Editing Earl Marshal (section)

==History==
The office of royal [[marshal]] existed in much of Europe, involving managing horses and protecting the monarch. In England, the office became hereditary under [[John Marshal (Earl Marshal)|John FitzGilbert the Marshal]] (served c.1130–1165) after [[The Anarchy]], and rose in prominence under his second son, [[William Marshal]], later [[Earl of Pembroke]]. He served under several kings, acted as regent, and organised funerals and the regency during [[Henry III of England|Henry III]]'s childhood. After passing through his daughter's husband to the [[Earl of Norfolk|Earls of Norfolk]], the post evolved into "Earl Marshal" and the title remained unchanged, even after the earldom of Norfolk became a [[Duke of Norfolk|dukedom]].

In the [[Middle Ages]], the Earl Marshal and the [[Lord High Constable of England|Lord High Constable]] were the officers of the king's horses and stables. When [[chivalry]] declined in importance, the constable's post declined and the Earl Marshal became the head of the [[College of Arms]], the body concerned with all matters of [[genealogy]] and [[heraldry]]. In conjunction with the Lord High Constable, he had held a court, known as the [[Court of Chivalry]], for the administration of justice in accordance with the [[law of arms]], which was concerned with many subjects relating to military matters, such as ransom, booty and soldiers' wages, and including the misuse of armorial [[Coat of arms|bearings]].

In 1672, the office of Marshal of England and the title of Earl Marshal of England were made hereditary in the Howard family.<ref>Sliford 1782, p. 36</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalHousehold/OfficialRoyalposts/EarlMarshal.aspx |title=The Monarchy Today > the Royal Household > Official Royal posts > Earl Marshal |access-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117000406/http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalHousehold/OfficialRoyalposts/EarlMarshal.aspx |archive-date=17 January 2013 }}</ref><ref>Companion to British History</ref> In a declaration made on 16 June 1673 by [[Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey]], the [[Lord Privy Seal]], in reference to a dispute over the exercise of authority over the [[officer of arms|Officers of Arms]] the powers of the Earl Marshal were stated as being "to have power to order, judge, and determine all matters touching [[heraldry|arms]], [[ensigns of nobility]], honour, and chivalry; to make laws, ordinances and statutes for the good government of the Officers of Arms; to nominate Officers to fill vacancies in the College of Arms; [and] to punish and correct Officers of Arms for misbehaviour in the execution of their places".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Squibb|first=G.D.|title=The High Court of Chivalry: A Study of the Civil Law in England|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1959|location=Oxford, United Kingdom|pages=79–80}}</ref> Additionally it was declared that no [[letters patent|patents]] of arms or any ensigns of nobility should be granted, and no augmentation, alteration, or addition should be made to arms, without the consent of the Earl Marshal.

The Earl Marshal is considered the eighth of the [[Great Officers of State]], with the [[Lord High Constable of England|Lord High Constable]] above him and only the [[Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom|Lord High Admiral]] beneath him. Nowadays, the Earl Marshal's role has mainly to do with the organisation of major state ceremonies such as coronations and state funerals. Annually, the Earl Marshal helps organise the [[State Opening of Parliament]]. The Earl Marshal also remains to have charge over the College of Arms and no coat of arms may be granted without his warrant. As a symbol of his office, he carries a baton of gold with black finish at either end.

In the general [[Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom|order of precedence]], the Earl Marshal is currently the highest hereditary position in the United Kingdom outside the [[British Royal Family|Royal Family]].  Although other state and ecclesiastical officers rank above in precedence, they are not hereditary. The exception is the office of [[Lord Great Chamberlain]], which is notionally higher than Earl Marshal and also hereditary.  The holding of the Earl Marshalship secures the [[Duke of Norfolk]]'s traditional position as the "first peer" of the land, above all other dukes.

The [[House of Lords Act 1999]] removed the automatic right of hereditary peers to sit in the [[House of Lords]], but the Act provided that the persons holding the office of Earl Marshal and, if a peer, the [[Lord Great Chamberlain]] continue for the time being to have seats so as to carry out their ceremonial functions in the House of Lords.