An Arch-Treasurer (German: Erzschatzmeister, Latin: Archithesaurarius) is a chief treasurer, specifically the great treasurer of the Holy Roman Empire. The title of Arch-Treasurer was only ceremonially significant, as it was only used in the coronation of Emperors.[1]
The office was created in 1648 for Frederick V, Elector Palatine, after he lost his electorate, and title of Arch-Steward, in February 1623 to Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria. The electorate was given to Bavaria by the emperor Ferdinand II. The office of Arch-Treasurer passed to the Elector of Hanover in 1777, when the Palatine branch of the House of Wittelsbach inherited the duchy of Bavaria, and so the Arch-stewardship. The House of Hanover kept using the shield of the Arch-treasureship anyway throughout this time (see Royal coat of arms of Great Britain).
