The term
But with a place in the monarch’s court came duty, strict rules, and the chance for significant rises and falls in fortune; some noble courtiers would work in the stables as Master of the Horse while other nobles worked in monarch’s private chambers helping with clothes or even toileting. Naturally, hundreds of servants worked the halls, kitchens, and gardens, along with other tasks around the court, although they were not considered courtiers.
At Hampton Court Palace during the reign of Henry VIII, upwards of 1,000 courtiers plus their many servants stuffed the palace rooms. Courtyards, hallways, gardens, and audience chambers were filled with people, all seeking advancement, pleasure, connection, influence, and wealth.
Courtiers both male and female primarily sought proximity to the monarch or the monarch’s inner circle. This level of connection is what conveyed importance and influence at the court. The higher a person’s status, the closer they got to the monarch and their private chambers in the palace. Some middle or lower ranking courtiers might only ever glimpse the monarch moving from private rooms or a chapel into larger, more public audience chambers.
To retain access to this power, courtiers had to please the monarch and the monarch’s inner circle of favorite nobles and advisors. Courtiers remained at court until the monarch gave them permission to depart. They were also expected to follow the court as it moved from palace to palace and even sometimes when visiting great houses throughout the nation. Courtiers followed the royals, and they had to bring their own servants. There was a practical reason why the court had to shift from place to place—the palaces needed cleaning (including the emptying of latrines) and food and livestock had to be replenished after the enormous meals required by the court.
Courtiers were expected to maintain a certain level of etiquette at court. Their clothes and overall fashion had to conform with current style and trends, or else they were at risk of losing their rank in the court. Their appearance was as important as their personality and deeds. As it is stated in Thomas Hoby’s 1588
Outward beauty is a true sign of inner goodness. Not only was it extremely important to know the current styles, but they changed often, and so it was difficult and very expensive for courtiers to keep up. Records indicate that a man’s suit of black doublet, hose, and sleeves for court could cost as much as a year’s rent on a modest home in London.
On top of a courtier’s rank, esteem, and influence being reliant on style and fashion, their body language and manners also required much conformity. When joining the court, they were given a set of rules that included specific terms and conditions such as how to sit correctly, what foot should be in front of the other when sitting, what women can and can’t do with men (including linking arms or hands), and even what they should enjoy doing in the court, such as forcing them to enjoy particular sports.
Even the dances they were to perform were expected to be perfect, a difficult task due to the dance steps being altered as often as fashionable garments. In short, courtiers led a highly regulated, expensive, and restrictive life. They had to be very aware of every action they performed, everything they wore, and everything they said when attending the court, or they may lose their good standing with the monarch. But the rewards were immense in terms of gaining wealth and influence.