Lit. 'household of the king'. The officer core of the *familia regis, also that at the heart of government. It members comprised the *chancellor, *constable, *chamberlain and master-marshal. Other members were barons and those who followed royal instructions without having titles. Some of these would be known as princeps militiae = leader of the knights. Domus regis = household of the king, as does familia regis, but domus carries the more personal sense of home; its officers being in closer touch with the king. -
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.