Grand Chamberman of France
Encyclopedia
The Grand Chamberman of France (French: Grand Chambrier 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 Chamberlain of France (French: Grand Chambellan de France), although both positions could accurately be translated by the word chamberlain
.
The position was one of the royal offices that gave the possessor nobility upon beginning his service. The Grand Chambier was in charge of the King's chamber. Under the first Capetian
s, the Grand Chambrier managed the Royal Treasury along with the Grand Bouteiller (Grand Butler), before being supplanted of these functions by the Chamber of Accounts (Chambre des comptes
, created by King Philip IV
) and the position of Surintendant des finances (created in 1311).
During its existence, the position of Grand Chambrier had greater power than that of the Chambellan. He signed charters and other important letters, preceded the Constable of France
in ceremonies and assisted at the trial of peers
. The position was suppressed in 1545 and its duties were absorbed by the position of Grand Chambellan.
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 Chamberlain of France (French: Grand Chambellan 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....
.
The position was one of the royal offices that gave the possessor nobility upon beginning his service. The Grand Chambier was in charge of the King's chamber. Under the first Capetian
House of Capet
The House of Capet, or The Direct Capetian Dynasty, , also called The House of France , or simply the Capets, which ruled the Kingdom of France from 987 to 1328, was the most senior line of the Capetian dynasty – itself a derivative dynasty from the Robertians. As rulers of France, the dynasty...
s, the Grand Chambrier managed the Royal Treasury along with the Grand Bouteiller (Grand Butler), before being supplanted of these functions by the Chamber of Accounts (Chambre des comptes
Chambre des comptes
Under the French monarchy, the Courts of Accounts were sovereign courts specialising in financial affairs. The Court of Accounts in Paris was the oldest and the forerunner of today's French Court of Audit...
, created by King Philip IV
Philip IV of France
Philip the Fair was, as Philip IV, King of France from 1285 until his death. He was the husband of Joan I of Navarre, by virtue of which he was, as Philip I, King of Navarre and Count of Champagne from 1284 to 1305.-Youth:A member of the House of Capet, Philip was born at the Palace of...
) and the position of Surintendant des finances (created in 1311).
During its existence, the position of Grand Chambrier had greater power than that of the Chambellan. He signed charters and other important letters, preceded the Constable of France
Constable of France
The Constable of France , as the First Officer of the Crown, was one of the original five Great Officers of the Crown of France and Commander in Chief of the army. He, theoretically, as Lieutenant-general of the King, outranked all the nobles and was second-in-command only to the King...
in ceremonies and assisted 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...
. The position was suppressed in 1545 and its duties were absorbed by the position of Grand Chambellan.
List Grands Chambriers of France
- 1061-1108: Galeran de Senlis (Blanchard Silvanectensis)
- 1108-1121: Guy de Senlis
- 1121-1130: Guillaume de Senlis
- 1130-1112?: Albéric I de Mello and Dammartin, (c. 1080 - † 1112)
- 1151-1175: Mathieu II de Beaumont, (c. 1110 - † 1174)
- 1178-1191: Adam I de Beaumont-Gâtinais, (1150- † 1191)
- 1208-1237: Barthélemy de Roye, (1170 - † 1237)
- 1240-1256: Jean I de Beaumont-Gâtinais, (1190 - † 1255)
- 1260-1270: Alphonse de Brienne, (1227 - † 1270)
- 1270-1277: Erard de Vallery
- 1277-1306: Robert II de BourgogneRobert II, Duke of BurgundyRobert II of Burgundy was duke of Burgundy between 1271 and 1306, inheriting the title from his brother Eudes of Burgundy, who had no male heirs. Robert was the third son of duke Hugh IV and Yolande of Dreux...
, (1248 - † 1306) - 1310-1341: Louis I de 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:...
, (1279 - † 1341) - 1342-1356: 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....
, (1311 - † 1356) - 1360-1389: Olivier, Count of Mauny and Thorigny
- 1408-1427: 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....
, (1376 - † 1446) - 1427-1434?: 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...
, (c. 1382 -† 1446) - 1434-1456: Charles I de 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...
, (1401 - † 1456) - 1458-1488: Jean II de Bourbon, (1426 - † 1488)
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...
- Grand Chamberlain of FranceGrand Chamberlain of FranceThe Grand Chamberlain 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...