Mayor of the Palace
Mayor of the Palace was an early medieval
title and
office, also known by the Latin name,
maior domus, used most notably in the
Frankish kingdoms in the
7th and
8th centuries. It could be compared with a
count palatine.
During the 7th century, the office of Mayor of the Palace developed into the true power behind the throne in
Austrasia, the northeastern portion of the Kingdom of the
Franks under the
Merovingian dynasty. The majordomo had the real decision power, while their kings had only a ceremonial function.
The office became hereditary in the family of the
Pippinids. After Austrasia and
Neustria were reunited in one kingdom,
Pippin III — Majordomo since
747 — took the crown of the Merovingians in
751 to establish the line of Carolingian kings. His son
Charlemagne assumed even greater power when he was crowned
Holy Roman Emperor in
800, thus becoming one of the most prominent figures in European history.
The function of
majordomo (from
major domus) can also refer to the senior
servant in a large, usually
aristocratic, household. Ranking above the
butler, the majordomo is responsible for all managerial and financial affairs concerning his employer's households. This term, now seldom used, was common in Europe until the early
20th century. Significantly, the French term now used as equivalent to
butler still is
majordome.
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Franks (main article on Frankish kingdoms)
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List of Frankish Kings (includes list of
Arnulfing mayors)
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List of the Mayors of the Palaces
