Chamberlain

A (: cambellanus or cambrerius, with charge of treasury camerarius) is a senior royal official in charge of managing a. Historically, the chamberlain superintends the arrangement of domestic affairs and was often also charged with receiving and paying out money kept in the royal chamber. The position was usually honoured upon a high-ranking member of the (nobleman) or the, often a. appointed this officer under the title of . The enjoys very extensive powers, having the revenues of the papal household under his charge. As a sign of their dignity, they bore a key, which in the seventeenth century was often silvered, and actually fitted the door-locks of chamber rooms. Since the eighteenth century, it has turned into a merely symbolic, albeit splendid, -insignia of gilded bronze. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign.

Description
Historically, many institutions and governments – monasteries, cathedrals and cities – also had the post of chamberlain, who usually had charge of finances. The Finance Director of the is still called the Chamberlain, while  had a chamberlain who managed city accounts until the early 20th century.

Etymology
From the Old French chamberlain, chamberlenc, Modern French chambellan, from Old High German Chamarling, Chamarlinc, whence also the Medieval Latin cambellanus, camerlingus, camerlengus; Italian camerlingo; Spanish camerlengo, compounded of Old High German Chamara, Kamara [Latin camera, “chamber”], and the German suffix -ling.

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