Camarera mayor de Palacio
Encyclopedia
The Camarera mayor de Palacio (First Lady of the Bedchamber) was the Official of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain
, who was in charge of the person and the rooms of the Queen of Spain
.
dynasty, the Royal Court was shaped after that one that existed in the Court of Burgundy
. Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
, but also King of Spain, imported the etiquette
styled in the Court of his paternal grandmother Mary of Burgundy
and appointed the first “Camarera mayor de Palacio” for his wife, the Empress.
The principal responsibility of the “Camarera mayor de Palacio” was managing all that was related with the service to the Queen and she had authority over the different dignities and servants that composed her personnel. Her first obligation was the personal assistance to the Sovereign. She had to accompany her at all time, up to the point of sleeping in her chamber, when the King was not doing it. She was in charge of the clothes purveyors and directed the formal dressing of the Queen. In fact she had the high duty of delivering the Queen the water and the towel during morning toilette. All these functions gave the “Camarera mayor” a great intimacy with the Queen, as well as a big influence over her.
. Only a woman with the rank of Grandee of Spain could be nominated for this Office, and she was chosen between those of the class of “Dama de la Reina” (Lady of the Bedchamber) of major seniority. She was in charge of everything relative to the etiquette
and organization of the Household of the Queen helped by the “Mayordomo mayor” (High Steward) to the Queen.
Between her duties there were signalling the dates for audiences to the Queen and accompanying her in every ceremony.
Under the “Camarera mayor de Palacio” they were the “Damas de la Reina” (Ladies of the Bedchamber) and the “Damas al servicio particular de la Reina” (Ladies-in-Waiting).
She had assigned an annual salary of 6.000 pesetas and had a private own office in the Royal Palace of Madrid
.
She was styled “Excelentísima señora Camarera mayor de Palacio”.
This post was suppressed after the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic
in 1931 and never re-created after the restoration of Monarchy in 1975.
“Camarera mayor” to Empress Isabella of Portugal
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Mariana of Austria
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Marie Louise of Orleans
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Maria Luisa of Savoy
“Camarera mayor” to Queen Barbara of Braganza
“Camarera mayor” to Queen Maria Amalia of Saxony
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Maria Luisa of Parma
“Camarera mayor” to Queen Maria Isabel of Portugal
“Camarera mayor” to Queen Maria Josepha of Saxony
“Camarera mayor” to Queen Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Isabella II
“Camarera mayor” to Queen Mercedes of Orléans
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Maria Christina of Austria
List of "Camareras mayores" to Queen Mother Maria Christina of Austria
During the reign of King Alfonso XIII, and after his marriage, it was created the own Household of her mother the Queen Maria Christina of Austria
with her own “Camarera mayor de la Reina Madre” (First Laidy of the Bedchamber of the Queen Mother). This Office was successively held by:
Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain
The Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain was the institution that governed the organization of the Royal Spanish Court from the time of the Habsburg dinasty, which introduced the so called Burgundian etiquette, up to to the reign of Alfonso XIII, grandfather of the current King of...
, who was in charge of the person and the rooms of the Queen of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Historical precedents and regime during the 17th and 18th centuries
This Office was created in 1526 when, during the HabsburgHabsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
dynasty, the Royal Court was shaped after that one that existed in the Court of Burgundy
Burgundy
Burgundy is a region historically situated in modern-day France and Switzerland.-History:Burgundy was inhabited in turn by Celts, Romans , and in the 4th century, the Roman allies the Burgundians, a Germanic people possibly originating in Bornholm , who settled there and established their own...
. Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, but also King of Spain, imported the etiquette
Etiquette
Etiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group...
styled in the Court of his paternal grandmother Mary of Burgundy
Mary of Burgundy
Mary of Burgundy ruled the Burgundian territories in Low Countries and was suo jure Duchess of Burgundy from 1477 until her death...
and appointed the first “Camarera mayor de Palacio” for his wife, the Empress.
