Royal Household

A Royal Household or Imperial Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations.

Among many of these households there are certain great offices which have become, in course of time, merely hereditary. In most cases, as the name of the office would suggest, they were held by those who discharged personal functions about the sovereign. Gradually, in ways or for reasons which might vary in each individual case, the office alone survived, the duties either ceasing to be necessary or being transferred to officers of less exalted station.

In the modern period, royal households have evolved into entities which are variously differentiated from national governments. Most modern households have become merely titular.

Europe

The royal households of such of European monarchies have a continuous history since medieval times.

France

Germany

• 1. Supreme Officers of the Court (Oberste Hofchargen) - honorary functions
  • 1.1. The Grand Chamberlain (Oberst-Kämmerer)
  • 1.2. The Grand Cup-Bearer (Oberst-Schenk)
  • 1.3. The Grand Steward (Oberst-Truchseß)
  • 1.4. The Grand Marshal (Oberst-Marschall)
  • 1.5. The Grand Master of the Hunt (Oberst-Jägermeister)

• 2. Chief Officers of the Household (Oberhofchargen)
  • 2.0. The Premier Marshal of the Household (Oberhof- und Hausmarschall, i. e. chief executive officer of the court)
  • 2.1. The Premier Master of Ceremonies (Ober-Zeremonienmeister)
  • 2.2. The Premier Master of the Robes (Ober-Gewandkämmerer)
  • 2.3. The Premier Cellerer (Ober-Mundschenk)
  • 2.4. The Premier Master of the Horses and Mews (Ober-Stallmeister)
  • 2.5. The Premier Master of the Hunt (Ober-Jägermeister)
  • 2.6. The Premier Captain of the Palace Guard (Ober-Schloßhauptmann)
  • 2.7. The Premier Master of the Kitchen (Ober-Küchenmeister)
  • 2.8. The Superintendent general of the Theaters (Generalintendant der Schauspiele)

Mannheim (Electors Palatinate)

• The Grand Master of the Household (Obristhofmeister)
  • Stewards (Truchsesse)
  • The Master of the Music (Hofkapellmeister)
  • The Scientist of the Court (Librarian, Masters of the Collections)
  • The Artists of the Court
  • The medical staff
• The Grand Chamberlain (Obristkämmerer)
  • Court's Chamberlains (Hofkämmerer)
  • Life Offices
• The Grand Marshal of the Household (Obristhofmarschall)
  • The Master of the Larder
  • The Master of the Cellar
  • The Master of the Tablecloth
  • The Master of the Silver and China
  • The Master of Kitchen
  • The Master of the Pastry
• The Grand Master of the Mews (Obriststallmeister)
  • Court's Fourriers
• The Grand Master of the Hunt (Obristjägermeister)
• The Superintendent of the Court's Music

Russia

Spain

Sweden

United Kingdom

Vatican

Asia

China

Japan

Thailand

See also

• Medieval household

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

External links

• The British Monarchy - Royal Household