Aretinue is a body of persons "retained" in the service of anoble,royal personage, or dignitary; asuite (French "what follows") ofretainers.[1]
The word, recorded in English since circa 1375, stems from Old Frenchretenue, itself fromretenir, from the Latinretenere: to hold back or retain.
Such retainers were not necessarily in thedomestic service or otherwise normally close to the presence of their lord, but also include others who wore hislivery (a kind of uniform, in distinctive colours) and claimed his protection, such as musicians and tutors.
Some were a source of trouble and abuse in the 15th and early 16th century.[1]
Often their real importance was very different from their rank: on the one hand,sinecures andsupernumerary appointments allowed enjoying benefits without performing full service. On the other hand, "having the ear" of the master can allow one to act as a confidant in an informal capacity; or in some cases, even as a spy, under the guise of an innocent musician.
The term is sometimes used in the context of the supporters or followers of amedievalknight or great lord, such asRichard, Earl of Salisbury in15th-century England, which he called upon during theWars of the Roses.[2]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Retinue".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 23 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 203.