mayor of the palace

American  

noun

1. one of a line of hereditary administrative lieutenants to the Merovingian kings who eventually took over royal function and title in the Frankish kingdoms; a palatine.

---

Etymology

Origin of mayor of the palace

1520–30; translation of Medieval Latin major domūs; see major-domo

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mayor of the palace

By 700, an official known as the major domo, or mayor of the palace, had become the most powerful person in the Frankish kingdom.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2012

Charles was able, before his death in 741, to secure the succession to his office of mayor of the palace for his two sons, Pippin and Carloman.

From An Introduction to the History of Western Europe by Robinson, James Harvey

For the pacific possession of Austrasia he was much indebted to Pepin, whom he appointed mayor of the palace to his son Dagobert I., when, in 622, he declared him king of Austrasia and Neustria.

From The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints January, February, March by Butler, Alban

It is a proverb that the first French kings were puppets; that the mayor of the palace was quite insolently the king of the king.

From A Short History of England by Chesterton, G. K. (Gilbert Keith)

At the time which I am speaking of, the mayor of the palace was Charles, who was afterwards known by the name of Martel, or The Hammer.

From Sketches of Church History From A.D. 33 to the Reformation by Robertson, James Craigie