Sumiller de Corps
Encyclopedia
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. This Office was suppressed after the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic
in 1931 and never re-created after the restoration of the Monarchy in 1975.
dynasty, the Spanish Royal Court was shaped after that one that existed in the Court of Burgundy
where this Office “Sumiller” from the French “Sommelier” , literally “Whine steward” existed from the old past. Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
, but also King of Spain, imported the etiquette
styled in the Court of his paternal grandmother Mary of Burgundy
.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the ceremonial laws regulating the Royal service confirmed the principal prerogatives that the traditional Burgundian etiquette
granted to the “Sumiller de Corps”, in the measure in which they supposed a great intimacy and a physical daily contact with the Monarch. Those of the Royal Chamber of 1659 established that the organization of the closest service to the King corresponded to the “Sumiller de Corps” and, in this way, he might sleep in a bed in the same room of the Sovereign. If this was not possible, or the Monarch wanted to relieve him of this obligation, he had to sleep at least in the Royal Palace. He had, anyway, to deliver the King personally the towel, the shirt, the Golden Fleece, the clothes and the cap and, during meals and dinners, serve him the glass of wine.
, who in addition, had the privy seal of the King.
In spite of the latter circumstance, under the “Sumiller de Corps”, at least organically, and in agreement with his former function which t has been mentioned before, they were the royal servants who accompanyed at all time the Monarch, the “Gentilhombres Grandes de España con ejercicio y servidumbre
” (Gentlemen of the bedchamber Grandees of Spain) and those called “Gentilhombres de camara con ejercicio
” (Gentlemen of the bedchamber).
Equally until their suppression in 1918 there existed under his command the ranks of “Gentilhombres de Casa y Boca” (literally the Gentlemen of House and Mouth), and “Gentilhombres de Entrada” (literally Gentlemen of Entry).
All this classes of royal servants were chosen between gentlemen, mostly from the nobility, and in the latter times of the reign of Alfonso XIII from people with prestigious professional background as famous officers of the Army, well known Phicisians or Bussinessmen, etc. Only the first one of these classes, the Gentlemen Grandees of Spain, had real functions close to the King and they had a weeckly shift to stay with the Monarch in all sorts of activities.
“Sumiller de Corps” to King Charles II
“Sumilleres de Corps” to King Philip V
“Sumilleres de Corps” to King Philip V
“Sumilleres de Corps” to King Ferdinand VI
“Sumilleres de Corps” to King Charles III
“Sumilleres de Corps” to King Charles IV
“Sumilleres de Corps” to Queen Isabella II
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...
in charge of the more intimate and inner rooms of the King of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He was responsible of the most immediate service to the Monarch. This Office was suppressed after the proclamation of 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....
in 1931 and never re-created after the restoration of the Monarchy in 1975.
Historical precedents
This Office was created when, during the HabsburgHabsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
dynasty, the Spanish Royal Court was shaped after that one that existed in the Court of Burgundy
Burgundy
Burgundy is a region historically situated in modern-day France and Switzerland.-History:Burgundy was inhabited in turn by Celts, Romans , and in the 4th century, the Roman allies the Burgundians, a Germanic people possibly originating in Bornholm , who settled there and established their own...
where this Office “Sumiller” from the French “Sommelier” , literally “Whine steward” existed from the old past. Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, but also King of Spain, imported the etiquette
Etiquette
Etiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group...
styled in the Court of his paternal grandmother Mary of Burgundy
Mary of Burgundy
Mary of Burgundy ruled the Burgundian territories in Low Countries and was suo jure Duchess of Burgundy from 1477 until her death...
.
