Acamarilla is a group ofcourtiers or favourites who surround aking or ruler. Usually, they do not hold any office or have any official authority at theroyal court butinfluence their ruler behind the scenes. Consequently, they also escape having to bear responsibility for the effects of their advice. The term derives from the Spanish wordcamarilla (diminutive ofcámara), meaning 'little chamber' or private cabinet of the king. It was first used of the circle of cronies aroundSpanish KingFerdinand VII (reigned 1814–1833). The term involves what is known ascronyism. The term also entered other languages likePolish,German andGreek, and is used in the sense given above.
A similar concept in modern politics is that of aKitchen Cabinet, which is often composed of unelected advisers bypassing traditional governance practices.
In the 19th century, Russia's government was frequently described as a "camarilla", starting as early as 1860.[6] This usage remained common into the 20th century; for instance, in 1917, commentator Robert Machray wrote of "certain forces in the background of the political life of Russia known as the 'Camarilla', which exercised and still exercise an extraordinary influence".[7]
The right-wing domestic circle with whichFrancisco Franco surrounded himself with in his final years at theRoyal Palace of El Pardo, his official residence, has been referred to as a "camarilla" by multiple authors.[8][9][10]
The Camarilla is a multi-planetary, multi-species secret organization intent on keeping Earth isolated from the rest of the galaxy inBrian Daley's "Fitzhugh & Floyt" trilogy.
The Camarilla is a multi-planetary, multi-species secret organization with varied and often obscure motives inLisanne Norman'sSholan Alliance.
The Camarilla is an ancient, secret organization of witch hunters in the American TV showMotherland: Fort Salem.
^Somalo, Javier (26 October 2019)."Franco y el paréntesis de la Democracia" [Franco and the Parenthesis of Democracy].Libertad Digital (in Spanish). Retrieved24 July 2020.
