seneschal
Medieval household manager
A seneschal was a steward or major-domo in a medieval noble household, managing domestic affairs and sometimes administering justice on behalf of the lord.
The term appears primarily in historical fiction and fantasy: The seneschal greeted the arriving guests while the duke remained in his chambers.
In some contexts, seneschal designated a royal administrative officer governing a district.
Land-holding sworn subordinate
- liegeFeudal superior or subject
- fiefdomFeudal territory under lord
- demesneLord's private estate
- manorLanded aristocratic residence
lordship · fealty · homage · knight · squire · castellan · baron · nobility
Royal household administrator
- major-domoPrincipal household manager
- butlerChief domestic servant
- bailiffLegal proceeding overseer
- reeveManor's administrative official
overseer · custodian · housekeeper · attendant · purveyor · usher · provisions · accounts
Legal authority's scope
- governanceHow authority is exercised
- managementOrganizing and directing resources
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
regulation · authority · deputy · regent · proxy · executor · chancellor · magistrate
Formal celebratory meal
- feastElaborate ceremonial meal
- processionFormal moving line
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- regaliaCeremonial emblems of authority
heraldry · pageantry · reception · herald · ceremony · announcement · hospitality · guests
Retain or fortified tower
- great hallLarge central meeting room
- baileyCastle's enclosed courtyard
- gatehouseStructure over an entrance
- donjonCastle's fortified central tower
chapel · dungeon · battlement · portcullis · drawbridge · garrison · fortification · stronghold
vassal
Land-holding sworn subordinate
manor · lordship · fealty · homage · knight · squire · castellan · baron · nobility · serfdom
chamberlain
Royal household administrator
- major-domoPrincipal household manager
- butlerChief domestic servant
- bailiffLegal proceeding overseer
reeve · overseer · custodian · housekeeper · attendant · purveyor · usher · provisions · accounts · servants
jurisdiction
Legal authority's scope
- governanceHow authority is exercised
- managementOrganizing and directing resources
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
oversight · regulation · authority · deputy · regent · proxy · executor · chancellor · magistrate · comptroller
banquet
Formal celebratory meal
- feastElaborate ceremonial meal
- processionFormal moving line
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
regalia · heraldry · pageantry · reception · herald · ceremony · announcement · hospitality · guests · precedence
keep
Retain or fortified tower
- great hallLarge central meeting room
- baileyCastle's enclosed courtyard
- gatehouseStructure over an entrance
donjon · chapel · dungeon · battlement · portcullis · drawbridge · garrison · fortification · stronghold · tower
- Medieval Europekings, queens, knights, castles, castle
- medieval societyserfs, noble lineage, peasants, serf, heir
- castle staffchamberlain, chambermaid, butler, guard, handmaiden
- governorsstate governor, viceroy, governor's office, lieutenant governor, proconsul
- medieval courtkings, lord, queens, lady, queen
- medieval knightsknight, knights, armor, sword, swords