Grand Chamberlain of France
Encyclopedia
The Grand Chamberlain of France (French: Grand Chambellan de France) was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France
, a member of the Maison du Roi
("King's Household"), and one of the Great Offices of the Maison du Roi during the Ancien Régime. It is similar in name, but should not be confused with, the office of Grand Chamberman of France
(French: Grand Chambrier de France), although both positions could accurately be translated by the word chamberlain
.
At its origin, the position of Grand Chambellan entailed oversight of the king's chamber and his wardrobe, but in October 1545, the position absorbed the duties of the position of "Grand Chambrier of France", which was suppressed by François I
, and the Grand Chamberlain became responsible for signing charters and certain royal documents, assisting at the trial of peers
, and recording the oaths of homage to the Crown, among other duties.
The Grand Chambellan also played an important role during coronation
: he ceremonially admitted the clerical peers to the room of the king, and fitted the king with boots, dalmatic
, and mantle for coronation. In the protocol of the reign of Louis XIV
, the Chambellan was in the second rank during ambassadorial receptions, he served the king at table, and, at the ceremony of the Levée
or royal awakening, he presented the king with a shirt. The position played a key role in state affairs in the sixteenth century, but became merely honorific in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
The political importance of the Chambellan stemmed from his having permanent access to the King's Chamber. His symbol of office was the keys to the royal apartments, which he always carried; in token of which, he was permitted to place two gold keys in saltire behind his coat of arms
. He also was entitled to carry the banner of France. In rank, the position was between the Grand Maître de France and the Grand Écuyer. During a lit de justice
, he sat at the king's feet.
In the first half of the 16th century, the position was always held by a member of the Orléans-Longueville family, then by the Duke of Guise, and finally – until the end of the monarchy – by a member of the La Tour d'Auvergne-Bouillon family.
Great Officers of the Crown of France
The Great Officers of the Crown of France, known as the Grand Dignitaries of the Empire during the French Empire, were the most important officers of state of the royal court in France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration. They were appointed by the French monarch, with all but the...
, a member of the Maison du Roi
Maison du Roi
The Maison du Roi was the name of the military, domestic and religious entourage around the royal family in France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration; the exact composition and duties of its various divisions changed constantly over the Early Modern period...
("King's Household"), and one of the Great Offices of the Maison du Roi during the Ancien Régime. It is similar in name, but should not be confused with, the office of Grand Chamberman of France
Grand Chamberman of France
The Grand Chamberman of France was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France, a member of the Maison du Roi , and one of the Great Offices of the Maison du Roi during the Ancien Régime...
(French: Grand Chambrier de France), although both positions could accurately be translated by the word chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
.
At its origin, the position of Grand Chambellan entailed oversight of the king's chamber and his wardrobe, but in October 1545, the position absorbed the duties of the position of "Grand Chambrier of France", which was suppressed by François I
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
, and the Grand Chamberlain became responsible for signing charters and certain royal documents, assisting at the trial of peers
Peerage of France
The Peerage of France was a distinction within the French nobility which appeared in the Middle Ages. It was abolished in 1789 during the French Revolution, but it reappeared in 1814 at the time of the Bourbon Restoration which followed the fall of the First French Empire...
, and recording the oaths of homage to the Crown, among other duties.
The Grand Chambellan also played an important role during coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
: he ceremonially admitted the clerical peers to the room of the king, and fitted the king with boots, dalmatic
Dalmatic
The dalmatic is a long wide-sleeved tunic, which serves as a liturgical vestment in the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and United Methodist Churches, which is sometimes worn by a deacon at the Mass or other services. Although infrequent, it may also be worn by bishops above the alb and below...
, and mantle for coronation. In the protocol of the reign of Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
, the Chambellan was in the second rank during ambassadorial receptions, he served the king at table, and, at the ceremony of the Levée
Levée (ceremony)
Lever , adopted in English as levée—initially the simple act of getting up in the morning—has traditionally been a daily moment of intimacy and accessibility to a monarch or leader...
or royal awakening, he presented the king with a shirt. The position played a key role in state affairs in the sixteenth century, but became merely honorific in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
The political importance of the Chambellan stemmed from his having permanent access to the King's Chamber. His symbol of office was the keys to the royal apartments, which he always carried; in token of which, he was permitted to place two gold keys in saltire behind his coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
. He also was entitled to carry the banner of France. In rank, the position was between the Grand Maître de France and the Grand Écuyer. During a lit de justice
Lit de Justice
Lit de Justice is an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by Robert Sangster's Swettenham Stud, and purchased by the French racing operation Mise de Moratalla who named him for a famous Parlement of Paris known as the Lit de justice...
, he sat at the king's feet.
In the first half of the 16th century, the position was always held by a member of the Orléans-Longueville family, then by the Duke of Guise, and finally – until the end of the monarchy – by a member of the La Tour d'Auvergne-Bouillon family.
List of Grand Chamberlains of France
- Raoul of ClermontRaoul of ClermontRaoul II of Clermont was Lord of Nesle, Vicecount of Châteaudun, Grand Chamberlain of France and Constable of France.He was son of Simon II of Clermont and Adele of Montfort....
