'In the office of the ruler' examines historicity and the development of political fields in the 19th century. Today we divide modern rulership into clearly distinguishable areas. Foreign policy, defence, military or internal security policy have always been part of the canon of political rule. Other themes only took on concrete form in the course of the 19th century. The "modern" social, health, educational and scientific policy developed from "private" welfare for the poor, care for the sick and elderly and education. Conversely, some symbolic acts of domination, such as the practice of ennoblement, lost a change of meaning. The rulers, their law firms and informal networks are indispensable in the development of political fields. The contributions by international scientists and young scientists compare the history of Austria-Hungary, Germany and Great Britain.