Regime during the 17th and 18th centuries
Diverse dispositions regulated the duties of the “Sumiller de Corps” distinguishing from those of the “Mayordomo mayor” to the King. Although this latter Office was hierarchically higher, the Office of “Sumiller de Corps” was mostly coveted by the high ranks of the nobility, the Grandees of Spain, as it gave full access to the intimacy of the King. And, certainly, thanks to this intimacy with the King, he could influence the concession and distribution of all kinds of graces and mercies. Only a peer who had the rank of Grandee of Spain could be appointed for this Office.During the 17th and 18th centuries, the ceremonial laws regulating the Royal service confirmed the principal prerogatives that the traditional Burgundian etiquette
Etiquette
Etiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group...
granted to the “Sumiller de Corps”, in the measure in which they supposed a great intimacy and a physical daily contact with the Monarch. Those of the Royal Chamber of 1659 established that the organization of the closest service to the King corresponded to the “Sumiller de Corps” and, in this way, he might sleep in a bed in the same room of the Sovereign. If this was not possible, or the Monarch wanted to relieve him of this obligation, he had to sleep at least in the Royal Palace. He had, anyway, to deliver the King personally the towel, the shirt, the Golden Fleece, the clothes and the cap and, during meals and dinners, serve him the glass of wine.
Regime during the 19th and 20th centuries
With King Ferdinand VII this Office was losing the more and more importance. In fact it was suppressed by his grandson Alfonso XII when monarchy was rerstored in 1875. It was not until 1907 that it was created again but with a pure symbolistic character and always attached to the Office of “Mayordomo mayor” as this was the highest office of the Royal Household. The sole exception to this rule was between 1925 and 1927 when the second one was exercised by the duke of Miranda and the first one by the Marquess of Viana, Caballerizo mayorCaballerizo mayor
The Caballerizo major was the Official of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain in charge of the trips, the mews and the hunt of the King of Spain.- Regime during the 19th and 20th centuries :...
, who in addition, had the privy seal of the King.
In spite of the latter circumstance, under the “Sumiller de Corps”, at least organically, and in agreement with his former function which t has been mentioned before, they were the royal servants who accompanyed at all time the Monarch, the “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...
” (Gentlemen of the bedchamber Grandees of Spain) and those called “Gentilhombres de camara con ejercicio
Gentilhombres de camara con ejercicio
The Gentilhombres de camara con ejercicio 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...
” (Gentlemen of the bedchamber).
Equally until their suppression in 1918 there existed under his command the ranks of “Gentilhombres de Casa y Boca” (literally the Gentlemen of House and Mouth), and “Gentilhombres de Entrada” (literally Gentlemen of Entry).
All this classes of royal servants were chosen between gentlemen, mostly from the nobility, and in the latter times of the reign of Alfonso XIII from people with prestigious professional background as famous officers of the Army, well known Phicisians or Bussinessmen, etc. Only the first one of these classes, the Gentlemen Grandees of Spain, had real functions close to the King and they had a weeckly shift to stay with the Monarch in all sorts of activities.
“Sumiller de Corps” to King Charles IICharles II of SpainCharles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain and the ruler of large parts of Italy, the Spanish territories in the Southern Low Countries, and Spain's overseas Empire, stretching from the Americas to the Spanish East Indies...
, 1693-1701
- 1693-1701: Francisco Pimentel Vigil y Quiñones, Duke of BenaventeBenavente, ZamoraBenavente is a municipality in the north of the province of Zamora, in the autonomous community Castile and León of Spain. It has about 20,000 inhabitants....
, Grandee of Spain
“Sumilleres de Corps” to King Philip VPhilip V of SpainPhilip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
, 1701-1724
- 1701-1709: Francisco Pimentel Vigil y Quiñones, Duke of BenaventeBenavente, ZamoraBenavente is a municipality in the north of the province of Zamora, in the autonomous community Castile and León of Spain. It has about 20,000 inhabitants....
, Grandee of Spain - 1709-1711: Antonio Álvarez de Toledo y Guzmán, Duke of Alba, Grandee of Spain
- 1711-1722: Martín Domingo de Guzmán, Marquess of Quintana del Marco, Grandee of Spain
- 1722-1724: Antonio Osorio y Moscoso, Duke of Sanlúcar la Mayor, Grandee of Spain
“Sumiller de Corps” to King Louis I, 1724
- 1724: Antonio Osorio y Moscoso, Duke of Sanlúcar la Mayor, Grandee of Spain
“Sumilleres de Corps” to King Philip VPhilip V of SpainPhilip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
, 1724-1746
- 1724-1725: Antonio Osorio y Moscoso, Duke of Sanlúcar la Mayor, Grandee of Spain
- 1725-1727: Baltasar de Zuñiga, Duke of Arión, Grandee of Spain
- 1728-1741: Agustín Fernández de Velasco y Bracamonte, Duke of Frías, Grandee of Spain ||
- 1741-1746: Juan Pizarro de Aragón, Marquess of San Juan de Piedras Albas, Grandee of Spain
“Sumilleres de Corps” to King Ferdinand VIFerdinand VI of SpainFerdinand VI , called the Learnt, was King of Spain from 9 July 1746 until his death. He was the fourth son of the previous monarch Philip V and his first wife Maria Luisa of Savoy...
