The ''Hofmarschall'' (plural: Hofmarschälle) was the administrative official in charge of a princely German court, supervising all its economic affairs. Historically, every civil service was regarded as court service (e.g. the Russian nobility is even now called the ''

Dvoryanstvo The Russian nobility (russian: дворянство ''dvoryanstvo'') originated in the 14th century. In 1914 it consisted of approximately 1,900,000 members (about 1.1% of the population) in the Russian Empire. Up until the February Revolution ...

'', i.e. courtiers), though today high officials in the royal courts that still exist frequently use titles like ''marshal'', ''chancellor'' or ''minister'', which in other countries are now only used by the civil administration or the military. A ''Hofmarschall'' always belonged to the nobility or was a retired high-ranking military officers of

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

rank or above. A ''Hofmarschall''s duties included organizing the king and the queen's receptions, foreign trips and state visits and supervising the royal household. He organized the whole court household, maintenance of the royal castles, and the provision of food and drink for the princely table, kitchens and wine-cellars. In larger courts the office of ''Hofmarschall'' were headed by an ''Oberhofmarschall'', who was usually supported by a ''Hofmarschall'' and a ''Hausmarschall''. In Germany there was a ''Hofmarschall'' of the former

House of Hohenzollern The House of Hohenzollern (, also , german: Haus Hohenzollern, , ro, Casa de Hohenzollern) is a German royal (and from 1871 to 1918, imperial) dynasty whose members were variously princes, electors, kings and emperors of Hohenzollern, Brandenbu ...

right up to 1945, as the uppermost official of the domestic ministry—he was based in the Dutch Palais (''Niederländisches Palais'') on the boulevard

Unter den Linden Unter den Linden (, "under the linden trees") is a boulevard in the central Mitte district of Berlin, the capital of Germany. Running from the City Palace to Brandenburg Gate, it is named after the linden (lime in England and Ireland, not rela ...

in Berlin and administered the fortune of the Prussian royal household. In Denmark ('' hofmarskal''), Sweden ('' hovmarskalk''), Norway (''hoffmarskalk''), the Netherlands ("hofmaarschalk") and in Luxembourg (''maréchal de la cour''), the rank of ''Hofmarschall'' still exists. It existed in Belgium until 2006. Roughly corresponding offices in the United Kingdom are Lord Great Chamberlain,

Lord Steward of the Household The Lord Steward or Lord Steward of the Household is an official of the Royal Household in England. He is always a peer. Until 1924, he was always a member of the Government. Until 1782, the office was one of considerable political importance ...

and

Lord Chamberlain of the Household Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the peerage in the United Kingdom, or are ...

References

See also