The Groom of the Stool was the most intimate of an English monarch’s courtiers. The position was an especially prized one, as it allowed unobstructed access to the king. Under Henry VII, the Groom became a powerful official involved in setting national fiscal policy, under the ‘chamber system’
About Groom of the Stool in brief
The Groom of the Stool was the most intimate of an English monarch’s courtiers. He was responsible for assisting the king in excretion and ablution. The position was an especially prized one, as it allowed unobstructed access to the king. Under Henry VII, the Groom became a powerful official involved in setting national fiscal policy, under the ‘chamber system’ Later, the office was renamed Groom Of The Stole by the Tudor historian David Starkey. The office was exclusively one serving male monarchs, so on the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, it was replaced by the First Lady of the Bedchamber, first held by Kat Ashley.
In Scotland the valets of the chamber like John Gibb had an equivalent role. The title was awarded to court companions of the king who spent time with him in the privy chamber. These were generally the sons of noblemen or important members of the gentry. The function was transformed into that of a virtual minister of the royal treasury, being then an essential figure in the king’s management of fiscal policy. During the reign of Charles I, the term’stool’ appears to have lost its original signification of chair. From 1660 the title was invariably coupled with that of First Gentleman of theBedchamber.
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This page is based on the article Groom of the Stool published in Wikipedia (as of Jan. 11, 2021) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
