The Camarera mayor de Palacio (First Lady of the Bedchamber) was the Official of the

Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain The Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain was the institution that governed the organization of the Royal Spanish Court from the time of the Habsburg dynasty, which introduced the so-called Burgundian etiquette, up to the reign of Alfon ...

, who was in charge of the person and the rooms of the Queen of

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

Historical precedents and regime during the 17th and 18th centuries

This Office was created in 1526 when, during the Habsburg dynasty, the Royal Court was shaped after that one that existed in the Court of Burgundy. Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, but also King of Spain, imported the etiquette styled in the Court of his paternal grandmother

Mary of Burgundy Mary (french: Marie; nl, Maria; 13 February 1457 – 27 March 1482), nicknamed the Rich, was a member of the House of Valois-Burgundy who ruled a collection of states that included the duchies of Limburg, Brabant, Luxembourg, the counties of ...

and appointed the first “Camarera mayor de Palacio” for his wife, the Empress. The principal responsibility of the “Camarera mayor de Palacio” was managing all that was related with the service to the Queen and she had authority over the different dignities and servants that composed her personnel. Her first obligation was the personal assistance to the Sovereign. She had to accompany her at all time, up to the point of sleeping in her chamber, when the King was not doing it. She was in charge of the clothes purveyors and directed the formal dressing of the Queen. In fact she had the high duty of delivering the Queen the water and the towel during morning toilette. All these functions gave the “Camarera mayor” a great intimacy with the Queen, as well as a big influence over her.

Regime during the 19th and 20th centuries

In the structure of the Royal Household, the Office “Camarera mayor de Palacio” had the same category as that of the

Mayordomo mayor {{short description, High Steward of Spain The Mayordomo mayor (High Steward) was the Officer of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain in charge of the person and rooms of the King of Spain. The Office of “Mayordomo mayor” w ...

. Only a woman with the rank of

Grandee of Spain Grandee (; es, Grande de España, ) is an official aristocratic title conferred on some Spanish nobility. Holders of this dignity enjoyed similar privileges to those of the peerage of France during the , though in neither country did they ha ...

could be nominated for this Office, and she was chosen between those of the class of “Dama de la Reina” (Lady of the Bedchamber) of major seniority. She was in charge of everything relative to the etiquette and organization of the Household of the Queen helped by the “Mayordomo mayor” (High Steward) to the Queen. Between her duties there were signalling the dates for audiences to the Queen and accompanying her in every ceremony. Under the “Camarera mayor de Palacio” they were the “Damas de la Reina” (Ladies of the Bedchamber) and the “Damas al servicio particular de la Reina” (Ladies-in-Waiting). She had assigned an annual salary of 6.000 pesetas and had a private own office in the

Royal Palace of Madrid The Royal Palace of Madrid ( es, Palacio Real de Madrid) is the official residence of the Spanish royal family at the city of Madrid, although now used only for state ceremonies. The palace has of floor space and contains 3,418 rooms. It is the ...

. She was styled “Excelentísima señora Camarera mayor de Palacio”. This post was suppressed after the proclamation of the

Second Spanish Republic The Spanish Republic (), commonly known as the Second Spanish Republic (), was the form of government in Spain from 1931 to 1939. The Republic was proclaimed on 14 April 1931, after the deposition of King Alfonso XIII, and was dissolved on 1 ...

in 1931 and never re-created after the restoration of Monarchy in 1975.

List of “Camareras Mayores” (First Ladies of the Bedchamber) to the Queen of Spain between 1526 and 1931

“Camarera mayor” to Empress Isabella of Portugal, 1526-1539

*1526-1546: Leonor de Castro y Meneses, Duchess of Gandía,

“Camareras mayores” to Queen Anna of Austria, 1570-1580

* 1570-1571: Aldonza de Bazán, Marchioness of Fromista,

* 1571-1576: María Ángela de Aragón y Guzmán, Marchioness of Berlanga,

* 1576-1580: Francisca de Rojas y Sandoval, Countess of Paredes de Nava,

“Camareras mayores” to Queen Margaret of Austria, 1601-1611

* 1601-1603: Catalina de la Cerda, Duchess of Lerma,

* 1603-1611: Catalina de Sandoval, Countess of Lemos,

“Camareras mayores” to Queen Elisabeth of France, 1615-1644

* 1615-1621: Catalina de Sandoval, Countess of Lemos,

* 1621-1627: Juana Enriquez de Velasco, Duchess of Gandía,

* 1627-1643: Inés de Zúñiga, Countess of Olivares,

“Camareras mayores” to Queen
Mariana of Austria Mariana of Austria ( es, Mariana de Austria) or Maria Anna (24 December 163416 May 1696) was Queen of Spain as the second wife of her uncle Philip IV of Spain from their marriage in 1649 until Philip died in 1665. She was then appointed regent f ...
, 1649-1665

