Chamberlain (office)

The Key of a Chamberlain at the Royal Court of Norway.

A chamberlain (Latin: camerarius) is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign.

Description

Historically, many institutions and governments – monasteries, cathedrals and cities – also had the post of chamberlain, who usually had charge of finances.^[1] The Finance Director of the City of London is still called the Chamberlain, while New York City had such a chamberlain, who managed city accounts, until the early 20th century.^[2]

Etymology

From the Old French chamberlain, chamberlenc, Modern French chambellan, from Old High German Chamarling, Chamarlinc, whence also the Medieval Latin cambellanus, camerlingus, camerlengus; Italian camerlingo; Spanish camerlengo, compounded of Old High German Chamara, Kamara [Latin camera, “chamber”], and the German suffix -ling.^[3]

Posts

Some of the principal posts known by this name:

Austria

• Kämmerer

Brunei

• Grand Chamberlain of The Councils of Brunei

Around the year of 2012, The Grand Chamberlain of The Council, Alauddin bin Abu Bakar, on emergency broadcast had announced the divorce between the Sultan and his third wife.

June 7, 2015. The Grand Chamberlain of Brunei announced the new born prince of Deputy Sultan, Crown Prince of Brunei

Byzantine Empire

• Koubikoularios
• Parakoimomenos
• Praepositus sacri cubiculi

Denmark

• Kammerherre
• Kammerdame

France

• Grand Chamberlain of France
• Grand Chamberman of France

Germany

• Kammerherr

Holy Roman Empire

• Kammerherr

Japan

• Grand Chamberlain of Japan and Chamberlain of Japan

Norway

• Lord Chamberlain of Norway

Poland

• Podkomorzy

Portugal

• Chamberlain-Major of Portugal
• Chamberlain of the Prince of Portugal

Roman Empire

• Admissionales
• Praepositus sacri cubiculi
• Cubicularius

Serbia in the Middle Ages

• Kaznac

Sweden

In Sweden there are eight serving chamberlains (kammarherrar) and four serving cabinet chamberlains (kabinettskammarherrar) at the royal court. The chamberlains are not employed by the court, but serve during ceremonial occasions such as state visits, audiences and official dinners.

Thailand

In Thailand the head of the Bureau of the Royal Household is titled the Lord Chamberlain (เลขาธิการพระราชวัง). He has several Grand Chamberlains as his deputy, usually in charge of a specific portfolio.

United Kingdom

• Lord Great Chamberlain (one of the Great Officers of State)
• Lord Chamberlain (senior executive Officer of the Royal Household)
• Chamberlain of the City of London (a High Officer of the City Corporation, its Director of Finance. The appointment of a City Chamberlain is first recorded in 1276; his duties related to the City Chamber, where monies were kept. He also presided over the admission of Freemen of the City of London, and continues to do so today.)
• Lord Chamberlain of Scotland (a historic Office of State in the Kingdom of Scotland from 1124–1703)

United States

• Chamberlain of the City of New York

Vatican

• Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church
• Papal Gentlemen (formerly known as Papal Chamberlains (Cameriere di spada e cappa))

See also

Look up chamberlain in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

References

1. ↑ Chamberlain Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. (from Encyclopædia Britannica 1911)
2. ↑ "City of London leading personnel". cityoflondon.gov.uk. 
3. ↑  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Chamberlain". Encyclopædia Britannica. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 819–820.