Curia regis

Curia regis is a Latin term meaning "royal council" or "king's court." It was the name given to councils of advisors and administrators who served early French kings as well as to those serving Norman and later kings of England.

England

The Norman kings, following the conquest of England, used a council called the curia regis to conduct much of the business of state in England. It was similar to, but not the same as the Witenagemot (or Witan) which advised the Anglo-Saxon kings of England, and the Curia Ducis which served the Dukes of Normandy. This council existed in two forms. The first was the great curia regis or Magnum Concilium, composed of the tenants-in-chief, the great officers of the king's court, and those ecclesiastics who held lands of the king. This council met on special occasions and were summoned by the king. When not in session it was replaced by a smaller council which itself was in continuous session called the lesser or small curia regis made up of the king's officers of state and those magnates who were at court. The lesser curia regis was in essence the king's royal court and as such was an itinerant court that followed the king in all his travels. The king, when traveling throughout his realm and as an integral part of the court, often heard suitors in person.