Consul (representative)
Franklin Huddle, an American diplomat,
served as consul general and ambassador in
various countries[1]
The title Consul is used for the official rep-
resentatives of the government of one state
in the territory of another, normally acting to
assist and protect the citizens of the consul’s
own country, and to facilitate trade and
friendship between the people of the country
to whom he or she is accredited and the
country of which he or she is a representat-
ive. This distinguishes the consul from the
ambassador, who is, technically, a represent-
ative from one head of state to another. Thus,
while there is but one ambassador represent-
ing a nation’s head of state to another, and
his or her duties revolve around diplomatic
relations between the two countries, there
may be several consuls, one in each of sever-
al main cities, providing assistance with bur-
eaucratic issues to both the citizens of the
consul’s own country travelling or living
abroad, and to the citizens of the country the
consul is in who wish to travel to or trade
with the consul’s country.
Antecedent: the Classical
Greek Proxenos
In Classical Greece, some of the functions of
the modern Consul were fulfilled by a Prox-
enos. Unlike the modern position, this was a
citizen of the host polis (city state), usually a
rich merchant, who had friendship and/or
socio-economic ties with another city, and
voluntarily helped its citizens when in trouble
in his own city. The position of Proxenos was
often hereditary
in a particular
family.
Modern Honorary Consuls fulfil a function
that is to a degree similar to that of the An-
cient Greek institution.
Historical development
of the term
Consuls were originally the highest magis-
trates of the Roman Republic. The term was
revived by the city-state of Genoa which—un-
like Rome—bestowed it on various state offi-
cials, not necessarily
restricted
to
the
highest. Among these were Genoese officials
stationed in various Mediterranean ports,
whose role included duties similar to those of
the mod