Henry VIII of England, who reigned from 1509-1547, had people who were called “Grooms of Stool” whose job it was to wipe his butt. He had 4 such people during his reign, all of whom were knighted. He may have hated most of his wives, but he took care of his butt wipers.

Henry VIII of England, is infamous for his six wives and ruthless political maneuvering, but one of the more bizarre aspects of his court was the role of the Groom of the Stool. Despite the humorous title and rather intimate job description, assisting the king with his toileting, the position was one of incredible trust, influence, and prestige. The Groom of the Stool was responsible for managing the king’s personal hygiene, including wiping his rear after using the royal close stool (a portable toilet). But the role went far beyond that. These grooms had unparalleled private access to the king, and because of the time spent in such close quarters, they became trusted confidants and even political advisors. The intimacy of the role created an unusual path to power, every Groom of the Stool during Henry’s reign was eventually knighted. In total, Henry VIII had four men serve in this position, including Sir William Compton and Sir Anthony Denny. Far from being laughed at, they were envied. In a court where access to the monarch was everything, the Groom of the Stool was arguably closer to Henry than anyone. He may have sent wives to the executioner, but he certainly looked after his butt wipers. #archaeohistories

8:27 PM · Feb 27, 2026

·