ABSTRACT
The reign of Henry III marks an important stage in the evolution of the royal court in France. The court was a political institution. Under Henry III the court travelled far less than before. Although he did hunt from time to time, he was less keen on the sport than Francis I had been. Henry also used to escape to the château of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, but he seldom visited the châteauof Madrid in the Bois-de-Boulogne. When Henry III was in Paris, he resided at the Louvre which was still being transformed from a medieval fortress into a palace. The construction of a new palace, designed by the architect Pierre Lescot, began in 1546 and was incomplete under Henry III. The chamber was administered by the Great chamberlain or First Gentleman of the Chamber. Henry III's court varied in size according to circumstances. In 1585 Henry III drew up another set of rules for the court.