The principal responsibility of the “Camarera mayor de Palacio” was managing all that was related with the service to the Queen and she had authority over the different dignities and servants that composed her personnel. Her first obligation was the personal assistance to the Sovereign. She had to accompany her at all time, up to the point of sleeping in her chamber, when the King was not doing it. She was in charge of the clothes purveyors and directed the formal dressing of the Queen. In fact she had the high duty of delivering the Queen the water and the towel during morning toilette. All these functions gave the “Camarera mayor” a great intimacy with the Queen, as well as a big influence over her.
Regime during the 19th and 20th centuries
In the structure of the Royal Household, the Office “Camarera mayor de Palacio” had the same category as that of the Mayordomo mayorMayordomo mayor
The Mayordomo mayor was the Official of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain in charge of the person and rooms of the King of Spain...
. Only a woman with the rank of Grandee of Spain could be nominated for this Office, and she was chosen between those of the class of “Dama de la Reina” (Lady of the Bedchamber) of major seniority. She was in charge of everything relative to the etiquette
Etiquette
Etiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group...
and organization of the Household of the Queen helped by the “Mayordomo mayor” (High Steward) to the Queen.
Between her duties there were signalling the dates for audiences to the Queen and accompanying her in every ceremony.
Under the “Camarera mayor de Palacio” they were the “Damas de la Reina” (Ladies of the Bedchamber) and the “Damas al servicio particular de la Reina” (Ladies-in-Waiting).
She had assigned an annual salary of 6.000 pesetas and had a private own office in the Royal Palace of Madrid
Royal Palace of Madrid
The Palacio Real de Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain in the city of Madrid, but it is only used for state ceremonies. King Juan Carlos and the Royal Family do not reside in the palace, choosing instead the more modest Palacio de la Zarzuela on the outskirts of Madrid...
.
She was styled “Excelentísima señora Camarera mayor de Palacio”.
This post was suppressed after the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
in 1931 and never re-created after the restoration of Monarchy in 1975.
List of “Camareras Mayores” (First Ladies of the Bedchamber) to the Queen of Spain between 1526 and 1931
“Camarera mayor” to Empress Isabella of PortugalIsabella of PortugalIsabella of Portugal was a Portuguese Princess and Holy Roman Empress, Duchess of Burgundy, and a Queen Regent/Consort of Spain. She was the daughter of Manuel I of Portugal and Maria of Aragon. By her marriage to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Isabella was also Holy Roman Empress and Queen...
, 1526-1539
- 1526-1546: Leonor de Castro y Meneses, Duchess of Gandía, Grandee of Spain
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Anna of Austria, 1570-1580
- 1570-1571: Aldonza de Bazán, Marchioness of Fromista, Grandee of Spain
- 1571-1576: María Ángela de Aragón y Guzmán, Marchioness of Berlanga, Grandee of Spain
- 1576-1581: Francisca de Rojas y Sandoval, Countess of Paredes de Nava, Grandee of Spain
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Margaret of Austria, 1601-1611
- 1601-1605: Catalina de la Cerda, Duchess of Lerma, Grandee of Spain
- 1605-1611: Catalina de Sandoval, Countess of Lemos, Grandee of Spain
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Elisabeth of Bourbon, 1615-1644
- 1615-1621: Catalina de Sandoval, Countess of Lemos, Grandee of Spain
- 1621-1627: Juana Enriquez de Velasco, Duchess of Gandía, Grandee of Spain
- 1627-1643: Inés de Zúñiga, Countess of Olivares, Grandee of Spain
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Mariana of AustriaMariana of AustriaMariana of Austria was Queen consort of Spain as the second wife of King Philip IV, who was also her maternal uncle...
, 1649-1665
- 1649-1653: Ana de Cardona y Aragón, Countess of Medellín, Grandee of Spain
- 1654-1659: Elvira Ponce de León, Marchioness of Villanueva de Valdueza
- 1660-1665: Margarita Zapata de Mendoza, Countess of Priego, Grandee of Spain
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Marie Louise of OrleansMarie Louise of Orléans (1662–1689)Marie Louise of Orléans was Queen consort of Spain from 1679 to 1689 as the first wife of King Charles II of Spain. She was a granddaughter of Louis XIII of France; this made her a petite-fille de France...
