Gentilhombres de camara con ejercicio
Encyclopedia
The Gentilhombres de camara con ejercicio (Gentlemen of the Bedchamber) was a palatial class of honorary royal servants of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain
, who acceded to that class as an honor awarded by the Monarch. The members of this class neither had specific functions inside the ceremonial scheme of the Court, nor exercised active service with a few exceptions, being their appointment a sign of the royal appreciation.
This way, prominent men were nominated during the reign of the last King before the Second Spanish Republic
, Alfonso XIII.
As said very few of them had specific functions at the service to the King and very few of them belonged to the nobility. In fact, at the moment of the suppression of this Office, they remained 520 “Gentilhombres de camara con ejercicio y servidumbre”. Among them only 155 belonged to the titled nobility.
This Court class was just behind the category of “Gentilhombres Grandes de España con ejercicio y servidumbre
”.
Their badge was a golden gilded key with bangs equally of gold. The key was placed horizontally in the waist to the right side in uniforms, dress-coat or frock coat. They were formally under the command of the “Sumiller de Corps
” and, for their condition, they had free entrance to the Royal Palace of Madrid
up to the Chamber.
They were styled “Ilustrísimos señores Gentilhombres de camara con ejercicio”.
This Office was suppressed after the Second Spanish Republic
was declared on April 14th of 1931 and it was never re-created after the restoration of Monarchy in 1975. Among the 520 “Gentilhombres de camara” at that time there were famous Army officers like the, then successful during Rif War
, General Francisco Franco
, the General Francisco Gómez-Jordana, 1st Count of Jordana
, the General Joaquín Milans del Bosch
and the General José Enrique Varela
or the Air Commanders of the Plus Ultra Ramon Franco
and Julio Ruiz de Alda Miqueleiz
, active politicians like Eugenio Espinosa de los Monteros y Bermejillo, José Luis Goyoaga Escario, Guillermo de Osma y Scull, Manuel González-Hontoria y Fernández-Ladreda
and Juan Antonio Suanzes Fernández, phisicians like the doctor Mariano Gómez Ulla, prominent businessmen like Fernando María de Ybarra, 1st Marquess of Arriluce de Ybarra and Carlos Godó Valls, prestigious engineers like Emilio Herrera, José Ortiz Echagüe, Eduardo Torroja
or Jose Moreno Osorio, 4th Count of Fontao, well-known writers like José María Pemán
, art curators like Manuel Escrivá de Romaní 10th Count of Casal or loyal employees of the Royal Household like Dámaso Berenguer, 1st Count of Xauen, former General Commander of the Halberdiers, Emilio de Torres, 1st Marquess of Torres de Mendoza private Secretary to the King and Miguel González de Castejón, 1st Count of Aybar, General Comptroller of the Royal Household.
Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain
The Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain was the institution that governed the organization of the Royal Spanish Court from the time of the Habsburg dinasty, which introduced the so called Burgundian etiquette, up to to the reign of Alfonso XIII, grandfather of the current King of...
, who acceded to that class as an honor awarded by the Monarch. The members of this class neither had specific functions inside the ceremonial scheme of the Court, nor exercised active service with a few exceptions, being their appointment a sign of the royal appreciation.
This way, prominent men were nominated during the reign of the last King before the Second Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
, Alfonso XIII.
As said very few of them had specific functions at the service to the King and very few of them belonged to the nobility. In fact, at the moment of the suppression of this Office, they remained 520 “Gentilhombres de camara con ejercicio y servidumbre”. Among them only 155 belonged to the titled nobility.
This Court class was just behind the category of “Gentilhombres Grandes de España con ejercicio y servidumbre
Gentilhombres Grandes de España con ejercicio y servidumbre
The Gentilhombres Grandes de España con ejercicio y servidumbre was a palatial class of honorary royal servants of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain, who were entrusted with certain functions at the service of the Monarch which they exerced by rigorous seniority.During the...
”.
