Grand Chancellor

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A grand chancellor (or great chancellor) is a chancellor whose title is made "loftier".

[edit] Reasons for the title

The rank can be a mere flattery, emphasizing the importance of the chancellor's office, or signal him out as a higher rank in a hierarchy which includes several (deputy) chancellors.
The same title can be used for an officer in an order of knighthood, regardless whether this actually has a functioning chancellory – as many modern orders are merely honorary, so are their offices, secretarial work may rather be done be the civil service of the awarding authority (usually a state).

[edit] Historic grand chancellors

In the case of the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth (1569-1795), there were no less than four 'royal' (demi-)chancellories, two for 'the crown' (ie. the kingdom Poland) and two for (the grand duchy of) Lithuania, all headed by chancellors of ministerial rank (carrying a seat in the senate).