Mayordomo mayor

The Mayordomo mayor (High Steward) was the Officer of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain in charge of the person and rooms of the King of Spain. The Office of “Mayordomo mayor” was suppressed after the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931 and never re-created after the restoration of the Monarchy in 1975, but it can be said that it is the historical precedent of the modern Head of the Royal Household of Spain.

Historical precedents

Being a historical precedent the Office of “Mayordomo” of the Kingdom of Castile, the “Mayordomo mayor” of the King of Spain was in charge of the entire organization of the Royal Palace and of its government, having civil and even criminal jurisdiction within its walls through the so-called “Bureo” tribunal.

Regime during the 19th and 20th centuries

Diverse dispositions regulated in the 19th and 20th centuries his functions, but they must be outlined the Royal decrees of October 28 of 1847 and September 4 of 1885.

During the reigns of the last three Kings before the

Grandee of Spain

could be nominated for this Office.

Also, traditionally, the “Mayordomo mayor” was higher hierarchically than the “Sumiller de Corps”. During the reign of Alfonso XII and part of the reign of Alfonso XIII (until 1907) this latter Office was suppressed.

The “Mayordomo mayor” was equally the holder of the privy seal, or “Guardasellos” as he was called. In that position he assured the signature of all sort of documents by the King and the link between him and the Government.

He did not have jurisdiction as in former times but the Prosecution Law required his official permission for every police inspection within the walls of all the Royal palaces.

In that which concerned to his role in the activities of official nature, the “Mayordomo” intervened, between others:

In royal births and baptisms where the invitations were dispatched by him, occupying the immediate site behind the Monarch.
In Public Chapels where he delivered the prayer-book to the King and was placed, also, immediately behind.
In the Lavatory of Poor, during Easter, in which he helped the Monarch to serve the plates in the later lunch that was offered.
In the ceremony of the Coverage of the
Grandees
where he dispatched the invitations on behalf of the King and fixed the order.
In official banquets in which he occupied one of the head-boards of the table.
In official audiences in which he fixed the day and hour.
In public ceremonies, in which he was placed in the first position close to the Caballerizo mayor.

Under the “Mayordomo” they were the

Gentilhombres de camara con ejercicio

” (Gentlemen of the bedchamber), both (but especially the first and second ones) with certain duties attached to the person of the King.

Also the Physicians of Chamber were under his dependence with a salary of 10.000 pesetas per year each one, accompanying the King in trips, hunts etc. Traditionally the Physician of Chamber who assisted to royal births was awarded with the peerage as it was the case of the first Marquess of San Gregorio and the first Count of San Diego. In 1931 the Physicians of the Chamber were Don Jacobo Lopez Elizagaray and Don Fernando Enríquez of Salamanca.

Also, this Office of Physician was suppressed after the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931 and never re-created after the restoration of the Monarchy in 1975.

The Private Secretary to the King was also under the “Mayordomo”. He was in charge of the ordinary matters of the Monarch and was his more faithful assistant. During almost the whole reign of Alfonso XIII, and in the moment of his exile, this Office was held by Don Emilio de Torres y Gonzalez-Arnáu, first Marquess of Torres de Mendoza.

The last office under the “Mayordomo” was the General Inspector of the Royal Palaces, the former "Aposentador" (Office that the painter Diego Velázquez had occupied in the 17th century), with an annual wage of 12.500 pesetas. The General Inspector was the real steward and butler to the King. At the fall of the monarchy, this office was occupied by Don Luis de Asúa y Campos. He had his own office in all the Royal residences and was the chief of the watchmen, the doormen, the footmen and the personnel of the so-called "Ramillete", who were the servants and footmen who served at the royal table and the craftsmen of the different workshops (watchmakers, cabinet-makers, cooks, janitors, etc.). All of these offices were equally suppressed in 1931 and no longer exist.

In the reign of Alfonso XIII the wages of the “Mayordomo” were 15.000 pesetas per year and had his own office and quarter at the Royal Palace of Madrid. Likewise, he was always awarded with the highest distinctions of the Kingdom, the neck chain of the Order of the Golden Fleece and the grand cross of the Order of Charles III.

The uniform of the “Mayordomo” was “casacón” (frock coat) with embroidery in all the seams.

He was styled “Excelentísimo señor Mayordomo mayor de Su Majestad” as well as “Sumiller de Corps” and “Guardasellos” (when he held the privy seal).

List of "Mayordomos mayores" (High Stewards) to the King of Spain between 1516 and 1931

“Mayordomos mayores” to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, 1516–1556

1512–1518: Ferry de Croy, Lord of Roeulx
1518-1518: Diego de Guevara, Lord of Jouvel
1518–1522: Ferry de Croy, Lord of Roeulx
1522–1526: Laurent de Gorrevod, Count of Pont-de-Vaux
1526–1527:
Grandee of Spain
1527–1529: Laurent de Gorrevod, Count of Pont-de-Vaux
1529–1540: Adrien de Croy, Count of Roeulx,
Grandee of Spain
1541–1556:
Grandee of Spain

“Mayordomos mayores” to King Philip II, 1556–1598

1556–1582:
Grandee of Spain
1582–1598: Pedro López de Ayala, Count of Fuensalida,
Grandee of Spain

“Mayordomos mayores” to King Philip III, 1598–1621

1598–1599: Gómez Dávila y Toledo, Marquess of Velada,
Grandee of Spain
1599–1621:
Grandee of Spain

