History Main / StandardRoyalCourt

* Miscellaneous dignitaries: these are various courtiers whose place has a {{Backstory}} more interesting (or at least better developed) than "I like to hang around court." Typical examples of these might be a NobleFugitive; it was long common practice for rulers to harbor pretenders to the throne of a rival kingdom or their followers in order to have possible leverage. Another possibility is a hostage; once it was considered an honorable practice for rulers to exchange relations as a [[OffWithHisHead guarantee]] of a treaty. Other possibilities include high-class prisoners of war awaiting their ransom. In both of these cases both the ruler and the prisoner or hostage are considered host and guest under the rules of SacredHospitality with appropriate modifications for the circumstances of their position. There could also be sons of lesser nobles being fostered by a given monarch as training as a warrior or courtier. Or a prince or princess from an ArrangedMarriage; this character would have constant ConflictingLoyalty. Guild leaders, especially from the capital city will often be here. And of course, as rulers never have enough money and merchants never have enough force there will likely be a MerchantPrince negotiating a deal with the monarch. If the ruler has a liberal streak or wishes to pretend to have such he might have a tribune or ombudsman speaking for the interests of "the people". And very common will be artists, or scientists, or scholars or other such expressions of "culture" who the monarch can sponser as a way to get prestige or simply as a PetTheDog.

The Standard Royal Court is a staple setting of historical and SpeculativeFiction, the natural home of [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure good]] [[RoyalBlood kings]], {{Evil Chancellor}}s ([[TheGoodChancellor as well as some good ones]]), and every breed of [[BlueBlood aristocrat]]. Usually, it is loosely based on an [[TheThemeParkVersion idealized version]] of the medieval European model, with minor variations to fit the setting, which is [[JustifiedTrope more plausible than it may seem]]. Feudalism, in the narrow technical sense, only occurred in western Europe, but recognizably similar systems have developed throughout history, whenever and wherever the central government was too weak to function (or, as was more often the case, just plain ''gone''.) The courts of Ancient Egypt and medieval Japan are recognizably variants of the same theme.

* Aristocrats vs. civil servants: the nobles may actually run the kingdom, or they may leave all the administration to the clerks. (Note that in the RealLife [[TheMiddleAges Middle Ages,]] appointing paid civil servants rather than letting the nobles run things was an important step towards modern government, although in some cases, the civil servants became aristocrats themselves, e. g., counts, originally appointed officers of the crown, became first a hereditary office and then a rank of nobility).

* The Literature/VorkosiganSaga has two or three, depending on how you [[IncrediblyLamePun count]]:

Any court beyond the most basic will typically be fractal in structure. Most of the courtiers will themselves be the heads of lesser courts, mirroring the structure of the main court, and many of their courtiers will in turn head minor courts. Thus, the crown prince's best friend and chief advisor might be a duke, ruling over several earldoms, advised by the ducal chancellor. Historically, most courts stopped at four or five tiers, but in fiction there is no limit, especially in fiction where [[FeudalFuture feudal regimes govern whole galaxies.]]

** The Queen Consort: her official role is to [[HeirClubForMen produce the next generation of royals]], but [[ThickerThanWater her family will expect her to find them influential positions or other perks]], which can make her unpopular, and people will seek to use her to [[TheManBehindTheMan influence the King]]. If there isn't a queen, the process of filling the vacancy is itself a popular plot. She often comes in the varieties [[TheHighQueen dignified and noble]] and [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen cruel and petty]]. The rare Prince Consorts typically follow the same tropes with a gender flip, but are more likely to attempt to take power for themselves. If there is a partnership between a strong and competent king and a strong and competent queen this will form a RulingCouple. The latter might be indicated by them receiving audiences with dual thrones.
** [[RoyalHarem The Harem]]: most often found in settings with a strong Islamic and/or Asian influence. Guarded by eunuchs, who [[EunuchsAreEvil tend to be bad news]]. There is intense competition within the harem for the king's favour, and a tense relationship with the Queen (if there ''is'' a Queen).

* Head of the church: might be called HighPriest or archbishop. This person holds allegiance to an higher authority than earthly kings, making their relationship with the king fraught. On the other hand, many religions either place the king at the head of the Church or consider him outright to be [[GodEmperor a living god]], and even the ones that don't may allow the king to claim divine right to rule, in which case all is well. When the nation worships a pantheon, the king may have the fun task of balancing scheming high priests of several different gods without incurring any divine wrath. In some cases the head of the church is important enough to have a court of his own (e. g. medieval popes), in which case e. g. the king's own chaplain or confessor may assume the most influential clerical role in the royal court.

* The head of the military: in medieval courts this role is often filled by the ruler, but some also had a crown commander with a title like Connetable, Shogun or Lord High Admiral; these titles on occasion become hereditary. Many monarchies have a professional army, with all the associated tropes. If GeneralRipper is the chief advisor, it's time for the neighbouring countries to get worried.

* Any [[TheMistress mistresses]]/concubines the king has: essentially the same role as favourites, but usually less respectable (although between Charles VII and Louis XV the position of official mistress to the king was highly prestigious in France). This doesn't stop ambitious courtiers from parading their sisters in front of the king. If the aforementioned RoyalHarem is present, mistresses will live there.

* ''ComicBook/TheLegendOfZelda'' has one of these as its centre of action. Zelda's father is a good king, surrounded by good subjects.

* Philippa Gregory's Tudor novels are mostly set at the courts of Henry VIII or one of his children. ''The Constant Princess'' also shows some of Henry VII's court.

** The Queen Consort: her official role is to [[HeirClubForMen produce the next generation of royals]], but [[ThickerThanWater her family will expect her to find them influential positions or other perks]], which can make her unpopular, and people will seek to use her to [[TheManBehindTheMan influence the King]]. If there isn't a queen, the process of filling the vacancy is itself a popular plot. She often comes in the varieties [[TheHighQueen dignified and noble]] and [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen cruel and petty]]. TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask is usually the supreme ruler herself. The rare Prince Consorts typically follow the same tropes with a gender flip, but are more likely to attempt to take power for themselves. If there is a partnership between a strong and competent king and a strong and competent queen this will form a RulingCouple. The latter might be indicated by them receiving audiences with dual thrones.