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 Alfo ...

, 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") , ...

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

This Office was created in 1526 when, during the

Habsburg The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...

dynasty, the Royal Court was shaped after that one that existed in the Court of

Burgundy Burgundy (; french: link=no, Bourgogne ) is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. The ...

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, french: Charles Quint, it, Carlo V, nl, Karel V, ca, Carles V, la, Carolus V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain ( Castile and Aragon) fr ...

, but also King of Spain, imported the

etiquette Etiquette () is the set of norms of personal behaviour in polite society, usually occurring in the form of an ethical code of the expected and accepted social behaviours that accord with the conventions and norms observed and practised by a ...

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. 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 ...

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

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 Isabella of Portugal (24 October 1503 – 1 May 1539) was the empress consort and queen consort of her cousin Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Spain, Archduke of Austria, and Duke of Burgundy. She was Queen of Spain and Germany, and ...
, 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 Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to: People * Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name) * Elizabeth (biblical figure), mother of John the Baptist Ships * HMS ''Elizabeth'', several ships * ''Elisabeth'' (sch ...
, 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 fo ...
, 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, 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 a ...
, 1700-1714

* 1702-1704: Marie Anne de La Trémoille, princesse des Ursins * 1704-1706: María Alberta de Castro, Duchess of Béjar,

* 1706-1714: Marie Anne de La Trémoille, princesse des Ursins

“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 marria ...
, 1746-1758

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

“Camarera mayor” to Queen Maria Amalia of Saxony, 1759-1760

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

“Camareras mayores” to Queen
Maria Luisa of Parma Maria Luisa of Parma (Luisa Maria Teresa Anna; 9 December 1751 – 2 January 1819) was, by marriage to King Charles IV of Spain, Queen of Spain from 1788 to 1808 leading up to the Peninsular War. Her relationship with Manuel Godoy and influence ...
, 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, 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, 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 María de las Mercedes of Orléans (24 June 1860 – 26 June 1878) was Queen of Spain as the first wife of King Alfonso XII. She was born in Madrid, the daughter of Antoine of Orléans, Duke of Montpensier, and Infanta Luisa Fernanda of Sp ...
and Maria Cristina of Austria, 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, 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, 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 *

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