Mr Salmond took the oaths of office at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, watched by 15 of the country's most senior judges

The entire ceremony, which was administered by Lord President, Lord Hamilton in number one court, took just a few minutes.

An assortment of SNP members, legal figures and Parliament staff packed out the court, with many onlookers being forced to stand in the aisles and on its upper floor.

Mr Salmond then signed formal documents sealing his appointment as the First Minister.

Mr Salmond was flanked by his new Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini and solicitor general John Beckett for the ceremony.

In front of the Nationalist leader lay the seal of Scotland, a two-part silver clamping mechanism which is filled with wax when pressed together to authenticate official documents.

In his new role as Scotland's First Minister in eight years of devolution, Mr Salmond also becomes the official keeper of this device.

The First Minister later headed off to Parliament where he will be seeking the approval of MSPs for his proposed list of ministerial nominees which were announced on Wednesday night.

The changes would see Mr Salmond joined in cabinet by five new powerful cabinet secretaries, each presiding over their own departments and ministers. In total there will be 16 ministerial posts including Mr Salmond, cabinet secretaries and junior ministers.