(died 1302) - Louis I, Duke of BourbonLouis I, Duke of BourbonLouis I de Bourbon, le Boiteux, the Lame was Count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis and La Marche, and the first Duke of Bourbon.-Life:...
(1310–1342) - Peter I, Duke of BourbonPeter I, Duke of BourbonPeter I of Bourbon was the second Duke of Bourbon, from 1342 to his death.Peter was son of Louis I of Bourbon, whom he also succeeded as Grand Chamberlain of France, and Mary of Avesnes....
(1342–1356) - Olivier, Count of Mauny and Thorigny (1360–1389)
- Louis, Count of VendômeLouis, Count of VendômeLouis of Bourbon-La Marche , younger son of John I, Count of La Marche and Catherine de Vendôme, was Count of Vendôme from 1393 and Count of Castres from 1425 until his death....
(1408–1427) - Georges de la TrémoïlleGeorges de la TrémoilleGeorges de la Trémoille was count of de Guînes from 1398 to 1446 and Grand Chamberlain of France to King Charles VII of France. He sought reconciliation between Philip, Duke of Burgundy and Charles VII during their estrangement in the latter part of the Hundred Years' War...
(1427–1434?) - Charles I, Duke of BourbonCharles I, Duke of BourbonCharles de Bourbon was the oldest son of John I, Duke of Bourbon and Marie, Duchess of Auvergne.He was Count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis from 1424, and Duke of Bourbon and Auvergne from 1434 to his death, although due to the imprisonment of his father after the Battle of Agincourt, he acquired...
(1434–?) - Pierre de Guenand, Baron of Prueilly and St Maure (1487–?)
- Jean Dunois, Count of Dunois and Longueville
- Charles III, Duke of BourbonCharles III, Duke of BourbonCharles III, Duke of Bourbon was a French military leader, the Count of Montpensier and Dauphin of Auvergne. He commanded the Imperial troops of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in what became known as the Sack of Rome in 1527, where he was killed.-Biography:Charles was born at Montpensier...
- Louis d'Orléans, Duke of Longueville (1524–1537)
- Francis, Duke of GuiseFrancis, Duke of GuiseFrancis de Lorraine II, Prince of Joinville, Duke of Guise, Duke of Aumale , called Balafré , was a French soldier and politician.-Early life:...
(1551–1563) - Charles of Lorraine, Duke of MayenneCharles of Lorraine, Duke of MayenneCharles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne , or Charles de Guise, was a French nobleman of the house of Guise and a military leader of the Catholic League, which he headed during the French Wars of Religion, following the assassination of his brothers at Blois in 1588...
(1563–1589) - Henry I of Orléans, Duke of Longueville (1589–1595)
- Henry of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne (1596–1621)
- Claude, Duke of ChevreuseClaude, Duke of ChevreuseClaude de Lorraine , also called Claude de Guise, was a French noble and husband of Marie de Rohan. He was the Duke of Chevreuse, a title which is today used by the Duke of Luynes.-Biography:...
(1621–1643) - Louis, Duke of JoyeuseLouis, Duke of JoyeuseLouis de Lorraine, Duke of Joyeuse was a younger son of Charles, Duke of Guise and Henriette Catherine de Joyeuse.-Life:...
(1643–1654) - Henry II, Duke of GuiseHenry II, Duke of GuiseHenry II de Lorraine, 5th Duke of Guise was the second son of Charles, Duke of Guise and Henriette Catherine de Joyeuse.-Life:...
(1655–1658) - Godefroy-Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne, duc de Bouillon (1658–1715)
- Emmanuel Théodose de La Tour d'AuvergneEmmanuel Théodose de La Tour d'Auvergne (1668–1730)Emmanuel Théodose de La Tour d'Auvergne was a French nobleman and ruler of the Soveriegn Duchy of Bouillon. He was the son of Godefroy Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne and his wife Marie Anne Mancini...
, duc de Bouillon (1715–1728) - Charles-Godefroy La Tour d'Auvergne, duc de Bouillon (1728–1747)
- Godefroy-Charles-Henri La Tour d'Auvergne, duc de Bouillon (1747–1775)
- Henri Louis Marie de Rohan, duc de Montbazon (1775–1782)
- Godefroy-Charles-Henri La Tour d'Auvergne, duc de Bouillon (1782–1789)
See also
- Great Officers of the Crown of FranceGreat Officers of the Crown of FranceThe Great Officers of the Crown of France, known as the Grand Dignitaries of the Empire during the French Empire, were the most important officers of state of the royal court in France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration. They were appointed by the French monarch, with all but the...
- Maison du RoiMaison du RoiThe Maison du Roi was the name of the military, domestic and religious entourage around the royal family in France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration; the exact composition and duties of its various divisions changed constantly over the Early Modern period...
- Gentleman of the bedchamberGentleman of the BedchamberA Gentleman of the Bedchamber was the holder of an important office in the royal household of the Kingdom of England from the 11th century, later used also in the Kingdom of Great Britain.-Description and functions:...
- Alexandre BontempsAlexandre BontempsAlexandre Bontemps was the valet of King Louis XIV and a powerful figure at the court of Versailles, respected and feared for his exceptional access to the King...
- Premier valet to Louis XIV