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The Royal Household in all the early medieval monarchies of Western Europe formed the basis for the general government of the country. In the modern period in Europe, royal households have become increasingly separate from government, where they still exist.

Contents 1 The Royal Household of the United Kingdom 2 The Royal Households of Continental Europe 2.1 The Royal Household of France 2.2 The Imperial German Household (1871 - 1918) 2.3 The Household of the Princes Electors of the Palatinate at Mannheim 1775 2.4 Royal Household of Spain 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] The Royal Household of the United Kingdom

[edit] The Royal Households of Continental Europe

The royal households of such of the continental monarchies of Europe as have had a continuous history from medieval times resemble in general outlines that described above. There are, common to many, certain great offices, which have become, in course of time, merely titular and sometimes 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 and permanently attached to the sovereign's household. For example, in Prussia, there were certain great titular officers, such as the Oberstmarschall (great chamberlain); the Oberstjagermeister (grand master of the hunt); the Oberstschenk (grand cup-bearer) and the Obersttruchsess (grand steward), while, at the same time, there are also departments which correspond, to a great extent – both as to offices and their duties – to those of the household of the English sovereigns. This is a feature which must necessarily be reproduced in any monarchical country, whatever the date of its foundation, to a more or less limited extent, and varying in its constitution with the needs or customs of the particular countries.

[edit] The Royal Household of France

[edit] The Imperial German Household (1871 - 1918)

• 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 (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 Theatres (Generalintendant der Schauspiele)

[edit] The Household of the Princes Electors of the Palatinate at Mannheim 1775

• 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

[edit] Royal Household of Spain

[edit] See also

• Prefecture of the Pontifical Household
• Medieval household
• Imperial Household Department, China
• Imperial Household Agency, Japan
• Daijō-kan, Japan

[edit] References

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

[edit] External links

• The British Monarchy - Royal Household