* 1649-1653: Ana de Cardona y Aragón, Countess of Medellín,

* 1654-1659: Elvira Ponce de León, Marchioness of Villanueva de Valdueza * 1660-1665: Margarita Zapata de Mendoza, Countess of Priego,

“Camareras mayores” to Queen Marie Louise of Orléans, 1679-1689

* 1679-1680: Juana de Aragón y Cortés, Duchess of Terranova,

* 1680-1689: Juana de Armendáriz, Duchess dowager of Alburquerque,

“Camareras mayores” to Queen
Maria Anna of Neuburg Maria Anna of Neuburg ( es, Mariana; 28 October 1667 – 16 July 1740), was a German princess and member of the Wittelsbach family, who became Queen consort of Spain in 1689 as the second wife of Charles II, last Habsburg King of Spain. Her m ...
, 1689-1701

* 1689-1696: Juana de Armendáriz, Duchess dowager of Alburquerque,

* 1696-1701: María Teresa de Benavides, Duchess of Frías,

“Camareras mayores” to Queen
Maria Luisa of Savoy Maria Luisa Gabriella of Savoy (17 September 1688 – 14 February 1714), nicknamed ''La Savoyana'', was Queen of Spain by marriage to Philip V. She acted as regent during her husband's absence from 1702 until 1703 and had great influence as ...
, 1700-1714

* 1702-1704:

Marie Anne de La Trémoille, princesse des Ursins Marie Anne de La Trémoille, princesse des Ursins (1642 – 5 December 1722), was a French courtier and royal favourite known for her political influence, being a ''de facto'' ruler of Spain from 1701 until 1714. She spent most of her life ...

* 1704-1706: María Alberta de Castro, Duchess of Béjar,

* 1706-1714:

“Camarera mayor” to Queen
Elisabeth Farnese Elisabeth Farnese ( Italian: ''Elisabetta Farnese'', Spanish: ''Isabel Farnesio''; 25 October 169211 July 1766) was Queen of Spain by marriage to King Philip V. She exerted great influence over Spain's foreign policy and was the ''de facto'' r ...
, 1714-1724

* 1714-1724: Ángela Foch de Aragón, Countess dowager of Altamira,

“Camarera mayor” to Queen Louise Élisabeth of Orléans, 1724

* 1724: Ángela Foch de Aragón, Dowager Countess of Altamira,

“Camareras mayores” to Queen
Elisabeth Farnese Elisabeth Farnese ( Italian: ''Elisabetta Farnese'', Spanish: ''Isabel Farnesio''; 25 October 169211 July 1766) was Queen of Spain by marriage to King Philip V. She exerted great influence over Spain's foreign policy and was the ''de facto'' r ...
, 1724-1746

* 1724-1737: Ángela Foch de Aragón, Dowager Countess of Altamira,

* 1737-1746: Laura Castelví y Coloma, Marchioness dowager of Torrecuso

“Camarera mayor” to Queen
Barbara of Portugal Barbara of Portugal (Maria Madalena Bárbara Xavier Leonor Teresa Antónia Josefa; 4 December 1711 – 27 August 1758) was an Infanta of Portugal, and a Queen of Spain by marriage to Ferdinand VI of Spain. Life Princess of Portugal The marriage ...
, 1746-1758

* 1746-1759: Rosa María de Castro, Marchioness of Aytona,

“Camarera mayor” to Queen
Maria Amalia of Saxony es, María Amalia Cristina Francisca Javiera Flora Walburga , spouse = Charles III of Spain , issue = , issue-link = #Issue , house = Wettin , father = Augustus III of Poland , mother = Maria Josepha of ...
, 1759-1760

* 1759-1760: Rosa María de Castro, Marchioness of Aytona,

“Camareras mayores” to Queen Maria Luisa of Parma, 1788-1808

* 1788-1793: Florentina de Pizarro Picolomino, Marchioness dowager of Bélgida,

* 1792-1808: María Isidra de la Cerda y Guzmán, Duchess of Nájera,

“Camarera mayor” to Queen
Maria Isabel of Portugal Maria Isabel of Braganza (Maria Isabel Francisca de Assis Antónia Carlota Joana Josefa Xavier de Paula Micaela Rafaela Isabel Gonzaga; 19 May 1797 – 26 December 1818) was an Infanta of Portugal who became Queen of Spain as the second wife of ...
, 1814-1818

* 1814-1818: Antonia Fernández de Cordoba Sarmiento, Countess of la Puebla del Maestre,

“Camareras mayores” to Queen
Maria Josepha Amalia of Saxony Maria Josepha Amalia of Saxony (Maria Josepha Amalia Beatrix Xaveria Vincentia Aloysia Franziska de Paula Franziska de Chantal Anna Apollonia Johanna Nepomucena Walburga Theresia Ambrosia; 6 December 1803 – 18 May 1829) was Queen of Spain as t ...
, 1818-1829

