Dear neale-ga,
The Congress of Vienna agreed on four grades of diplomatic representatives.
"At the Congress of Vienna (1815) this system was corrected, and a
classification of diplomatic ranks was adopted. Four grades of
diplomatic representatives were recognized: ambassador, papal legate,
and papal nuncio; minister plenipotentiary and envoy extraordinary;
minister; and chargé d?affaires. This codification went far toward
professionalizing the diplomatic service and established it as a
branch of the public service in each nation."
http://www.bartleby.com/65/di/diplomat.html
These were subsequently amended in 1961 in the Vienna Convention on
Diplomatic Relations (1961)
http://www.un.org/law/ilc/texts/diplomat.htm
"Such issues plagued European courts until they were resolved at the
Congress of Vienna in 1815 and the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1818
and, more recently, at the Vienna meetings to draft a Convention on
Diplomatic Relations in 1961. As a result of these meetings, diplomats
were divided into three classes: (1) ambassadors, legates, and papal
nuncios who are always accredited to heads of state; (2) envoys,
ministers, and other persons accredited to heads of state; and (3)
chargés d'affaires who are accredited to ministers of foreign affairs.
Only members of the first class represent their nation's leader.
Precedence among representatives in a capital is now based on
seniority within its diplomatic corps. The most senior member of that
corps is designated the doyen, or dean. The doyen usually represents
the entire diplomatic corps at ceremonial functions and in matters of
diplomatic privileges and immunities. The most concise digest of the
protocol of diplomacy is the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic
Relations, consisting of 53 short articles completed under UN
auspices."
http://autocww.colorado.edu/~blackmon/Expt000403Subsite/ContentFilesExpt000403/PoliticalScience/diplomacy.htm
I have been unable to find any detailed documentation.
I hope this answers your question. If it does not, or the answer is
unclear, then please ask for clarification of this research before
rating the answer. I shall respond to the clarification request as
soon as I receive it.
Thank you
answerfinder
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