Friday, 18 July 2014

Grand Chamberlain

The Grand Chamberlain was the highest post within the King's Chamber and was also one of the Officers of the Crown. This last distinction meant that certain privileges came with the post of Grand Chamberlain including the right to carry the King's banner in the army, sitting at the foot of the King during a Lit de Justice on a velvet cushion and during the coronation he was to put the royal coat and ermine on the King. During the coucher he presented the King with his nightshirt. He was also to be present whenever a duc, vassal, marèchal, governor or officer of the crown was to swear an oath of allegiance to the King.
The audiences of the King was also open to the Grand Chamberlain who was allowed to stand behind the King's chair. When the King died it was the duty of the Grand Chamberlain to wrap the body - personally - in the shroud.

These were the Grand Chamberlains of the Ancien Regieme:


Henry II, Duc de Guise - Grand Chamberlain
1655-58
Godefroy-Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duc de Bouillon -
Grand Chamberlain 1658-1715

Emmanuel Théodose de La Tour d'Auvergne (1668–1730) while duc d'Albret.jpg
Emmanuel Théodose de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duc de Bouillon -
Grand Chamberlain 1715-28

Charles-Godefroy de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duc de Bouillon -
Grand Chamberlain 1728-47

Godefroy-Charles-Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duc de Bouillon - 
Grand Chamberlain 1747-75

Henri Louis Marie de Rohan, Prince de Guéméné and Duc de Montbazon -
Grand Chamberlain 1775-82

Godefroy-Charles-Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duc de Bouillon -
Grand Chamberlain 1782-89

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