialists'''. 

'''Foreign Service Officers (FSOs)''' 

FSOs are selected through multiple rounds of highly competitive written and observational psychometric and neuropsychological evaluations. Being one of the most exclusive and sought-after roles in the entire Singapore Civil Service, FSO candidates are typically drawn from graduates of the world's top universities. This is especially the case for candidates vying to be emplaced on the extremely competitive Political Track, of which only around 20 are recruited nationwide annually.   

Regardless, most candidates who are eventually selected, possess degrees with First Class Honours from the world's top fifty universities (e.g. the [[University of Oxford]] or the [[University of Cambridge]] in the United Kingdom, many of the Ivy League institutions in the United States, or Singapore's two most prestigious universities - the [[National University of Singapore]] and the [[Nanyang Technological University]]).   

'''Foreign Service Administration Specialists (FSASes)'''

FSASes, on the other hand, while still selected through some manner of written and observational assessments, are typically those bearing more conventional educational qualifications. These include graduates from top universities but without "good" honours, or from private and mainstream universities. A large number of FSASes also include Polytechnic graduates (who possess Diplomas).

Given the above, FSOs typically occupy the managerial positions, while FSASes generally perform more operational roles. [<u>Note</u>: FSOs are typically the diplomats, while FSASes serve as support staff.] 

Officials from both schemes occupy billets at both the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as Singapore's Overseas Missions (Embassies/High Commissions/Consulates-General/Consulates) - which number over 50.

'''Rank on Post'''

FSOs are posted to Singapore's overseas missions at the rank of Second Secretary, while FSASes are posted according to their substantive grades (typically ranging from Assistant Mission Support Officer to Attache - although in rare cases some senior FSASes may be promoted up to the rank of Third/Second/First Secretary). [<u>Note</u>: FSOs and FSASes are on discrete career tracks. Hence, even the rare FSAS who holds a senior diplomatic rank on post, will not enjoy a similar substantive grade or pay to that of an FSO.]

Regardless of rank, personnel are typically split across three tracks: (a) '''Political''', (b) '''Administration and Consular''', (c) '''Administration and Technical'''. Officers on the Political track take precedence over the rest, as all Heads of Mission (HOMs) or Deputy Chiefs of Mission (DCMs) are generally Political Officers. [<u>Note</u>: The Political track is reserved exclusively for FSOs.]

'''Other ministries and agencies '''

Personnel seconded from other government agencies receive different protocol-based suffixes and titles from those in the Foreign Service, which differ from the wider public and military services' ranks/grades and titles. For instance, a First Secretary (Economic) would represent a middle-manager of Senior Assistant Director-rank from the Ministry of Trade and Industry. While such persons may hold diplomatic status temporarily, they are not considered to be part of the career Foreign Service.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Diplomatic rank
! Consular Rank
!Military rank equivalent (by protocol)
! Notes
|-
| Ambassador / High Commissioner ||
| || rowspan="2" |[<u>Note</u>: An Ambassador / High Commissioner / Consul-General in his country of post would take precedence over any Singapore military officer, by protocol.]
|-
|
|Consul-General
|Major General (MG)
|-
| Minister-Counsellor || 
|Brigadier General (BG)|| rowspan="2" |Political-Track FSOs of this rank usually concurrently hold the DCM appointment in larger Missions.
|-
| Counsellor || 
|Colonel (COL)
|-
|First Secretary
|Consul
|Senior Lieutenant Colonel (SLTC)/Lieutenant Colonel (LTC)
| rowspan="2" |Political-Track FSOs of this rank usually concurrently hold the DCM appointment in smaller Missions (e.g. Consulates-General or Consulates).
|-
|Second Secretary || Vice-Consul 
|Lieutenant Colonel (LTC)/Major (MAJ)
|-
|Third Secretary
|Vice-Consul
|Captain (CPT)
|
|-
|Attache
|Attache
|Lieutenant / 2nd Lieutenant (LTA/2LT)
|
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Support staff rank
! Notes
|-
| Mission Support Officer / Executive Officer ||
|-
|Assistant Mission Support Officer
|
|-
|Personal Assistant
|
|-
| Consular Officer || Usually seconded from the Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) 
|-
|Consular Agent 
|
|}