“Mayordomos mayores” to King Philip IV, 1621–1665

1621–1624: Juán Hurtado de Mendoza de la Vega y Luna, Consort-
Grandee of Spain
1629–1639:
Grandee of Spain
1640–1642: Gómez de Mendoza y Manrique, Count of Castrogeriz,
Grandee of Spain
1643–1647:
Grandee of Spain
1649–1651:
Grandee of Spain
1651–1658: Juan Gabriel Pacheco Téllez Girón, Count of la Puebla de Montalbán,
Grandee of Spain
1658–1660: García de Avellaneda y Haro, Count of Castrillo,
Grandee of Spain
1660–1664: Juan Gaspar Enríquez de Cabrera y Sandoval,
Grandee of Spain

“Mayordomos mayores” to King Charles II, 1665–1701

1665–1667: Bernardo Manrique de Silva y Mendoza, Marquess of Aguilar de Campoo,
Grandee of Spain
1667–1671: Antonio Álvarez de Toledo y Enríquez de Ribera,
Grandee of Spain
1671–1674: Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar de Silva y Mendoza,
Grandee of Spain
1674–1676:
Grandee of Spain
1676–1696:
Grandee of Spain
1699–1701:
Grandee of Spain

“Mayordomos mayores” to King Philip V, 1701–1724

1701–1705:
Grandee of Spain
1705–1713: José Fernández de Velasco,
Grandee of Spain
1713–1724:
Grandee of Spain

“Mayordomo mayor” to King Louis I, 1724

1724:
Grandee of Spain

“Mayordomos mayores” to King Philip V, 1724–1746

1724–1725:
Grandee of Spain
1725–1738:
Grandee of Spain
1738–1746:
Grandee of Spain

“Mayordomos mayores” to King
Ferdinand VI
, 1746–1759

1746–1747:
Grandee of Spain
1747: Juan Manuel López de Zúñiga y Castro,
Grandee of Spain
1747–1753: Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Moncada,
Grandee of Spain
1753–1759:
Grandee of Spain

“Mayordomos mayores” to King Charles III, 1759–1788

1759–1760:
Grandee of Spain
1760–1781: José María de Guzmán Guevara, Marquess of Montealegre,
Grandee of Spain
1781–1787: Pedro de Alcántara Fernández de Córdoba y Montcada,
Grandee of Spain
1787–1788: José Joaquín de Silva-Bazán,
Grandee of Spain

“Mayordomos mayores” to King Charles IV, 1788–1808

1788–1802: José Joaquín de Silva-Bazán,
Grandee of Spain
1802–1805: Diego Ventura de Guzmán, Marquess of Montealegre,
Grandee of Spain
1805–1807:
Grandee of Spain
1807–1808: Benito Fernández Correa y Sotomayor, Marquess of Mos,
Grandee of Spain

“Mayordomos mayores” to King Ferdinand VII, 1808 and 1814–1833

1808:
Grandee of Spain
1809–1810: Pedro María Jordán de Urríes y Fuembuena, Marquess of Ayerbe,
Grandee of Spain
(1)
1814–1815:
Grandee of Spain
1815–1820: Francisco de Borja Álvarez de Toledo y Gonzaga, Count of Miranda de Castañar,
Grandee of Spain
1820–1822: Antonio María Ponce de León Dávila, Duke of Montemar,
Grandee of Spain
1822–1823:
Grandee of Spain
1823–1824: Francisco de Borja Álvarez de Toledo y Gonzaga, Count of Miranda de Castañar,
Grandee of Spain
1824–1833: Joaquín Félix de Samaniego Urbina Pizarro y Velandia, Marquess of Valverde de la Sierra,
Grandee of Spain

“Mayordomos mayores” to Queen
Isabella II
, 1833–1868

1833–1838: Joaquín Félix de Samaniego Urbina Pizarro y Velandia, Marquess of Valverde de la Sierra,
Grandee of Spain
1838–1847: Juan Bautista Queralt y Silva, Count of Santa Coloma,
Grandee of Spain
1848–1855: Juan Nepomuceno Roca de Togores y Carrasco, Count of Pinohermoso,
Grandee of Spain
1855-1855:
Grandee of Spain
1856–1866: Luis Carondelet Castaños,
Grandee of Spain
1866–1868: Francisco Javier Arias Dávila y Matheu, Count of Puñonrostro,
Grandee of Spain
1868: Antonio María Marcilla de Teruel-Moctezuma y Navarro,
Grandee of Spain

“Mayordomos mayores” to King
Amadeo I
, 1871–1873

1871:
Grandee of Spain
1871–1873: Mariano Rius y Montaner, Count of Rius

“Mayordomo mayor” to King Alfonso XII, 1875–1885

1875–1885:
Grandee of Spain

“Mayordomos mayores” to King Alfonso XIII, 1885–1931

1885–1890:
Grandee of Spain
1890–1906: Carlos Martínez de Irujo y del Alcázar, Duke of Sotomayor,
Grandee of Spain
1906–1907: Manuel Felipe Falcó, Marquess of la Mina,
Grandee of Spain
1907–1925: Andrés Avelino de Salabert y Arteaga, Marquess of la Torrecilla,
Grandee of Spain
1925–1931: Luis María de Silva y Carvajal, Duke of Miranda,
Grandee of Spain

(1) Mayordomo mayor in exile at Valençay

Bibliography

Enciclopedia universal ilustrada europeo-americana. Volume 49. Hijos de J. Espasa, Editores.1923
Martínez Millán José. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Departamento de Historia Moderna. La Corte de Carlos V. 2000
Martinéz Millán (dir). José. La Corte de Felipe II. Madrid. Alianza 1994
Martínez Millán, José y Visceglia, Maria Antonietta (Dirs.). La Monarquía de Felipe III. Madrid, Fundación Mapfre, 2008/2009
Archivo General de Palacio (AGP) [1]. Patrimonio Nacional. Sección Personal