The 'Maison du Roi' (Household of the King) was the name of the military, domestic and religious entourage (
Royal Household) around the royal family in
France during the "
Ancien Régime" and
Bourbon Restoration; the exact composition and duties of its various divisions changed constantly over the
Early Modern period. Officers of the "Maison du Roi" were directly responsible to the "
Grand maître de France" (Chief Steward), although, starting in the 16th century and then from the 17th century on, the "Maison du Roi" was overseen by a ministry, the "Département de la Maison du Roi", directed by a secretary of state, the "
Secrétaire d'État à la Maison du Roi". The structure of the "Maison du Roi" was officially reglemented under
Henri III in
1578 and
1585; and in the 17th century by
Jean-Baptiste Colbert.
The Military Maison du Roi
The military branch of the "Maison du Roi" was the
French Army Household Cavalry brigade.
Far from being simply a ceremonial corps, the "Maison du Roi" participated in all the military campaigns of the 16th and 17th centuries. It played a vital role in the
Battle of Oudenarde, when it saved the French army from probable destruction. In
1567, during the "surprise of Meaux", the royal family escaped capture by Protestant troops of the
prince de Condé by the intervention of the
Cent-Suisses. On
10 August 1792, the "
Gardes suisses" were massacred protecting
Louis XVI and his family.
On the field of battle, the "Maison du Roi" fought around the king and the "porte-cornette blanche" (the king's white standard), although the corps also fought in the absence of the king. The "Maison du Roi" made up -- along with the "Cavalerie d'ordonnance", the six "Vieux" the six "Petits-Vieux" -- the only permanent army of the kingdom.
Over the years, the "Maison du Roi has included the following corps:
★ the
Gardes du Corps (body guards)
★ the
Cent-Suisses
★ the Gentilshommes à bec de corbin
★ the
Gardes Françaises (regiment created in
1563)
★ the Chevau-légers (
light cavalry) (
1593)
★ the Gendarmes de la garde (
1609–
1611)
★ the
Gardes suisses (
1616)
★ the
Musketeer (two compagnies,
1622 and
1660)
★ the Gendarmerie d'ordonnance (
1660, suppressed in
1788)
★ the Grenadiers à cheval (
1676)
The oldest of the regiments of the Maison du Roi was the
Garde Écossaise, formed in 1440, and traced its ultimate origins to the Scots forces brought to France in 1419 by
John Stewart,
Earl of Buchan, to fight against the
English in the
Hundred Years' War.
Buchan's original company was divided in two, one part becoming the 1st (or
Scottish) Company of the Life Guards (''Gardes du Corps''), the other becoming the senior company of
Gendarmes. A second, French, company of Life Guards was formed by
Louis XI in 1474 and the third by Louis in 1479. The fourth company, again French, was raised by
Francis I in 1516. These companies existed until the
French Revolution when they were disbanded.
During the final period of the
French Wars of Religion,
Henry IV wished to provide guards for
christening of the
Dauphin (later
Louis XIII). He created a new company of 200 men-at-arms which formed half of the Dauphin's guards. In 1611, this company became the ''Gendarmes de la Garde''. This company was paired with another company of heavy cavalry. These ''chevau-légers'' (light cavalry) wore armour and were only light when compared to the Gendarmes, who wore more armour. This company dated to 1570, and became part of the Dauphin's guard and then of the Maison du Roi.
The next companies of the Maison du Roi, and by far the most famous, were the
Musketeers, the guardsmen who appear in
Dumas senior's
The Three Musketeers. The first company, which was formed in 1622, represents the Musketeers in which
D'Artagnan and his friends served. The second company, not taken into the Maison du Roi until 1663, has previously been the
Cardinal Mazarin's guards. Perhaps, by this route, some of
Cardinal Richelieu's guards eventually became King's Musketeers.
Unlike the previous companies, officered by powerful nobles, and with many nobles in their ranks, the final company of the Maison du Roi was created as an elite force, formed by taking one grenadier from each infantry regiment and making him a mounted grenadier. The resulting picked men who would become the ''Grenadiers à cheval'' were interviewed by
Louis XIV. Those colonels who, in the Sun King's opinion had not sent the best of their men, were reprimanded and ordered to send a suitable replacement. The company was completed in 1676.
Under Louis XIV, direction of the military "Maison du Roi" was given to the "Secrétaire d'État à la Maison du roi" and the "Secrétaire d'État à la guerre".
