Great chamberlain of France

The Great chamberlain of France was one of the large officers of the crown of France during the Ancien Mode and one of the most important characters of the State at the 16th century then, just like the Grand Master of France, his load had political importance less and less and became increasingly honorary.

The load was very old, if it is considered that it was a kind of fusion between that of Chambellan itself, and that of chambrier, removed by François I {{er}} in October 1545. The Great chamberlain of France held his importance owing to the fact that it permanently had access to the room of the King, prerogative symbolized by the gold key which it carried to the side, and which became the heraldic badge of dignity of the great chamberlains: they carried two gold keys in saltire behind their personal weapons.

Its primitive role was the direction of the room and the wardrobe of the king. This Office got a very great proximity with the royal person and was entrusted to advisers close to the sovereign. Thus under the reign of Louis XIV, the great chamberlain occupied the second rank in the receptions of ambassadors, was used the king for table and its shirt with the rising presented to him.

The Great chamberlain signed the important charters and documents, and attended with the King the judgment of the pars. He had the guard of the secret Sceau and from the seal of the cabinet, received the homages paid to the Couronne, made lend the oaths of fidelity in the presence of the King. Its essential function was its role at the time of the Sacre.

The day of the Sacring, it was charged to receive the pars in the room of the King: the ecclesiastical pars knocked on the closed door, the Great chamberlain asked them what they sought, and the pars answered that they sought the King. The Great chamberlain opened the door then. During the Mass of the Sacring, the Great chamberlain received the royal boots which the abbot of Saint-Denis gave him, and fitted them with the King. Same manner, it gave to the royal King the dalmatique one and the coat. In all the ceremonies, it had precedence like Grand Officer of the Crown. Carrier of the banner of France, it had row between the Large Master of France and the Master of the Horse. In the beds of justice, he had sat with the feet of the King.

In first half of the 16th century, the office was always carried by a family member of Orleans-Longueville, then until in 1664 by the duke of Own way and finally by the family of the Tower of Auvergne, Duc of Bubble, until the end of monarchy.

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