* 1819-1823: Maria Josefa Contreras y Vargas Machuca, Countess of Alcudia,

* 1823-1829: María Cayetana Acuña y Dewitte, Marchioness of Bedmar,

“Camarera mayor” to Queen Maria Cristina of the Two Sicilies, 1829-1833

* 1829-1834: María Cayetana Acuña y Dewitte, Marchioness of Bedmar,

“Camareras mayores” to Queen
Isabella II Isabella II ( es, Isabel II; 10 October 1830 – 9 April 1904), was Queen of Spain from 29 September 1833 until 30 September 1868. Shortly before her birth, the King Ferdinand VII of Spain issued a Pragmatic Sanction to ensure the successi ...
, 1833-1868

* 1834-1841: Joaquina María del Pilar Téllez-Girón y Alfonso Pimentel, Marchioness of Santa Cruz de Mudela,

* 1841-1842: Luisa Álvarez de las Asturias Bohórquez y Guiráldez, Marchioness of Bélgida,

* 1842-1843:

Juana de Vega Juana de Vega (1805-1872), was a Spanish author, liberal activist and courtier. She was the ''Camarera mayor de Palacio'' to the queen of Spain, Isabella II of Spain Isabella II ( es, Isabel II; 10 October 1830 – 9 April 1904), was Qu ...

, Countess of Espoz y Mina * 1843- 1847: Joaquina María del Pilar Téllez-Girón y Alfonso Pimentel, Marchioness of Santa Cruz de Mudela,

* 1847-1848: María Manuela Kirpatrick de Closeburn, Countess widower of Montijo,

* 1848-1854: María de la O Guiráldez y Cañas, Duchess of Gor,

* 1855-1866: Rosalía Ventimiglia y Moncada d,Aragona, Duchess widower of Berwick and Alba,

* 1866-1867: María de la O Guiráldez y Cañas, Duchess of Gor,

* 1867-1868: María de la Encarnación Álvarez de las Asturias Bohórquez y Guiráldez, Marchioness of Novaliches,

“Camarera mayor” to Queen Mercedes of Orléans and
Maria Cristina of Austria Maria Christina Henriette Desideria Felicitas Raineria of Austria ( es, María Cristina de Habsburgo-Lorena; 21 July 1858 – 6 February 1929) was the second queen consort of Alfonso XII of Spain. She was List of Spanish regents, queen regent du ...
, 1875-1884

* 1875-1884: María de la Encarnación Fernández de Córdoba y Álvarez de las Asturias Bohorques, Marchioness of Santa Cruz de Mudela,

“Camareras mayores” to Queen
Maria Cristina of Austria Maria Christina Henriette Desideria Felicitas Raineria of Austria ( es, María Cristina de Habsburgo-Lorena; 21 July 1858 – 6 February 1929) was the second queen consort of Alfonso XII of Spain. She was List of Spanish regents, queen regent du ...
, 1884-1906

* 1884-1888: María Eulalia Osorio de Moscoso y Carvajal, Duchess of Medina de las Torres,

*1888-1905: María Soledad Fernández de Córdoba y Alagón, Countess of Sástago,

*1905-1906: María Luisa Cárvajal y Dávalos, Duchess of San Carlos, Marchioness widower of Santa Cruz de Mudela,

“Camarera mayor” to Queen
Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena of Battenberg (24 October 1887 – 15 April 1969) was Queen of Spain as the wife of King Alfonso XIII from their marriage on 31 May 1906 until 14 April 1931, when the Spanish Second Republic was proclaimed. A Hessi ...
, 1906-1931

*1906-1931: María Luisa Cárvajal y Dávalos, Duchess of San Carlos, Marchioness widower of Santa Cruz de Mudela,

List of "Camareras mayores" to Queen Mother
Maria Cristina of Austria Maria Christina Henriette Desideria Felicitas Raineria of Austria ( es, María Cristina de Habsburgo-Lorena; 21 July 1858 – 6 February 1929) was the second queen consort of Alfonso XII of Spain. She was List of Spanish regents, queen regent du ...
, 1906-1929

During the reign of King

Alfonso XIII Alfonso XIII (17 May 1886 – 28 February 1941), also known as El Africano or the African, was King of Spain from 17 May 1886 to 14 April 1931, when the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed. He was a monarch from birth as his father, Alf ...

, and after his marriage, it was created the own Household of her mother the Queen Maria Cristina of Austria with her own “Camarera mayor de la Reina Madre” (First Lady of the Bedchamber of the Queen Mother). This Office was successively held by: *1906-1923: Maria Natividad Quindos Villaroel, Duchess of La Conquista, Marchioness of San Saturnino,

*1923-1929: Maria Concepcion Martos Zabalburu, Countess of Heredia Spinola,

References

* Enciclopedia universal ilustrada europeo-americana. Volume 49. Hijos de J. Espasa, Editores.1923 *

Archivo General de Palacio The Archivo General de Palacio was created by Ferdinand VII in 1808 with more than 120 millions of documents from the 13th century until now. It collects, classifies and preserves all the documents from the Patrimonio de la Corona and the Spanish ...

(AGP

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