Royal court
A royal court or noble court is the household of a royal family—including its advisors and attendants. The building is often called a palace, but the "royal court" means not just the buildings but all the royal household (all the people who live and work there). Someone who has a rank in a royal court is called a court official or courtier. A royal court can also include the wives and concubines of the ruler.
It is called a court because in early times the palace would have a court (an enclosed space) at the front.
In history there were great rulers who held important courts, e.g. Charlemagne.
A famous example is Hampton Court on the river Thames in London where Henry VIII had his court. Today the King holds court at Buckingham Palace.
Royal Court Media
Bartolomeu de Gusmão presenting his invention to the court of John V of Portugal.
The Sikh 'Court of Lahore'.
The Macartney Embassy. Lord Macartney salutes the Qianlong Emperor, but refuses to kowtow.
The Dutch court is known for old traditions.
One of the series of the reliefs of the Persian and Median dignitaries at Apadana stairs of Persepolis, all with weapons, but in a casual air—a rare depiction of an ancient court ceremony.
A colonnade in Pharaoh Amenhotep III's royal court at Luxor.
"Triboulet", illustration for the theater play "Le Roi S'Amuse" ("The King Takes His Amusement") by Victor Hugo. Gravure by J. A. Beaucé (1818–1875) and Georges Rouget (1781–1869).
Catherine the Great and her court
Related pages
- court – the court of law where legal decisions are made