=== Spain ===

After the merger of the Consular and Diplomatic Corps, the current eight grades of Spanish career diplomats are (in ascending order):
* ''{{lang|es|Funcionario en prácticas}}'' ("Trainee Diplomat"): title held during the one-year training program at the Diplomatic School.
* ''{{lang|es|Secretario de Embajada de tercera clase}}'' ("Embassy Secretary, Third Class") or Secretary.
* ''{{lang|es|Secretario de Embajada de segunda clase}}'' ("Embassy Secretary, Second Class")
* ''{{lang|es|Secretario de Embajada de primera clase}}''. ("Embassy Secretary, First Class")
* ''{{lang|es|Consejero}}'' or ''{{lang|es|Canciller}}'', lowest grade to be appointed Consul-General.
* ''{{lang|es|Ministro Plenipotenciario de tercera clase}}'' ("Minister Plenipotentiary, Third Class") commonly known as Minister, lowest grade to be appointed Ambassador.
* ''{{lang|es|Ministro Plenipotenciario de segunda clase}}''. ("Minister Plenipotentiary, Second Class")
* ''{{lang|es|Ministro Plenipotenciario de primera clase}}''. ("Minister Plenipotentiary, First Class")
* ''{{lang|es|Embajador de España}}'' ("Ambassador of Spain"): not all Spanish Ambassadors hold this grade, which is limited by law to 3% of the total Corps.

===United Kingdom===
[[His Majesty's Diplomatic Service]] differentiates between officers in the "Senior Management Structure" (SMS; equivalent to the Senior Civil Service grades of the [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)|Home Civil Service]]) and those in the "delegated grades". 
SMS officers are classified into four pay-bands, and will serve in the [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]] in London as (in descending order of seniority) [[Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs|Permanent Under-Secretary]] (O-10), Directors-General (O-9), Directors (O-8), and Heads of department or deputy directors (O-7).

Overseas Ambassadors and High Commissioners (in Commonwealth countries) are generally drawn from all four SMS bands (and the D7 delegated grade) depending on the size and importance of the mission, as are Consuls-General, Deputy Heads of Mission, and Counsellors in larger posts. (Deputy Heads of Mission at the most significant Embassies, for example those [[Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington, D.C.|in Washington]] and [[Embassy of the United Kingdom, Paris|in Paris]], are known as Ministers.)

In the "delegated grades", officers are graded by number from 1 to 7; the grades are grouped into bands lettered A‑D (A1 and A2; B3; C4 and C5; and D6 and D7).

Overseas, A2 grade officers hold the title of Attache; B3‑grade officers are Third Secretaries; C4s are Second Secretaries; and C5s and D6s are First Secretaries. D7 officers are usually Counsellors in larger posts, Deputy Heads of Mission in medium-sized posts, or Heads of Mission in small posts.

===United States===
In the [[United States Foreign Service]], the personnel system under which most U.S. diplomatic personnel are assigned, a system of personal ranks is applied which roughly corresponds to these diplomatic ranks. Personal ranks are differentiated as "[[Senior Foreign Service]]" (SFS) or "Member of the Foreign Service".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fam.state.gov/FAM/03FAM/03FAM2230.html|format=PDF|title=3 FAM 2230 Appointments – Categories of Foreign Service Personnel|publisher=State.gov|access-date=2015-12-13}}</ref> Officers at these ranks may serve as ambassadors and occupy the most senior positions in diplomatic missions. The SFS ranks, in order from highest to lowest, are:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! SFS rank
! [[Uniformed services pay grades of the United States|Equivalent military rank]]
! Notes
|-
| [[List of United States Foreign Service Career Ambassadors|Career Ambassador]] (FE-CA) || [[Four-star rank]] (O-10) || Awarded to career diplomats with extensive and distinguished service
|-
| Career Minister (FE-CM) || [[Three-star rank]] (O-9) || The highest regular senior rank
|-
| Minister Counselor (FE-MC) || [[Two-star rank]] (O-8) ||
|-
| Counselor (FE-OC) || [[One-star rank]] (O-7) ||
|}

