Steward of the Realm (Denmark)

Steward of the Realm
Rigshofmester (Danish)
Longest serving
Erik Ottesen Rosenkrantz [da]

1456–1480
Royal Danish court
Reports tothe Monarch
NominatorCouncil of the Realm (from 1648)
Appointerthe Monarch
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
Abolished1665

Steward of the Realm (Danish: Rigshofmester) was an office at the Royal Danish Court. With the coronation of Eric VII of Denmark in 1396, it became an important office, taking over the role of the Seneschal (Danish: Drost) as the de facto prime minister of the country. Prior to that the Rigshofmester had merely been the administrative leader of the Royal Court.

The office was abolished with the institution of absolute monarchy in Denmark-Norway in 1660.[1]

  1. ^ "Danske rigshofmestre". roskildehistorie.dk. Retrieved 2009-12-31.