Knight Marshal

The Knight Marshal is a former office in the British Royal Household established by King Henry III in 1236. The position later became a Deputy to the Earl Marshal from the reign of King Henry VIII until the office was abolished in 1846.[1]

The Knight Marshal accompanied by his Marshalmen in the Coronation Procession of Queen Victoria, 1838.

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 is an Officer employ'd in the King's Court or Marshalsea, and the Marshal's Men under him are properly the King's Bailiffs. They arrest in the Verge of the Court {i.e. within a 12 mile radius of the Sovereign's palace} when a Warrant is back'd by the Board of Green-cloth. The Knight Marshal and his Men have place in all publick Cavalcades, at Declaring of War, Proclaiming Peace, publick Entries and Processions made by the Soveraign."

The Knight Marshal was appointed by the Crown for life by letters patent under the great seal 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

H.M.'s Marshalmen
Six King's Marshalmen following the Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal Earl Roberts, in Edward VII's Coronation Procession, 9 August 1902

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;[10] 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 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.[11]

See also

Sources
  • Bucholz, R. O. "Household Below Stairs List 2" (PDF). The Database of Court Officers 1660-1837. Loyola University Chicago. Knight Marshal 1660–1837. Retrieved 30 September 2017.

References
  1. p.288Money Barnes, Major R. The Soldiers of London Seeley, Service & Co 1963
  2. R. Virgoe, 'Hopton, Sir Ralph (1509/10-71), of Witham, Som.', in S.T. Bindoff (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558 (from Boydell and Brewer 1982), History of Parliament Online.
  3. N.M. Fuidge, 'Hopton, Robert (d.1590), of Yoxford, Suff. of St. Mary Mounthaw, London', in P.W. Hasler (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603 (from Boydell and Brewer, 1981), History of Parliament Online.
  4. "CAREY, Sir George (1547-1603), of Blackfriars, London, Hunsdon, Herts. And Carisbrooke, I.o.W. | History of Parliament Online".
  5. History of Parliament Online: Members 1558-1603 - GERARD, Thomas I (c.1564-1618) - Author: N.M.S.
  6. Beddard, Robert (January 1995). "Ham House". History Today. 45 (1).
  7. "VAVASOUR, Thomas (1560-1620), of Skellingthorpe, Lincs. and Ham, Surr". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  8. "CECIL, Sir Edward (1572-1638), of Cecil House, The Strand, Westminster; The Farm, Chelsea, Mdx. and Wimbledon, Surr". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  9. "VERNEY, Sir Edmund (1590-1642), of Drury Lane, Westminster and Hillesden, Bucks.; later of Middle Claydon, Bucks. and the Piazza, Covent Garden, Westminster". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  10. http://www.dnw.co.uk/medals/auctionarchive/searchcataloguearchive/itemdetail.lasso?itemid=67324 Information from private papers of one of the last Marshalmen, Charles Bland, who died in 1945
  11. Dress worn at Court https://archive.org/stream/dressinsigniawor00greauoft#page/164/mode/1up
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