Gentilhombres Grandes de España con ejercicio y servidumbre

The Gentilhombres Grandes de España con ejercicio y servidumbre (Gentlemen of the Bedchamber Grandee of Spain) was a palatial class of honorary royal servants of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain, who were entrusted with certain functions at the service of the Monarch which they exercised by rigorous seniority.

During the reigns of the last two Kings before the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic, Alfonso XII and Alfonso XIII, being symbolically considered as "relatives" to the King, they were always close to his chamber in all kind of ceremonies and stay with him inside and outside of the Palace, having lunch daily with him and being also with the him at public spectacles as the bullfightings, the theatre etc.. They exercised their functions by strict daily shifts. Nevertheless, they were not employees of the Royal Household like the “Mayordomos de semana” and did not perceived any salary for their service.

From the ceremonial point of view - in royal baptisms - seven of them were entrusted to deliver the sacred ornaments for the sacrament (saltcellar, water-jug, cottons, brush etc.). In the Public chapels they always stayed at the procession that was celebrated right before the “Mayordomos de semana”. In official banquets and in the annual opening of the Spanish Parliament the “Gentilhombre Grande de España” in service was always behind the King. In their condition they had free entrance to the Royal Palace of Madrid up to the Chamber after the Saleta and the Antechamber.

To be nominated for this class it was necessary not only belonging to the nobility but also being a Grandee of Spain and they had to be previously presented to the King in the so-called ceremony of the “Cobertura” (Coverage).

Their badge was a golden gilded key on a red velvet ribbon with golden bangs and the cypher of the King who nominated them embroidered also in gold. The key was placed horizontally in the waist to the right side in uniforms, dress-coat or frock coat.

They were styled “Excelentísimos señores Gentilhombres Grandes de España con ejercicio y servidumbre”.

This Office was suppressed after the Second Spanish Republic was declared on April 14, 1931, and it was never re-created after the restoration of Monarchy in 1975.

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Wikipedia