Butlers and dish-bearers in Anglo-Saxon courts: household officers at the royal table
Alban Gautier
In Anglo-Saxon courts, from the eighth century down to Norman conquest, ‘officers of mouth’, bore household titles and served king his guests during meals, at least on major occasions. Those butlers (pincernae) dish-bearers (dapiferi, disciferi) were not mere ‘waiters’ but members great aristocratic families; serving king's table was an honour for them, with all implications that word in early medieval context. Using a variety sources, particularly subscription lists charters, this article examines their rank court, social origin, degree proximity kings queens, nature occupation.
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