Residence and administrative headquarters of a monarchy
A
royal household
or
imperial household
is the residence and administrative headquarters in
ancient
and
post-classical
monarchies
, and
papal household
for
popes
, and formed the basis for the general
government
of the country as well as providing for the needs of the
sovereign
and their relations. It was the core of the
royal court
, though this included many courtiers who were not directly employed by the monarch as part of the household.
There were often large numbers of employees in the household, strictly differentiated by rank, from nobles with highly sought-after positions that gave close access to the monarch, to all the usual servants such as cooks,
footmen
, and maids. The households typically included military forces providing security. Specialists such as artists, clock-makers and poets might be given a place in the household, often by appointing them as
valet de chambre
or the local equivalent.
Among many of these households there are certain great offices which have become, in course of time, merely
hereditary
. In most cases, as the name of the office would suggest, they were held by those who discharged personal functions about the sovereign. Gradually, in ways or for reasons which might vary in each individual case, the office alone survived, the duties either ceasing to be necessary or being transferred to officers of less exalted station.
[1]
In the
modern period
, royal households have evolved into entities which are variously differentiated from
national governments
. Most modern households have become merely
titular
.
Asia
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China
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Japan
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In Japan, the Imperial Household Agency (宮??, Kunaich?) is the agency within the
Government of Japan
responsible for supporting the
Emperor
and the
Imperial Family
as well as keeping the
Privy Seal
and
Great Seal
of Japan.
The Agency is headed by a director-general, who is assisted by the Cabinet-appointed deputy director. The internal organisation of the Agency can be seen below.
[2]
Auxiliary organs of the Agency include:
- Office of the Shoshoin Treasure House
- Imperial Stock Farm
Local branch office:
Thailand
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Europe
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The royal households of such of
European monarchies
have a continuous history since medieval times.
Francia
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France
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Germany
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- 1. Supreme Officers of the Court (Oberste Hofchargen) - honorary functions
- 1.1. The Grand
Chamberlain
(Oberst-Kammerer)
- 1.2. The Grand
Cup-Bearer
(Oberst-Schenk)
- 1.3. The Grand
Steward
(Oberst-Truchseß)
- 1.4. The Grand
Marshal
(Oberst-Marschall)
- 1.5. The Grand Master of the Hunt (Oberst-Jagermeister)
- 2. Chief Officers of the Household (Oberhofchargen)
- 2.0. The Premier Marshal of the Household (Oberhof- und Hausmarschall, i. e. chief
executive officer
of the court)
- 2.1. The Premier
Master of Ceremonies
(Ober-Zeremonienmeister)
- 2.2. The Premier
Master of the Robes
(Ober-Gewandkammerer)
- 2.3. The Premier
Cellarer
(Ober-Mundschenk)
- 2.4. The Premier Master of the
Horses
and
Mews
(Ober-
Stallmeister
)
- 2.5. The Premier Master of the Hunt (Ober-Jagermeister)
- 2.6. The Premier Captain of the
Palace Guard
(Ober-Schloßhauptmann)
- 2.7. The Premier Master of the
Kitchen
(Ober-Kuchenmeister)
- 2.8. The Superintendent general of the
Theaters
(Generalintendant der Schauspiele)
Mannheim (Electors Palatinate)
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- The Grand Master of the Household (Obristhofmeister)
- Stewards (Truchsesse)
- The Master of the Music (Hofkapellmeister)
- The Scientist of the Court (Librarian, Masters of the Collections)
- The Artists of the Court
- The medical staff
- The Grand Chamberlain (Obristkammerer)
- Court's Chamberlains (Hofkammerer)
- Life Offices
- The Grand Marshal of the Household (Obristhofmarschall)
- The Master of the Larder
- The Master of the Cellar
- The Master of the Tablecloth
- The Master of the Silver and China
- The Master of Kitchen
- The Master of the Pastry
- The Grand Master of the Mews (Obriststallmeister)
- The Grand Master of the Hunt (Obristjagermeister)
- The Superintendent of the Court's Music
Russia
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Spain
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Sweden
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United Kingdom
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Vatican
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North America
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Canada
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See also
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References
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External links
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