What where the positions in the middle ages in the court of the king or emperor ?

[webMaster412160]

Hello guy's, I need some help here. Can you tell me what the positions where in the middle ages ?

I know you have:
-the king or emperor
-the adviser
-A scribe

What else ?

[KingDave]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feudalism

[Trey]

Court Jester.

[konny]

Usually each king had his chancellor. He would in fact have more than one scribe, but the head of the chancellary would hold a title like High Chancellor. This office often was held by a high ranking cleric (a bishop, ex-bishop or future bishop).

Another important figure could be the Seneschal, Truchseß or Chamberlain. He would be responsible for the private possesions of the king and often became the head of the entire administration.

Military officers could be the Constabler and the Marshall. Both developed from people who looked for the king's horses to military high commanders.

There had also been other purely honoric titles at the king's court. In many occasions the above titles could turn into honorific titles too, or could change its responsibilities. This would often depend on the character of the king and the holders. There might also hang around a large number of inoffical 'councellors' who have the king's ear, including his mother, wife and others no one had on his list. Then we usually have the council of the high nobles who considered it their right to be heard by the king.

Of course, not all these people would permantly stay with the king.

[Ringeck]

Define period.

Define country or region.


Some medieval documents can go into great detail. The norwegian Hirdskraa (Norway, late 13th century), the laws of the king's court/retinue/bodyguard/administrative body, describes a great number of court positions, such as the Chancellor (who heads the chancery and organizes the diplomatic and administrative correspondence), the Hird priests (2) who run the religious affairs of the hird itself and the royal chapel, the Stallare, who is a practical organizer: he conveys the king's will to the hird, organizes the royal travelling parties and supervises some details of the household. He also functions as royal representative. The merkismann carries the royal standard in war and peace and settles disputes within the hird, as well as an overall troubleshooter. The skienkare is often translated "wine-taster" but that is a misnomer: he or they heads both the kitchens and is responsible for the supply of drink in addition to supply. The drottsete(r) are, in the Hirdskraa, is primarily responsible for the running of the household.

In addition to this, there are several ranks of noble titles that function as advisors: the len(th)rman(th)r, dukes, earls and so on all can sit in the advisory circle. Commoners could be appointed to many positions: the drottsete and skienkare are specified as having to receive the rank of hirdman or skutilsvein ("knight") if they do not have it already.

This is just one tiny kingdom at the edge of Europe (that we were lucky enough to preserve some details of the royal adminstration of). There was great regional variation.

[webMaster412160]

I would like to know the Byzantine empire. What positions there where. And what was typical about them.

[konny]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzanti...nd_bureaucracy

[Lysimachus]

Wasn't the Byzantine bureaucracy like hopelessly confusing and corrupt?

[CiviC]

Wasn't the Byzantine bureaucracy like hopelessly confusing and corrupt?

Isn't all bureaucracy like this?

[Exarch]

what about the Kingsguard and the White Cloaks?

and the royal Taster?

[bushbush]

for imperial china around that time...(since you didn't define which region )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_D...Six_Ministries

the selection process was:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_examination

[Exarch]

for imperial china around that time...(since you didn't define which region )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_D...Six_Ministries

the selection process was:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_examination

ah the good old imperial exams
apparently students even died of exhaustion during these exams
true or false?

[Sher Khan]

Don't forget the various odd officials in charge of hunting affairs. At times, depending on how much a monarch loved the hunt, these could be some of the most powerfully influential men in the court.

[Godless Pickle]

His lords?

[conon394]

Isn't all bureaucracy like this?

Yep-don't turn in your drivers licenses app in Texes in blue ink they only accept black ink - I hate bureaucracy.