Staller is an Anglo-Saxon title that was held by various high-ranking officials of the crown during the 11th century. It ceased to be used in the 1070s. Its origin, and exact meaning, are disputed. One suggestion is it derives from the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power ...

, or Count of the Stable, a title used in the

Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantin ...

, and later adopted by the

Franks The Franks ( la, Franci or ) were a group of Germanic peoples whose name was first mentioned in 3rd-century Roman sources, and associated with tribes between the Lower Rhine and the Ems River, on the edge of the Roman Empire.H. Schutz: Tools, ...

. Another likely possibility is that it is refers to a seat, or ''steall'' in the kings hall, one of the privileges granted to a

thane Thane (; also known as Thana, the official name until 1996) is a metropolitan city in Maharashtra, India. It is situated in the north-eastern portion of the Salsette Island. Thane city is entirely within Thane taluka, one of the seven talu ...

, or royal retainer. However, these are both unproven. It seems likely it was a different term for an existing position; the first confirmed occurrence in England was by Edward the Confessor, who used it for senior members of his personal household. Their duties appear to have been flexible; on a charter witnessed by stallers Ansgar, Bondi, Robert FitzWimarc, and Ralph in 1065, they are described as Royal stewards.

Anglo-Saxon office-holders

* Ansgar the Staller (fl 1044-1066) * Bondi the staller (fl 1065) * Eadnoth the Constable (died 1068), also known as Eadnoth the Staller * Osgod Clapa, London *

Ralph the Staller Ralph the Staller (or Radulf Stalre or Ralph l'Écuyer / Ralph the Squire ( 1011 – 1069) was a noble and landowner in both Anglo-Saxon and post- Conquest England. He is said to have been born in Norfolk of high born Breton and English p ...

(1011–1068) *

Robert FitzWimarc Robert fitz Wimarc (died before 1075, Theydon Mount, Ongar, Essex) was a kinsman of both Edward the Confessor and William of Normandy, and was present at Edward's death bed. Nothing of his background is known except his kinship to the English a ...

(died before 1075), also known as Robert the Staller * Tovi Pruda (fl. 1018–1043)

References

Sources

* * *{{cite book , last1=Williams , first1=Ann , title=The World Before Domesday: The English Aristocracy 900-1066 , date=2008 , publisher=Continuum , isbn=978-1847252395 Anglo-Saxon England