Members of the Foreign Service consist of five groups, including [[Foreign Service officer]]s and [[Foreign Service specialist]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service |title=Worldwide/Foreign Service – U.S. Department of State |publisher=Careers.state.gov |access-date=2015-11-25}}</ref> Like officers in the U.S. military, Foreign Service officers are members of the Foreign Service who are commissioned by the President.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fam.state.gov/FAM/03FAH01/03FAH012430.html |format=PDF |title=3 FAH-1 H-2430 Commissions, Titles and Rank |publisher=State.gov |access-date=2015-12-13}}</ref> Foreign Service specialists are technical leaders and experts, commissioned by the Secretary of State.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fam.state.gov/FAM/03FAM/03FAM2230.html |format=PDF |title=3 FAM 2230 Categories of Foreign Service Personnel |publisher=State.gov |access-date=2015-12-13}}</ref> Ranks descend from the highest, FS‑01, [[General Schedule#Military rank equivalency|equivalent]] to a full [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] in the military, to FS‑09, the lowest rank in the U.S. Foreign Service personnel system.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fam.state.gov/FAM/15FAM/15FAM0260.html|format=PDF|title=15 FAM 260 Guidelines for Allocating Residential Space|publisher=State.gov|access-date=2015-12-13}}</ref> (Most entry-level Foreign Service members begin at the FS‑05 or FS‑06 level.) Personal rank is distinct from and should not be confused with the diplomatic or consular rank assigned at the time of appointment to a particular diplomatic or consular mission.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Foreign Service Officer rank
! [[Uniformed services pay grades of the United States|Equivalent military rank]]
|-
| FS-01 || Colonel (O-6)
|-
| FS-02 || Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)
|-
| FS-03 || Major (O-4)
|-
| FS-04 || Captain (O-3)
|-
| FS-05 || First Lieutenant (O-2)
|-
| FS-06 || Second Lieutenant (O-1)
|-
|}

In a large mission, several Senior Diplomats may serve under the Ambassador as Minister-Counselors, Counselors, and First Secretaries; in a small mission, a diplomat may serve as the lone Counselor of Embassy.

== Consular counterpart ==
Most countries' consular corps are composed of career diplomats who are simply posted to Consulates/Consulates-General. In such situations, these career diplomats will hold consular ranks instead (ranking in descending order: consul-general, consul, vice-consul, consular agent; equivalents with [[consular immunity]] limited to official acts only include honorary consul-general, honorary consul, and honorary vice-consul. Other titles, including "vice consul-general", have existed in the past.) – although they are usually also given a diplomatic rank by the country. Consular ranks and responsibilities differ from country to country, and may also be used concurrently with diplomatic titles if the individual is assigned to an embassy. Diplomatic immunity is generally more limited for consular officials without other diplomatic accreditation, and is broadly limited to immunity with respect to their official duties.

While in the past, consular officials have often been more distant from the politically sensitive aspects of diplomacy, this is no longer necessarily the case, and career diplomats in consulates often perform the same roles as those in an embassy would. Some countries also routinely provide their embassy officials with [[consular commission]]s, including those without formal consular responsibilities, since a consular commission allows the individual to legalize documents, sign certain documents, and undertake certain other necessary functions.

Depending on the practice of the individual country, "consular services" may be limited to services provided for citizens or residents of the sending country, or extended to include, for example, visa services for nationals of the host country.

Sending nations may also designate incumbents of certain positions as holding consulary authority by virtue of their office, while lacking individual accreditation, immunity and inviolability. For example, 10&nbsp;U.S.C. §§&nbsp;936 and 1044a identify various U.S.&nbsp;military officers (and authorize the service secretaries to identify others) who hold general authority as a notary and consul of the United States for, respectively, purposes of military administration and those entitled to military legal assistance. A nation may also declare that its senior merchant sea captain in a given foreign [[port]]—or its merchant sea captains generally—has consulary authority for merchant seamen.

==See also==
{{Portal|Politics}}
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order  ♦♦♦--->
* [[Agricultural attaché]]
* [[Apocrisiary]]
* [[Commissioner#United States 2|Commissioner]]
* [[Consul (representative)|Consul]]
* [[Diplomatic mission]]
* [[Diplomatic service]]
* [[Envoy (title)|Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary]]
* [[Goodwill Ambassador]]
* [[Internuncio]], [[Nuncio]]
* [[Papal legate|Legate]]
* [[Minister–Secretary of State for Finland]]

==References==
{{Reflist|35em}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}

{{Diplomacy}}
{{Personal names}}

[[Category:Diplomatic ranks| ]]