French Renaissance Monarchy by R. J. Knecht

Author:R. J. Knecht [Knecht, R. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Europe, France, Renaissance, General
ISBN: 9781317888796
Google: j8geBAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2014-07-30T16:06:39+00:00

7 The Kings as Patrons

The Royal Court

The court of France was much larger than the king's family circle: it comprised his household, the households of members of his family, and an amorphous mass of hangers-on. By the close of the fifteenth century, it had become an important political institution: whoever had the king's ear shared to some extent in his power. Nobles went to court in the hope of obtaining offices, pensions or other favours [137],

The growth of the royal household (maison du roi) can be traced in a series of royal ordinances dating back to the thirteenth century. By 1261 it was already divided into six departments, each with its own personnel. A distinction was drawn between services to the king's person (bouche) and to his entourage (commun). Household officials were paid in money, kind or both. Payment in kind included the right to eat at court and to receive allowances of fuel, candles and fodder.

Evidence provided by payrolls suggests that the court grew in size significantly from 1494 onwards. In 1523 the king's household comprised 540 officials distributed across several departments, each with its particular function. The main departments were the chapel, the chamber and the hôtel The chapel, under the Grand Almoner, catered for the king's spiritual needs^ the chamber, under the First Gentleman, was concerned with the daily routine of the royal bedchamber; the hôtel, under the Grand Master, fed the court. Bread, wine, fruit and candles were supplied by three sub-departments. Two kitchens catered for the king and the courtiers respectively. The fourrière transported the court and its furniture. A team of quartermasters allocated lodgings according to a strict order of precedence. The écurie under the Grand Écuyer looked after the king's horses; it also had a staff of messengers and a riding school for pages. Two departments (the vénerie and fauconnerie) organised the royal hunts.

Alongside the household there was a military establishment made up of units created in different reigns. The oldest was the Scottish guard which protected the royal person. There were three companies of archers, each one hundred strong - the Cent-Suisses and the Deux-cents gentilhommes. All these troops were mounted, except the Swiss. Law and order at court was kept by a prévôt, assisted by three lieutenants and 30 archers.

The court included many permanent or semi-permanent guests, such as princes of the blood, foreign princes, high-ranking churchmen and foreign ambassadors. Many people attended on business: they included royal councillors, secretaries and notaries. Among the hangers-on were merchants and artisans, who enjoyed exemption from guild regulations.

Overall control of the court was vested in the Grand Master who drew up the annual roll of staff, supervised appointments, kept the keys to the royal residences and ensured the king's safety. Such an important office needed to be filled by someone who enjoyed the king's complete trust. For more than thirty years it was occupied by Anne de Montmorency, who was also constable of France [50].

The king's closest companions were the Gentlemen of the chamber, who were often employed on missions which might take them away from court for long periods.

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