Groom of the Stool

Groom of the Stool

The Groom of the Stool (formally styled: "Groom of the King's Close Stool to King

(name)") was the most intimate of a monarch's courtiers, whose physical intimacy

naturally led to him becoming a man in whom much confidence was placed by his royal

master, and with whom many royal secrets were shared as a matter of course. This secret

information he was privy to, whilst it would never have been revealed, to the discredit of

his honor, in turn led to him becoming feared and respected and therefore powerful

within the royal court in his own right

Herald

A royal or official messenger. In the Middle Ages, it was a herald who arranged

tournaments and other functions, announced challenges, marshaled combatants, etc., and

who was later employed also to arrange processions, funerals, etc., and to regulate the use

of armorial bearings.

Pursuivant

A heraldic officer of the lowest class, ranking below a herald. An official attendant on

heralds.

Intendant of the Civil List

The Intendant of the King's Civil List is responsible for managing the material, financial

and human resources of the King's Household. He is assisted by the Commandant of the

Royal Palaces, the Treasurer of the King's Civil List and the Civil List Adviser. The

Intendant of the Civil List also advises the King in the field of energy, sciences and

culture and administers the King's hunting rights.

Jester

A professional fool or clown at medieval court.

Keeper of the Seal

The title Keeper of the Seals or equivalent is used in several contexts, denoting the person

entitled to keep and authorize use of the Great Seal of a given country.


King of Arms

A title of certain of the principal heralds of England and certain other kingdoms

empowered by their sovereigns to grant armorial bearings.

Knight

The warrior (on retainer) who owed military service to his lord in exchange for payment

of money, titles, and/or fief (land). Knights also aspired to the ideals of loyalty,

generosity and courtesy, known as chivalry.

Lady-in-Waiting 

A lady who is in attendance upon a queen or princess.

Maid of Honor
An unmarried lady attending a queen or princess.

Majordomo 

A man in charge of a great household, as that of a sovereign; a chief steward.

Page

A boy servant or attendant (as young as age 7) given to a knight to be trained for

knighthood. Generally the son of nobility.

Pantler

The servant or officer, in a great family, who has charge of the bread and the pantry.

Seneschal

An officer having full charge of domestic arrangements, ceremonies, the administration

of justice, etc., in the household of a medieval prince or dignitary; steward.

Squire

At 13 or 14 pages became squires and began to practice fighting on horseback. Squires

served as assistants to knights both in the castle and on the battlefield. At 21 a squire

could become a knight himself, kneeling before the lord of the manor to be "dubbed" on

the shoulder with a sword.

Standard Bearer

An officer or soldier of an army or military unit who bears a standard. A standard-bearer

is a person (soldier or civilian) who bears an emblem called an ensign or standard, i.e.

either a type of flag or an inflexible but mobile image, which is used (and often honored)

as a formal, visual symbol of a state, prince, military unit, etc.


Steward

The man responsible for running the day-to-day affairs of the castle when the lord was

absent. The steward organized farm work and kept accounts of the estate’s money.

Stewards were well-paid, powerful figures in the district."House guardian," "overseer of

workmen, " "one who manages affairs of an estate on behalf of his employer" a person

who manages another's property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the

agent of another or others. a person who has charge of the household of another, buying

or obtaining food, directing the servants, etc.