The Knight Marshal is a former office in the British Royal Household established by Henry III in 1236. The position later became a Deputy to the

Earl Marshal Earl Marshal (alternatively marschal or marischal) is a hereditary royal officeholder and chivalric title under the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, sovereign of the United Kingdom used in England (then, following the Act of Union 1800, in the U ...

from the reign of

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...

until the office was abolished in 1846. The Knight Marshal and his men were responsible for maintaining order within the King's Court ( Court of Marshalsea or Palace Court) which was abolished in 1849. According to ''The Present State of the British Court'', published in 1720, The Knight Marshal was appointed by the Crown for life by

letters patent Letters patent (plurale tantum, plural form for singular and plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, President (government title), president or other head of state, generally granti ...

under the

great seal A great seal is a seal used by a head of state, or someone authorised to do so on their behalf, to confirm formal documents, such as laws, treaties, appointments and letters of dispatch. It was and is used as a guarantee of the authenticity of ...

frequently in the form of grants in reversion. Board wages were fixed at £21 5s 10d in 1662. In 1685, a salary of £26 was provided. This was raised to £500 in 1790 but reduced to £271 in 1816. The separate office of Knight Marischal exists in the Royal Household of Scotland, but has not been filled since 1863.

List of knights marshal

*temp Richard III : William Brandon *temp Edward IV : Sir Ralph Assheton *temp Henry VII : Sir John Digby *temp Henry VIII : Sir William Pickering *1542 26 August – 1556 : Sir Ralph Hopton (died 1571) *1555 : Sir Anthony Kingston (died 1556) *1556 May – 1558 : Sir Thomas Holcroft *1558 Mar – 1558 : Sir Thomas Hervey *1558 21 Dec – 1571 : Sir Ralph Hopton and Robert Hopton (jointly) *1571 - 1577: Robert Hopton (alone) *1578: Sir George Carey *1597 May : Sir Thomas Gerard (created Baron Gerard, 1603) *1604 – 1618 : Sir Thomas Vavasour *1618 – 1626 : Sir Edward Zouch *1626 – 1642 : Sir Edmund Verney *c.1642 : Sir Edward Sydenham *?1651 : Sir Robert Throckmorton, 1st Baronet *1649 – 1660 : ''Interregnum'' *1660 11 July : Sir William Throckmorton *1667 22 April : Sir Edmund Wyndham *1681 3 March – ?1689 : Sir Edward Villiers *1689 4 July : Sir Edward Villiers (died 1711) *1700 11 July – 1757 : Sir Philip Meadows *1757 5 December – 1792 : Sir Sydney Meadows *1792 15 November – 1795 : Hugh Boscawen *1795 10 November – 1824 : Sir James Lamb, 1st Baronet *1824 11 October – 1846 : Sir Charles Montolieu Lamb, 2nd Bt *1846 ''Post abolished''

H.M.'s Marshalmen

A token number of Marshalmen continued to be appointed even after the demise of the Marshalsea Court; they became honorary appointments within the Royal Household and were in attendance on the Sovereign on ceremonial occasions. Six King's Marshalmen took part in the 1937 Coronation procession of King

George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until Death and state funeral of George VI, his death in 1952 ...

; since when appointments to this office have ceased. The Marshalmen wore a distinctive uniform, consisting of a scarlet coat, blue trousers and a

shako A shako (, , or ) is a tall, cylindrical military cap, usually with a visor, and sometimes tapered at the top. It is usually adorned with an ornamental plate or Cap badge, badge on the front, metallic or otherwise; and often has a feather, hackle ...

(a tall, cylindrical cap with a visor), and carried a baton engraved with the Royal Arms at one end, and at the other the coat of arms of the

City of Westminster The City of Westminster is a London borough with City status in the United Kingdom, city status in Greater London, England. It is the site of the United Kingdom's Houses of Parliament and much of the British government. It contains a large par ...

.Dress worn at Court https://archive.org/stream/dressinsigniawor00greauoft#page/164/mode/1up

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References

External links

Photograph of Marshalmen on duty at the State Opening of Parliament in 1909 (National Portrait Gallery)
{{British Monarchy Household Positions within the British Royal Household

List of knights marshal

H.M.'s Marshalmen

See also

Sources

References

External links