, 1679-1689
- 1679-1680: Juana de Aragón y Cortés, Duchess of Terranova, Grandee of Spain
- 1680-1689: Juana de Armendáriz, Duchess dowager of Alburquerque, Grandee of Spain
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Maria Anna of Neuburg, 1689-1700
- 1689-1696: Juana de Armendáriz, Duchess dowager of Alburquerque, Grandee of Spain
- 1696-1700: María Teresa de Benavides, Duchess of Frías, Grandee of Spain
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Maria Luisa of SavoyMaria Luisa of SavoyMaria Luisa of Savoy was a Savoyard princess and the first wife of Philip V of Spain. She acted as Regent of Spain and had great influence over her husband...
, 1700-1714
- 1702-1704: Marie Anne de La Trémoille, princesse des Ursins
- 1704-1706: María Alberta de Castro, Duchess of Béjar, Grandee of Spain
- 1706-1714: Marie Anne de La Trémoille, princesse des Ursins
“Camarera mayor” to Queen Elisabeth Farnese, 1714-1724
- 1714-1724: Ángela Foch de Aragón, Countess of Altamira, Grandee of Spain
“Camarera mayor” to Queen Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans, 1724
- 1724: Ángela Foch de Aragón, Countess of Altamira, Grandee of Spain
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Elisabeth Farnese, 1724-1746
- 1724-1737: Ángela Foch de Aragón, Countess of Altamira, Grandee of Spain
- 1737-1746: Laura Castelví y Coloma, Marchioness dowager of Torrecuso
“Camarera mayor” to Queen Barbara of BraganzaBarbara of PortugalBarbara of Portugal was an Infanta of Portugal and later Queen of Spain as wife of Ferdinand VI of Spain.-Life in Portugal:...
, 1746-1759
- 1746-1759. Rosa María de Castro, Marchioness of Aytona, Grandee of Spain
“Camarera mayor” to Queen Maria Amalia of SaxonyMaria Amalia of SaxonyMaria Amalia of Saxony was a German princess from the House of Wettin and was the wife of Charles III of Spain; she was the Queen consort of Naples and Sicily from 1738 till 1759 and then Queen consort of Spain from 1759 until her death in 1760...
, 1759-1765
- 1759-1765: Reberta Zenobia, Duchess dowager of Castropignano
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Maria Luisa of ParmaMaria Luisa of ParmaMaria Luisa of Parma was Queen consort of Spain from 1788 to 1808 as the wife of King Charles IV of Spain. She was the youngest daughter of Duke Philip of Parma and his wife, Louise-Élisabeth of France, the eldest daughter of King Louis XV.She was christened Luisa Maria Teresa Ana, but was known...
, 1788-1808
- 1788-1793: Florentina de Pizarro Picolomino, Marchioness dowager of Bélgida, Grandee of Spain
- 1792-1808: María Isidra de la Cerda y Guzmán, Duchess of Nájera, Grandee of Spain
“Camarera mayor” to Queen Maria Isabel of PortugalMaria Isabel of PortugalMaria Isabel of Portugal was an Infanta of Portugal and was later the Queen of Spain as the second wife of Ferdinand VII of Spain.-Biography:...
, 1814-1818
- 1814-1818: Antonia Fernández de Cordoba Sarmiento, Countess of la Puebla del Maestre, Grandee of Spain
“Camarera mayor” to Queen Maria Josepha of SaxonyMaria Josepha of SaxonyMaria Josepha of Saxony was Queen consort of Spain as the wife of King Ferdinand VII of Spain...
, 1818-1829
- 1819-1826: Maria Josefa Contreras y Vargas Machuca, Countess of Alcudia, Grandee of Spain
“Camarera mayor” to Queen Maria Christina of the Two SiciliesMaria Christina of the Two SiciliesMaria Christina of the Two Sicilies was Queen consort of Spain and Regent of Spain .-Early years and first marriage:...
