Caballerizo mayor explained

The Caballerizo mayor (Great Equerry) was the Officer of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain in charge of the trips, the mews, and the hunt of the King of Spain.

Regime during the 16th to 18th centuries

The Office of “Caballerizo mayor” was one of the main Offices of the Royal Household in charge of the Royal Stables and everything related to the transportation of the Monarch. When the King sorted out from the Royal Palace, the Caballerizo had the main position behind him and the major rang over the other Court Officials. He managed as well the stables, the carriages, and the horses. He was assisted by the “Primeros Caballerizos” (First Equerries) who were nominated by him.

He was in charge of the Royal hunt as “Montero mayor” (Great Hunter) holding, in many cases, the “Alcaldias” (Majorships) of the Spanish royal sites.

Regime during the 19th and 20th centuries

During the reigns of the last two Kings before the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic, Alfonso XII and Alfonso XIII, the “Caballerizo”, which joined to his function that of the “Montero mayor” (Great Hunter) of the King (which was an Office created during the reign of Isabella II), was the second person in category after the Mayordomo mayor having the sole authority so soon the Monarch left the Royal Palace. Only a peer that had the rank of Grandee of Spain could be nominated for this Office. His annual wages were 15.000 pesetas, the same ones that had the “Mayordomo” and, equally, he had the right to a private office at the Royal Palace of Madrid.

Under his command they were the "Primer Caballerizo" (First Equerry) and the "Primer Montero" (First Hunter) with wages, both, of 7.500 pesetas per year. Under them they were situated the "Caballerizos de campo" (Equerries), who, usually, were officers of the Army.

The “Caballerizo” accompanied the King in all his trips or, as it was called, "days" and sat close to him in every carriage, in car or in the trips by train or by ship throughout Spain or foreign countries.

The “Caballerizo mayor”, with assistance of the First Caballerizo, was the chief of the Royal Mews. Also, he was the chief of the Armory of the Royal Palace of Madrid.

As “Montero mayor”, with the help of the First Montero, he managed the hunting lodges of the Heritage of the Crown and organized the hunts attended by the King on the hunting-grounds of the Crown as the Royal forests of El Pardo, the Royal Hunting Lodge of la Encomienda de Mudela or the Royal forests of Valsaín. In the hunts organized by others, and attended also by the King, the “Montero mayor” was always accompanying him in that condition.

As “Montero mayor” equally, his uniform was of green very dark cloth with own embroideries in form of branches of oak.

In the Public Chapels and official ceremonies he normally stood right behind the Mayordomo mayor.

He was styled “Excelentísimo señor Caballerizo y Montero mayor de Su Majestad”.

This Office was suppressed after the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931 and never re-created after the restoration of the Monarchy in 1975.

List of “Caballerizos mayores” (Great Equerries) to the King of Spain between 1515 and 1931

“Caballerizos mayores” to the Emperor Charles V, 1515-1556

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King Philip II, 1556-1598

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King Philip III, 1598-1621

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King Philip IV, 1621-1665

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King Charles II, 1665-1701

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King Philip V, 1701-1724

“Caballerizo mayor” to the King Louis I, 1724

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King Philip V, 1724-1746

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King Ferdinand VI, 1746-1759

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King Charles III, 1759-1788

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King Charles IV, 1788-1808

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King Ferdinand VII, 1808 and 1814-1808

“Caballerizos mayores” to the Queen Isabella II, 1833-1868

“Caballerizo mayor” to the King Amadeo I, 1871-1873

“Caballerizo mayor” to the King Alfonso XII, 1875-1885

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King Alfonso XIII, 1885-1931

(1) From 1871 to 1873 this Office was suppressed. From 1900 to 1903 it remained vacant

List of “Primeros Caballerizos” (First Equerries) to the King of Spain between 1875 and 1931

“Primeros Caballerizos” to King Alfonso XII, 1875-1885

“Primeros Caballerizos” to King Alfonso XIII, 1885-1931

List of "Primeros Monteros" (First Hunters) to the King of Spain between 1875 and 1931

“Primer Montero” to King Alfonso XII, 1875-1885

“Primeros Monteros” to King Alfonso XIII, 1885-1931

See also

Bibliography

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