Their badge was a golden gilded key with bangs equally of gold. The key was placed horizontally in the waist to the right side in uniforms, dress-coat or frock coat. They were formally under the command of the “Sumiller de Corps
Sumiller de Corps
The Sumiller de Corps was the Official of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain in charge of the more intimate and inner rooms of the King of Spain. He was responsible of the most immediate service to the Monarch...
” and, for their condition, they had free entrance to the Royal Palace of Madrid
Royal Palace of Madrid
The Palacio Real de Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain in the city of Madrid, but it is only used for state ceremonies. King Juan Carlos and the Royal Family do not reside in the palace, choosing instead the more modest Palacio de la Zarzuela on the outskirts of Madrid...
up to the Chamber.
They were styled “Ilustrísimos señores Gentilhombres de camara con ejercicio”.
This Office was suppressed after the Second Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
was declared on April 14th of 1931 and it was never re-created after the restoration of Monarchy in 1975. Among the 520 “Gentilhombres de camara” at that time there were famous Army officers like the, then successful during Rif War
Rif War
The Rif War, also called the Second Moroccan War, was fought between Spain and the Moroccan Rif Berbers.-Rifian forces:...
, General Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
, the General Francisco Gómez-Jordana, 1st Count of Jordana
Francisco Gómez-Jordana, 1st Count of Jordana
Francisco Gómez-Jordana y Sousa, 1st Count of Jordana was a Spanish soldier and politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs during the rule of Francisco Franco....
, the General Joaquín Milans del Bosch
Joaquín Milans del Bosch
Joaquín Milans del Bosch y Carrió was a Spanish military officer of Catalan origin...
and the General José Enrique Varela
José Enrique Varela
José Enrique Varela Iglesias was a Spanish military officer and Carlist noted for his role as a Nationalist commander in the Spanish Civil War.-Early career:...
or the Air Commanders of the Plus Ultra Ramon Franco
Ramon Franco
Ramon Franco may refer to:*Ramón Franco , actor known for his portrayal of Alberto Ruiz in the TV series Tour of Duty*Ramón Franco, Spanish pioneer of aviation...
and Julio Ruiz de Alda Miqueleiz
Julio Ruiz de Alda Miqueleiz
Julio Ruiz de Alda Miqueleiz was a Spanish aviator and politician. He joined the Army at the age of 15 and developed an interest in planes. He was the co-pilot of the Plus Ultra as it completed a Trans-Atlantic flight in 1926...
, active politicians like Eugenio Espinosa de los Monteros y Bermejillo, José Luis Goyoaga Escario, Guillermo de Osma y Scull, Manuel González-Hontoria y Fernández-Ladreda
Manuel González-Hontoria y Fernández-Ladreda
Manuel González-Hontoria y Fernández-Ladreda was a Spanish politician and diplomat who served two times as Minister of Estate during the reign of Alfonso XIII....
and Juan Antonio Suanzes Fernández, phisicians like the doctor Mariano Gómez Ulla, prominent businessmen like Fernando María de Ybarra, 1st Marquess of Arriluce de Ybarra and Carlos Godó Valls, prestigious engineers like Emilio Herrera, José Ortiz Echagüe, Eduardo Torroja
Eduardo Torroja
Eduardo Torroja y Miret, was a Spanish structural engineer, pioneer in the design of concrete-shell structures. His first large project was the Tempul cable-stayed aqueduct in 1926, Guadalete, Jerez de la Frontera, in which he used prestressed girders, and he made his name with the concrete...
or Jose Moreno Osorio, 4th Count of Fontao, well-known writers like José María Pemán
José María Pemán
José María Pemán y Pemartín, KOGF was a Spanish journalist, poet, novelist, essayist, and right-wing intellectual....
, art curators like Manuel Escrivá de Romaní 10th Count of Casal or loyal employees of the Royal Household like Dámaso Berenguer, 1st Count of Xauen, former General Commander of the Halberdiers, Emilio de Torres, 1st Marquess of Torres de Mendoza private Secretary to the King and Miguel González de Castejón, 1st Count of Aybar, General Comptroller of the Royal Household.