The Religious Maison du Roi
The Ecclesiastical Household of the king was headed by the
Grand Almoner of France ("Grand aumônier of France) (created by
François I), most often a
bishop. The king's chapel ("la chapelle du roi") – which did not originally refer to a building, but to the religious entourage of the king – was in charge of the mass and religious ceremonies (marriages, baptisms) for the sovereign and the royal family, and the king's
alms and public charities. It was headed by the Grand Almoner who was assisted by the First Almoner, who fulfilled the duties of the Grand Almoner when the latter was unable to. Other officers of the "Maison ecclésiastique" included several "aumônier ordinaire" (who maintained the regular service of the chapel), the "prédicateur du roi" (or "king's preacher"), who preached in the presence of the king, and the king's
confessor.
The royal chapel also included a group of ecclesiastics and musicians for the religious services, divided into two sections: the "chapel and oratory" ("chapelle et oratoire") – directed by the master of the Oratory ("maître de l'Oratoire") – which performed spoken masses, and the "grande chapelle" – directed by the master of the chapel ("maître de la chapelle") – which performed masses in
plainchant. In the reign of
Louis XV, the musicians of the two chapels were united, and oversight was eventually transferred (in 1761) from the Ecclestiastical household to the King's Chamber and the position of "master of the chapel" was eliminated.
The Domestic Maison du Roi
The "Maison du Roi civile", or domestic entourage of the king was divided into a number of departments, whose number varied over the years. Under
Louis XIV it consisted of 22 departments. Each department was directed by the "grands officiers de la maison du roi de France" (a title similar to, but not the same as, "grand officier de la couronne de France"). From the 16th to the 17th centuries, the "Maison du Roi civile" consisted of around 1000 - 2000 individuals.
The most important departments were the following :
The "Bouche du roi"
The largest of the departments, the "Bouche du roi" oversaw the meals of the king. It was run by the "Premier Maître d'hôtel". The seven offices of the department were:
★ gobelet: wine and drink, run by the Grand Bouteiller
★ cuisine-bouche: cuisine
★ paneterie: bakers
★ échansonnerie:
★ cuisine-commun:
★ fruiterie: fruits
★ fourrière:
Officers included: the ''Maître d'hôtel ordinaire'', the 12 ''Maîtres d'hôtel servant par quartier'', the ''
Grand panetier'', the ''Premier écuyer tranchant'' and the ''Grand échanson'' (three offices which had become purely honorific in the Early Modern period), and the 36 gentleman servants, etc.
The King's Chamber
Directed by the
Grand Chambrier of France or
Grand Chambellan of France, this department oversaw the king's rooms and his personal escort. After the "Bouche du roi", it was the second largest. It consist of 4 First Gentlemen of the chambre, the gentlemen of the chambre, the chamber valets, the
pages, the
huissiers and the children of honor. Their proximity to the king made these charges particularly esteemed.
The "Menus-Plaisirs"
The complete name of this department was "argenterie, menus plaisirs et affaires de la chambre du roi" ("silver, small entertainments and affairs of the king's chamber"). This service was in charge of theater decor, costumes and props for plays, ballets and other court entertainments. It was run by an intendant.
The Ceremonies
Created in
1585 by
Henri III,this service was in charge of public ceremonies such as:
baptisms,
marriages and royal funerals,
coronations and the "sacre" (or royal christening), royal entries into towns, royal festivals, ambassaderial receptions,
États généraux, etc. It was run by the
Grand maître des cérémonies, assisted by the ''maître'' and the ''aide'' of cérémonies.
The Royal Stables
Divided in
1582 into two parts :
★ the "Grande Écurie", run by the
Grand écuyer of France, called « M. le Grand », who oversaw the transport of the king and his ceremonial entourage (heralds, men of arms, musicians, etc.)
★ the "Petite Écurie", run by the ''premier écuyer'', called « M. le Premier », comprising squires, pages, foot valets, coaches, harnesses, saddles and coachmen.
The Venery
This was the king's hunting service, run by the
Grand Veneur (the Master of the Hunt and Royal Game Warden), and consisting of the "vénerie" (hunting on horseback), "louveterie" (the hunt of wolves run by the
Grand Louvetier),
falcon hunting (run by the
Grand Falconer) and the "vautrait" (
boar hunt, run by the "Capitaine du vautrait" or "Capitaine des toiles").
