The Burgvogt was the administrator of a castle in the Holy Roman Empire.[Dimitz (2013), p. 346.]
Duties and powers
The
Burgvogt organized life in a castle, its general operation, husbandry and military defence. He was also in charge of jurisdiction within a castle district, i.e. within the castle and the surrounding area belonging to it. His office was known as a
Burgvogtei.
[Ebers (1796), pp. 502–503.]
History
Castles had been administered since the Early Middle Ages by castle commanders, captains or governors (
Burghauptmänner), also known as castellans (
Kastellane). This led to the development of the terms
Burgvoigt, the man specifically in charge of organisation and jurisdiction, and
Burggraf (English:
burgrave), who ruled over the wider territory around a castle, the
Burggrafschaft (English:
burgraviate).
[
]
The title of Burgvogt retained its importance after the Middle Ages, as an influential administrator of a castle or palace, until around the end of the 18th century.
In the present day, the term Burgvogt is still used in German-speaking countries as the term for the administrator of a castle, usually one that serves tourist purposes.
Literature
-
Dimitz, August (2013). History of Carniola Volume III: From Ancient Times to the Year 1813, Volume 3, tr. by Andrew J. Witter. Slovenian Genealogy Society International.
-
Ebers, John (1796), The New and Complete Dictionary of the German and English Languages, Volume 1. Leipzig: Breitkopf & Haertel.
External links
