- Grand Panetier
The Grand Panetier (roughly "Great Breadmaster", sometimes rendered as Panter) was one of the
Great Officers of the Crown of France , a member of theMaison du Roi ("King's Household"), one of the Great Offices of the Maison du Roi, and functional chief of the "(grande) paneterie" (the root of the English word pantry) or bread department.French history
Originally the paneterie (known since the 11th century) one of the two sections of the "gobelet du roi" ('King's drinking-cup) with a staff of 12 sommeliers, four aides, one "garde-vaiselle" (for the dirty dishes), two porte(u)rs and a "lavandier" (laundryman), helping him to wash, prepare and gather again all the royal table utensils, as well as the bread. In time some of these duties were transferred to other sections, so his function at the King's table became ceremonial. Under the Sun King his was one of the seven sections of the "bouche du Roi" or king's table.
He did gain several privileges, including jurisdiction over the (monopolistic) corporation of bakers in Paris. The office was made hereditary in the noble family Cossé de Brissac in the 16th century; the last incumbent died in 1782.
In heraldry, he placed below his shield, left and right, a "nef d'or" and a "cadenat", golden objects placed near the King's setting at the table.
Elsewhere
The Romanian equivalent was the
boier title of Pitar.ources
* [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/france/MaisonDuRoi.htm#Grand%20Maître Heraldica.org- France- the King's Household]
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