Admiral of the Realm

Admiral of the Realm was a military and political title given to nobles in Denmark (Rigsadmiral), Sweden (Riksamiral) and Holy Roman Empire (Reichsadmiral).

Denmark and Sweden
Almost at the same time in the 1570s, both Sweden and in Denmark-Norway created the Admiral of the Realm, and almost simultaneously it was abolished in both kingdoms in the 1670s again. In both kingdoms the Admiral of the Realm was Supreme Commander of all naval forces and chairman of the admiralty. Like the Marshal of the Realm, the Reichsadmiral was also one of the treasures of the country. As a member of the Privy Council, he was comparable to a senior government official, such as a minister of the navy.

Denmark
Commander in chiefs (øverste kaptajn) of the Danish-Norwegian fleets, appointed by the King, had existed since the beginning of the 16th century. In 1575 or 1576, just a few years after Klaus Fleming's appointment as the first Swedish Admiral of the Realm, was Peder Munk appointed the first time Admiral of the Realm (Rigsens Admiral, Rigets Admiral or Rigsadmiral) for Denmark-Norway.

Sweden
The Swedish Admiral of the Realm (Riksamiral) was a prominent and influential office in Sweden, from c. 1571 until 1676, excluding periods when the office was out of use. The office holder was a member of the Swedish Privy Council and the head of the navy and Admiralty of Sweden. From 1634, the Lord High Admiral was one of five Great Officers of the Realm.