Grand offices of the Crown of France

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The grand offices of the French crown ( grands offices de la couronne de France ) were the administrative offices that were directly subordinate to the French king in the Middle Ages and modern times . Originally introduced during the Merovingian and Carolingian times , they were marshal (maréchal), cupbearer (bouteiller), chamberlain (chambrier) and seneschal (sénéchal). The Chancellier was soon added as the fifth office. The other offices followed later. In the course of time, some offices were abolished, others took over their tasks, the position of the offices, their quality (hereditary - not hereditary) and areas of responsibility changed.

Since the dawn of modern times, and clearly since the reign of Louis XIV , the great offices of the crown were without any real influence. Only the chancellor continued to exercise his duties until the end of the monarchy .

All offices were at the disposal of the king, were not transferable, inheritable or tradable. The incumbents - with the exception of the keeper of the seal - were appointed for life.

In order of precedence, which was confirmed by a declaration by King Henry III. Established in 1582 and existed until the end of the Ancien Régime , there were:

  • The Chancellor of France ( chancelier de France ): initially responsible for drawing up and sealing the royal documents, later the chief judicial officer;
  • The Chancellor had the keeper of the seal of France ( garde des sceaux de France ) as deputy ;
  • The Grand Master of France ( grand maître de France ): responsible for the private part of the royal household:
    • The premier maître d'hôtel , who oversaw the seven offices at the royal table;
      • The Grand Bread Master of France ( premier panetier de France ), who was responsible for the bread at the table;
      • The premier échanson de France , who was responsible for the wine at the table;
      • The premier écuyer tranchant who cut the king's flesh;
    • The Grand Chamberlain of France ( grand chambellan de France ), who was in charge of the royal apartments;
      • The four premiers gentilhommes de la chambre du roi in the king's apartments;
    • The grand maître de la garde-robe , who took care of the king's clothes;
    • The Grand Stable Master of France ( grand écuyer de France ): responsible for the royal stables;
      • The premier écuyer de France , who supported the great stable master;
    • The Grand Hunter of France ( grand veneur de France ), who was responsible for the royal hunts, especially the deer hunts;
    • The Grand Fauconnier de France , which was responsible for the royal hunts with birds of prey;
    • The grand louvetier de France , who was responsible for hunting wolf and wild boar;
    • The Grand Master of Ceremonies of France ( grand maître des cérémonies ) took care of the ceremonies at court;
    • The grand maréchal des logis was responsible for housing the king and the royal guards;
    • The grand prévôt de France was responsible for security at court and the jurisdiction over the royal guards;
    • The Grand Almosenier of France ( grand aumônier de France ) oversees the religious side of court life;
      • The premier aumônier de France supported the grand almsman;
  • The Grand Chamberlain of France ( grand chambellan de France ): responsible for the royal apartments, replaced the office of Grand Chamberlain of France ( grand chambrier de France );
  • The Admiral of France ( amiral de France ): responsible for maritime affairs. The office was abolished in 1627 and reinstated in 1669;
  • The Marshals of France ( maréchal de France ): military dignitaries and de facto commander-in-chief of the army after the dignity of connétable was abolished;
  • The Grand Stable Master of France ( grand écuyer de France ): responsible for the royal stables;
  • The grand cupbearer of France ( grand bouteiller de France ): responsible for supplying the farm with wine and brandies and for the vineyards;
  • The master chef of France ( grand queux de France ): responsible for the supervision of the kitchens at the court (French le queux (outdated) = the cook);
  • The Grand Bread Master of France ( grand panetier de France ): responsible for supplying the farm with bread.

The Grand Almosenier of France ( grand aumônier de France ) and the Colonel General ( colonels généraux ) are also occasionally considered to hold grand offices in the crown.

Abolished major offices:

  • The Seneschal of France ( sénéchal de France ): chief of the royal house and the army; the title was abolished in 1191.
  • The Grand Chamberlain of France ( grand chambrier de France ): chief of the royal apartments, finances and deeds; Abolished by Franz I in 1545.
  • The Connétable of France : initially responsible for the royal stables, then for the army. The office was dissolved in 1626 after the death of the last incumbent, as the power attached to it could affect the power of the king.
  • The artillery grand master ( grand maître de l'artillerie ): responsible for the artillery, the locations and the provisions of the army. This office was created by King Heinrich IV. 1601 as a royal grand office and by Louis XV. Repealed in 1755.

literature

  • Sarah Hanley: Les Lits de justice des Rois de France. L'idéologie constitutionnelle dans la légende, le rituel et le discours , Aubier, 1991;
  • Ralph E. Giesey: Cérémonial et puissance souveraine: France, XVe et XVIIe siècles . Armand Colin et EHESS, coll., Cahier des Annales , No. 41 (1987);
  • Marie-Lan Nguyen: Les grands maîtres des cérémonies et le service des Cérémonies à l'époque modern ( Memento of November 21, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) (1585–1792) , mémoire de maîtrise, Université Paris-IV, 1999;
  • Jean-François Solnon: La Cour de France , Livre de Poche, coll. "Références", 1987.