Great Officers of the Royal Household
The major offices of the royal household are sometimes listed as the "grands officiers de la maison du roi de France", not to be confused with the
Great Officers of the Crown of France, with which it overlaps in part. Although lists of the Great Officers vary, the following are generally considered Great Officers of the Royal Household:
Domestic Household:
★
Grand Maître de France (also one of the
Great Officers of the Crown of France).
:
★ the First Maître d'hôtel (Chief Butler) - overseeing the king's table and the "bouches du roi".
;;
★ the
Grand Panetier of France, overseeing bread.
::
★ the
Grand Échanson de France, overseeing wine.
::
★ the First "Écuyer tranchant", who cuts the meat of the king.
:
★ the
Grand Chambrier of France or the
Grand Chambellan of France, head of the King's chambre, (also one of the
Great Officers of the Crown of France).
::
★ the four "First gentlemen of the King's Chamber", who oversee the King's chambre.
::
★ the four "First Valets of the King's Chamber", who oversee, under the direction of the first gentlment, the King's chambre.
:
★ the Grand Maître de la garde-robe, oversees the King's wardrobe..
:
★ the
Grand Écuyer de France, the head stablemaster, (also one of the
Great Officers of the Crown of France).
::
★ the first écuyer de France seconds the Grand écuyer.
:
★ the
Grand Huntsman of France ("Grand Veneur"), directs royal hunts, especially the
stag hunt.
:
★ the
Grand Falconer of France, direct royal hunts using
birds of prey.
:
★ the
Grand Louvetier of France, direct royal hunts of wolves and boar.
:
★ the
Grand Master of Ceremonies of France ("grand maître des cérémonies"), directs court ceremonies and protocol.
:
★ the Grand Marshal of lodging ("maréchal des logis"), oversees lodging of the king, of the court and of the royal household.
:
★ the Grand Provost of France, heads the court police, and for this purpose has jurisdiction over the military troops of the Maison du roi.
:
★ the
Grand Almoner of France, at the head of the royal chapel and the head of the "Ecclesiastical House of the King (the "maison ecclésiastique du roi de France").
::
★ the first Almoner of France who aids the Grand Almoner.
Military Household:
:Captain of the bodyguard.
:Captain-colonel of the
Cent-Suisses
:
Colonel General of the Suisses et Grisons
:Captain-colonel of the guards of the king's door.
:Captain-lieutenant of the gendarmes of the guard
:Captain-lieutenant of the chevau-légers (
light cavalry) of the guard
:
Colonel General of the
Musketeers of the guard
::Captain-lieutenant of the first company of the Musketeers of the guard
::Captain-lieutenant of the first company of the Musketeers of the guard
:Captain-lieutenant of the grenadiers à cheval of the guard
The Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi
Starting in the 16th century and then from the 17th century on, the "Maison du Roi" was overseen by a ministry, the "Département de la Maison du Roi", directed by a secretary of state, the "Secrétaire d'État à la Maison du Roi", although this oversight was purely formal, as the officers of the "Maison du Roi" were under the direct authority of the
Grand maître de France (Chief Steward of France). Moreover, in practice, the military branch of the Maison du Roi was run by the Minister of War. The "Secrétaire d'État à la Maison du Roi" was however in charge of recruiting officers for the "Maison du Roi", and would receive prospective applications for posts and submit them to the king for his approval.
Main articles: Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi
References
:''This article is based, in part, on the articles , and from the
French Wikipedia, retrieved on August 11, September 1 and September 9 2006 (respectively).''
★ Bernard Barbiche, ''Les institutions de la monarchie française à l'époque moderne, XVIe - XVIIIe siècle'', Paris : PUF, 1999, 2nd edition. 2001.
★ Père Anselme de Sainte-Marie (o.c.m.), ''Histoire généalogique et chronologique de la Maison royale de France, des pairs et grands officiers de la Couronne et de la Maison du Roi'', Compagnie des Libraires associés, 1737.
★ Jean-François Solnon, art. « Maison du roi », ''Dictionnaire du Grand Siècle'', s. dir, François Bluche, Fayard, 1990.
★ Louis Susane, ''Histoire de la cavalerie française (3 vols).'' Reprinted C. Terana, Paris, 1984. ISBN 2-904221-03-4.
See also
★
Great Officers of the Crown of France
★
French nobility
★
Early Modern France
External links
★
La Maison du Roi on www.heraldica.org (in English)
★
French heraldry site (in French) - Grand Officers of the Crown and Grand Officers of the Household
★
French herladry site (in French) - Maison du roi civile
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