, 1829-1833
- 1826-1834: María Cayetana Acuña y Dewitte, Marchioness of de Bedmar , Grandee of Spain
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Isabella IIIsabella II of SpainIsabella II was the only female monarch of Spain in modern times. She came to the throne as an infant, but her succession was disputed by the Carlists, who refused to recognise a female sovereign, leading to the Carlist Wars. After a troubled reign, she was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of...
, 1833-1868
- 1834-1841: Joaquina María del Pilar Téllez-Girón y Alfonso Pimentel, Marchioness of Santa Cruz de Mudela, Grandee of Spain
- 1841-1843: Juana de Vega, Countess of Espoz y Mina
- 1843- 1847: Joaquina María del Pilar Téllez-Girón y Alfonso Pimentel, Marchioness of Santa Cruz de Mudela, Grandee of Spain
- 1847-1854: María de la O Guiráldez y Cañas, Duchess of Gor, Grandee of Spain
- 1855-1866: Rosalía Ventimiglia y Moncada d,Aragona, Duchess of Berwick and Alba, Grandee of Spain
- 1866-1867: María de la O Guiráldez y Cañas, Duchess of Gor, Grandee of Spain
- 1867-1868: María de la Encarnación Álvarez de Bohórquez y Guiráldez, Marchioness of Novaliches, Grandee of Spain
“Camarera mayor” to Queen Mercedes of OrléansMercedes of OrléansMaria de la Mercedes of Orléans was Queen Consort of Spain, the first wife of Alfonso XII. She was born in Madrid, Spain, the daughter of Antoine of Orléans, Duke of Montpensier and of Infanta Luisa Fernanda of Spain....
and Maria Christina of AustriaMaria Christina of AustriaMaria Christina of Austria was Queen consort of Spain as the second wife of King Alfonso XII of Spain...
, 1875-1885
- 1875-1885: María de la Encarnación Fernández de Córdoba y Álvarez de las Asturias Bohorques, Marchioness of Santa Cruz de Mudela, Grandee of Spain
“Camareras mayores” to Queen Maria Christina of AustriaMaria Christina of AustriaMaria Christina of Austria was Queen consort of Spain as the second wife of King Alfonso XII of Spain...
, 1885-1906
- 1885-1888: María Eulalia Osorio de Moscoso y Carvajal, Duchess of Medina de las Torres, Grandee of Spain
- 1888-1906: María Soledad Fernández de Córdoba y Alagón, Countess of Sástago, Grandee of Spain
“Camarera mayor” to Queen Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, 1885-1931
- 1906-1931: María Luisa Cárvajal y Dávalos, Duchess of San Carlos, Marchioness widow of Santa Cruz de Mudela, Grandee of Spain
List of "Camareras mayores" to Queen Mother Maria Christina of AustriaMaria Christina of AustriaMaria Christina of Austria was Queen consort of Spain as the second wife of King Alfonso XII of Spain...
, 1906-1929
During the reign of King Alfonso XIII, and after his marriage, it was created the own Household of her mother the Queen Maria Christina of AustriaMaria Christina of Austria
Maria Christina of Austria was Queen consort of Spain as the second wife of King Alfonso XII of Spain...
with her own “Camarera mayor de la Reina Madre” (First Laidy of the Bedchamber of the Queen Mother). This Office was successively held by:
- 1906-1923: Maria Natividad Quindos Villaroel, Duchess of la Conquista, Marchioness of San SaturninoMarquis of San SaturninoThe Marquis of San Saturnino is a title of Spanish nobility granted on 21 of December of 1688 by the King Charles II of Spain to D. Pedro Álvarez de Reynoso y Andrade, Galloso y Feijoo, Perpetual “Regidor” of Orense...
, Grandee of Spain - 1923-1929: Maria Concepcion Martos Zabalburu, Countess of Heredia Spinola, Grandee of Spain