A retinue (O. Fr. retenue, from retenir, Lat. retenere, hold back, retain) is a body of persons "retained" in the service of a noble or royal personage, a suite (literal French meanings: what follows) of "retainers." The Lords and Barons prove their Nobility by hanging their Banners and exposing their Coats-of-arms at the Windows of the Lodge of the Heralds. ... A royal family is the extended family of a monarch. ...

Employment

Such retainers were not necessarily in the domestic service or otherwise normally close to the presence of their lord, but also include others who wore his "livery" (a kind of uniform, in distinctive colours) and claimed his protection, such as musicians and private teachers. A livery is a uniform worn by a civilian person. ...

Some were a source of trouble and abuse in the 15th and early 16th century (see maintenance). Often their real importance was very different from their rank: on the one hand sinecures and supernumerary appointments allowed enjoying benefits without performing full service, on the other hand 'having the ear' of the master can allow to act as a confident in an informal capacity , in some cases even as a spy. Maintenance see repair and maintenance Maintenance is a legal term of art that is used to describe child support and alimony (also called spousal support). ...

• Sometimes used in the context meaning the supporters or followers of a Medieval knight.

The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... The silver Anglia knight, commissioned as a trophy in 1850, intended to represent the Black Prince. ...

Contrast

A Retinue is sometimes confused with an entourage, which is the far less stable body of people that followed whether or not they were -or claimed to be- retained or protected by the prominent person they served. Look up Entourage on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Entourage can mean: Microsoft Entourage, an email client Entourage, the topology term Entourage, the television series This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

For example a prince's entourage would not only include professonial courtiers, but also various bishops, clerics and other clerks, senior members of the aristocracy and other more occasional advisers, translators etc. who would not be part of a sovereign's (more permanent) retinue loser poo crap Courtiers follow an ancient profession. ...

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See also

Cohors amicorum Cohors amicorum is a Latin term, literally meaning cohort of friends. The notion cohort is to be taken not in the strict, military sense, but indicated a fairly large number; accordingly, friend is to be taken is a loose sense, rather as in amicus curiae. ...

References

This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, a publication in the public domain. Encyclopædia Britannica, the 11th edition The 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1910–1911) is perhaps the most famous edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...