Chamberlain (office)


A chamberlain is a senior royal official in charge of managing a royal household. Historically, the chamberlain superintends the arrangement of domestic affairs and was often also charged with receiving and paying out money kept in the royal chamber. The position was usually awarded as an honour to a high-ranking member of the nobility or the clergy, often a royal favourite. Roman emperors appointed this officer under the title of cubicularius. The Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church enjoys very extensive powers, having the revenues of the papal household under his charge. As a sign of their dignity, chamberlains bore a key, which in the seventeenth century was often silvered, and actually fitted the door-locks of chamber rooms. Since the eighteenth century, it has turned into a merely symbolic, albeit splendid, rank-insignia of gilded bronze. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign.

Description

Historically, many institutions and governments – monasteries, cathedrals and cities – also had the post of chamberlain, who usually had charge of finances. The Finance Director of the City of London is still called the Chamberlain, while New York City had a chamberlain who managed city accounts until the early 20th century.

Etymology

From the Old French chamberlain, chamberlenc, Modern French chambellan, from Old High German Chamarling, Chamarlinc, whence also the Medieval Latin cambellanus, camerlingus, camerlengus; Italian camerlingo; Spanish camerlengo, compounded of Old High German Chamara, Kamara, and the German suffix -ling.

Posts

Some of the principal posts known by this name:

Austria

  • Kammerherr, or Kämmerer

[Brunei]

  • Grand Chamberlain of The Councils of Brunei titled as Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Penggawa Laila Bentara Istiadat Diraja Dalam Istana. The current Grand Chamberlain is Pengiran Haji Alauddin Pengiran Paduka Tuan Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar.
Around the year of 2012, The Grand Chamberlain of The l, Alauddin bin Abu Bakar, on emergency broadcast had announced the divorce between the Sultan and his third wife.
June 7, 2015. The Grand Chamberlain of Brunei announced the newborn prince of Deputy Sultan, Crown Prince of Brunei.

Byzantine Empire

Denmark

France

Germany

  • Kammerherr, or Kämmerer

[Holy Roman Empire]

Japan

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Roman Empire

Russian Empire

Ober-Kammerherr or Kammerherr. Historically, postelnichiy was the ceremonial post at the court of a Grand Duke. Later, in 1772, at the court of the Tsar the German term Kammerherr was introduced. The Ober-Kammerherr was responsible for the audiences granted to members of the Royal Family. Since the beginning of the 18th century, the Ober-Kammerherr was the most senior appointed official of the Russian Imperial Court associated with the household of the sovereign. The most notable figures were:

Serbia in the Middle Ages

Sweden

In Sweden there are ten serving chamberlains and four serving cabinet chamberlains at the royal court. The chamberlains are not employed by the court but serve during ceremonial occasions such as state visits, audiences, and official dinners.

Thailand

In Thailand the head of the Bureau of the Royal Household is titled the Lord Chamberlain. He has several Grand Chamberlains as his deputy, usually in charge of a specific portfolio.

United Kingdom

United States

Vatican