Grand Master of France

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Ornaments of the Grand Master

The Grand Master of France (

Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration in France, one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France and head of the "Maison du Roi", the king's royal household. The position is similar to that of Lord Steward
in England.

History

The original name of the office was Sovereign Master of the Hotel of the King (French: Souverain Maître d'hôtel du Roi'), until 1380, then becoming Grand Master of the Hotel of the King (French: Grand Maître d'hôtel du Roi), until 1463, before finally becoming Grand Master of France. The symbol of the Grand Master was a blue

baton charged with golden fleur-de-lis, similar to the royal coat of arms of France, capped with a golden representation of the French royal crown. The Grand Master was entitled to bear this symbol of his office in his coat of arms, two being crossed in saltire
behind the shield.

Duties

The position was a successor to the earlier positions of

Mayor of the Palace and Seneschal of France. One of the highest posts in the French court, the "Grand maître" directed the Maison du Roi, appointed new officers to the "Maison" (who would swear an oath of service in his hands) and managed the budget of the "Maison". He was also responsible for policing the court and he managed the king's lands (which made him a sort of Minister of the Interior). In practice however, the military branch of the Maison du Roi was frequently run by the Constable of France or the Secretary of State for War
.

He had numerous ceremonial duties. At the death of the king he would lead the funeral procession and, at the king's tomb, he would break his baton, throw it into the tomb and intone "Gentlemen, the King is dead; you are free from his service"; he would then take a new baton and intone "Gentlemen, the King lives, and gives you your posts."

In the

Early Modern period, most of the real work of the Grand maître was accomplished by his secretaries, and not by himself personally. His role was thus generally symbolic, although he often took personal charge of his ceremonial duties. Furthermore, with the creation of the Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi
in the 16th century, the Grand maître was forced to share some of his duties: in general the Secretary's oversight was purely formal, as the officers of the "Maison du Roi" were under the direct authority of the Grand Maître of France; yet, the "Secrétaire d'État à la Maison du Roi" was in charge of recruiting officers for the "Maison du Roi", and would receive prospective applications for posts and submit them to the king for his approval.

Officeholders

The position was frequently given to the highest of the

Anne, duc de Montmorency
.

In 1559, with the dismissal of Montmorency, the office fell into the hands of the

princes étrangers).[1]

Grand Masters of France

Coat of arms of Louis Joseph, Prince of Condé, the last Grand Maître de France

References

  • Bernard Barbiche, Les Institutions de la monarchie française à l’époque moderne, XVIIe–XVIIIe siècles, Presses universitaires de France, coll. « Premier cycle », 2001 (2nd edition).
    ISBN 2-13-051940-7
  • Jean-François Solnon, La Cour de France, Livre de Poche, coll. « Références », 1996 (1st edition 1987).
    ISBN 2-253-90439-2

Notes

  1. Emile Bourgeois (ed.). Relation de la Cour de France. le Temps retrouvé (in French). Paris: Mercure de France. p. 134
    .

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grand_Master_of_France&oldid=1221244034"