Noble court
A noble court comprises a constellation of courtiers and their patrons. The patron may hold imperial, royal, grand ducal, electoral or other rank. A regent may hold a court together during the minority or absence of a hereditary ruler, and even an elected head of state may develop a court-like entourage.Such courts proliferated in mediaeval Europe as states splintered, especially in Germany and in Italy. Some courts became known for intrigue and power politics, others gained prominence as centres and collective patrons of art and culture.
As political executive functions generally moved to more democratic bases, noble courts have seen their function reduced to that of a noble household, concentrating on personal service to the household head, ceremonial and perhaps some residual politico-advisory functions. If republican zeal has banished an area's erstwile ruling nobility, courts may survive in exile.
Individual rulers differed greatly in tastes and interests, as well as in political skills and in constitutional situations. Accordingly, some founded elaborate courts based on new palaces, only to have their successors retreat to remote castles or to practical administrative centres. Personal retreats might arise far away from official court centres.
Etiquette and hierarchy flourish in highly-structured court settings and may leave conservative traces over generations.
Court officials or office-bearers often held elaborate titles involving arcane duties, generally dating back to the days when a noble household had practical and mundane concerns as well as high politics and culture. Such positions included:
- Butler
- Chamberlain
- Chancellor
- Cup-bearer
- Dapifer
- Doorward
- Falconer
- Gentleman of the Bedchamber
- Lady-in-waiting
- Maid of Honour
- Major-domo
- Marshal
- Panifer
- Seneschal
- Standard bearer
- Steward
- The Forbidden City in Beijing
- Versailles in France
- Sans Souci in Prussia
- Saint James in Great Britain
- The Vatican in the Papal States