, 1746-1759
- 1746-1748: Juan Pizarro de Aragón, Marquess of San Juan de Piedras Albas, Grandee of Spain
- 1748-1757: Sebastián Guzmán de Spínola, Marquess of Montealegre, Grandee of Spain
- 1757-1758: José María Guzmán Vélez y Ladrón de Guevara, Count of Oñate, Grandee of Spain
- 1758-1759: Joaquín López de Zúñiga y Castro, Duke of Béjar, Grandee of Spain
“Sumilleres de Corps” to King Charles IIICharles III of SpainCharles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
, 1759-1788
- 1759-1783: José Fernández-Miranda Ponce de León, Duke of Losada, Grandee of Spain
- 1783-1788: Judas Tadeo Fernández-Miranda Ponce de León y Villacís, Marquess of Valdecarzana, Grandee of Spain
“Sumilleres de Corps” to King Charles IVCharles IV of SpainCharles IV was King of Spain from 14 December 1788 until his abdication on 19 March 1808.-Early life:...
, 1788-1808
- 1788-1792: Judas Tadeo Fernández-Miranda Ponce de León y Villacís, Marquess of Valdecarzana, Grandee of Spain
- 1792-1802: Diego Pacheco y Téllez-GirónDiego Pacheco Téllez-Girón Gómez de SandovalDiego Pacheco Téllez-Girón Gómez de Sandoval, also called Diego Fernández de Velasco y Pacheco or Diego Pacheco Telles Giron Fernandez de Velasco y Enrique , was a Spanish noble and politician, who supported the French during the Peninsular War, and who was therefore known as a Afrancesado.- Family...
, Duke of Frías, Grandee of Spain - 1802-1808: Vicente María Palafox Rebolledo Mexia Silva, Marquess of Ariza, Grandee of Spain
“Sumilleres de Corps” to King Ferdinand VII, 1814-1833
- 1814-1820: Ignacio de Arteaga e Idiáquez, Marquess of Valmediano, Grandee of Spain
- 1820-1824: Francisco de Paula Fernández de Córdoba Lasso de la Vega, Count of la Puebla del Maestre, Grandee of Spain
- 1824-1833: José Rafael de Silva y Fernández de Híjar, Duke of Híjar, Grandee of Spain
“Sumilleres de Corps” to Queen Isabella IIIsabella II of SpainIsabella II was the only female monarch of Spain in modern times. She came to the throne as an infant, but her succession was disputed by the Carlists, who refused to recognise a female sovereign, leading to the Carlist Wars. After a troubled reign, she was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of...
, 1833-1868
- 1833-1856: José Rafael de Silva y Fernández de Híjar, Duke of Híjar, Grandee of Spain
- 1856-1864. Vicente Pío Osorio de Moscoso y Ponce de León, Count of Altamira, Grandee of Spain ||
- 1865-1868: Joaquín Fernández de Córdoba y Pacheco, Marquess of Malpica, Grandee of Spain
“Sumilleres de Corps” to King Alfonso XIII, 1885-1931
- 1907-1909: Carlos Martínez de Irujo y del Alcazar, Duke of Sotomayor, Grandee of Spain
- 1909-1925: Andrés Avelino de Salabert y Arteaga, Marquess of la Torrecilla, Grandee of Spain
- 1925-1927: José Saavedra y Salamanca, Marquess of Viana, Grandee of Spain
- 1927-1931: Luis María de Silva y Carvajal, Duke of Miranda, Grandee of Spain