High table

From MiddleWiki

The table set up at an artificially-designated head of a feast hall, at which diners sit facing the other tables. Honored nobles or royalty are seated at the high table. Royalty always sit at the high table by right, as do landed barons or landed baronesses in their own barony. Others are invited at the pleasure of the royalty, and it is considered a high honor to be so invited. Even if no royalty are in attendance, there will be a High Table at feast.

When royalty are not present, the baron or baroness or seneschal of the host branch decides who is seated at the high table. The general assumption is that the noble of highest rank present (or ruling noble) is invited, and that person is generally permitted to decide whom they wish to invite besides themselves. The high table is served before the other tables, and the ruling noble is permitted to address the hall at his/her pleasure, though not required to do so.

A feast does not begin until royalty are seated, although they may send permission to do so if they are delayed. Likewise a specific course is not served to the other tables until it is served to the High Table. The way the individual courses or feast is served varies. Usually, the other servers wait until the head server (a position of honor reserved usually for the one organizing servers, the event's Autocrat or a person of rank) reaches the High Table and presents the dish to the highest ranked person there.