The Hofmarschall (plural: Hofmarschälle) was the administrative official in charge of a princely German court, supervising all its economic affairs.
Historically, every civil service was regarded as court service (e.g. the Russian nobility is even now called the Dvoryanstvo, i.e. courtiers), though today high officials in the royal courts that still exist frequently use titles like marshal, chancellor or minister, which in other countries are now only used by the civil administration or the military.
A Hofmarschall's duties included organizing the king and the queen's receptions, foreign trips and state visits and supervising the royal household.
He organized the whole court household, maintenance of the royal castles, and the provision of food and drink for the princely table, kitchens and wine-cellars.
In Denmark (hofmarskal), Sweden (hovmarskalk), Norway (hoffmarskalk), the Netherlands ("hofmaarschalk") and in Luxembourg (maréchal de la cour), the rank of Hofmarschall still exists.