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Burgrave, also rendered asburggrave[1][2] (fromGerman:Burggraf[ˈbʊʁkˌɡʁaːf]ⓘ,[1]Latin:burgravius, burggravius, burcgravius, burgicomes, alsopraefectus), was since themedieval period in Europe (mainly Germany) the officialtitle for the ruler of acastle, especially a royal or episcopal castle, and its territory called aBurgraviate orBurgravate (GermanBurggrafschaft alsoBurggrafthum, Latinpraefectura).[1][3][4]
The burgrave was a "count" in rank (GermanGraf, Latincomes)[2] equipped with judicial powers,[3][4] under the direct authority of theemperor orking, or of a territorialimperial state—aprince-bishop orterritorial lord. The responsibilities were administrative, military and jurisdictional.
In time the position came to be a purely administrative position held by middle or high rankingcivil servants.[5]
A burgrave, who ruled over a substantially large territory, might also have possessed theregality of coinage, and could mint his own regional coins (seesilver bracteates).
Etymologically, the word burgrave is the English and French form of theGermannoble titleBurggraf (compounded fromBurg:castle,fortress or equallyfortified town andGraf: count[2]) fromMiddle High Germanburcgrâve.[6][7] The feminine form is burgravine, in GermanBurggräfin (from Middle High Germanburcgrâvin).[3][6][8]
From the earlyHigh Middle Ages, the GermanBurggraf (burgrave) was the military governor or commander of a castle,[4] similar to that of theAnglo-Norman French "castellain" andMiddle English "castellan" (fromLatin:castellanus).[9][10]
In the mid-12th century, KingConrad III of Germany created a new quality for the title of burgrave during theGerman eastward colonization. They became protectors and administrators of extensive royal territories near major imperial castles, such asMeissen,Altenburg andLeisnig, and received "judicial lordship" (German:Gerichtsherrschaft[7]). They also acted as colonizers and created their own dominions.
Under the reign of KingRudolf I of Germany, their dignity was considerably advanced.[2] Before his time, burgraves were ranked only as counts (Graf), below the princes (Fürst), but during his reign, they began to receive the same esteem as princes.[2]
By the 18th century, the office of a Burgrave had become a purely administerative role, often held by the superintendents of castles or estates charged with the day-to-day management of affairs.[5]
This trend continued into the 19th century, in which the role of the superintendent Burgraves began to be split between a number of people in order to better manage specific tasks.[5] These positions were sometimes held by high ranking commoners who would assume, or be granted, the title of Burgrave.[11][5]
Many of the original Burgriviate families, descended from its more prominent times, had progressed to the higher rank ofGraf or the princely ranks ofMargrave/Landgrave,Fürst andHerzog by this point (such as theBurgraves of Nuremberg andMeissen).
In theKingdom of Germany, owing to the distinct conditions of theHoly Roman Empire, the title, borne by feudal nobles having the status ofReichsfürst (princes of the Empire), obtained a quasi-royal significance.[12]
Like other officials of thefeudal state, some burgraves became hereditary rulers. There were fourhereditary burgraviates ranking asprincipalities within the Holy Roman Empire, plus the burgraviate ofMeissen:
In theCrown of the Kingdom of Bohemia, the title of burgrave was given by theKing of Bohemia to the chief officer, or the regal official whose command is equivalent to aviceroy's.[2] From the 14th century, the burgrave of Prague—the highest-ranking of all burgraves, seated atPrague castle, gradually became the state's highest-ranking official, who also acted as the king's deputy;[19] the office became known as the high or supreme burgrave of the Kingdom of Bohemia (Czech:Nejvyšší purkrabí [cz]); the appointment was usually for life. After the reforms ofMaria Theresa (reign 1740–1780) and her sonJoseph II (reign 1780–1790), the title of highest burgrave gradually lost its de facto power. The title of highest burgrave was still granted, however, and its holder remained the first officer of the kingdom. It was abolished in 1848.
In theCrown of the Kingdom of Poland, the burgrave (Polish:burgrabia, earlier alsomurgrabia) was also ofsenatorial rank (i.e. held a seat in theupper chamber of theSenate of Poland). Ranking first among them was the "Burgrave ofKraków" (Polish:Burgrabia krakowski) of the former capital of Poland andWawel Castle, who was appointed directly by theKing of Poland. The royal office was originally created during the reign ofCasimir III the Great. At that time, Kraków's burgrave was alsochief judge of the supreme court ofMagdeburg law (Polish:Sąd wyższy prawa niemieckiego) erected in Kraków in lieu ofMagdeburg.[20] The burgrave of Kraków also collected an income from the royalWieliczka Salt Mine, run by the Royal Salt Mines companyŻupy krakowskie since the 13th century.
In theKingdom of Prussia, the burgrave was one of the four chief officers of aprovince, delegated by theKing of Prussia.[2]
In Sweden, the burgrave (Swedish:burggreve, earlier spellingburggrefve) was the highest official in the cities ofGothenburg andMalmö during periods in the 17th and early 18th centuries. The title was first introduced by the kingGustavus Adolphus in the 1621 charter for Gothenburg, though it was not actually used until 1625. The burgrave of Gothenburg was to protect the "highness, reputation and regalia" of the monarch and was appointed by him or her from a group of six candidates proposed by the city board. In Gothenburg, the title ceased to be used in 1683 but was briefly reintroduced byCharles XII between 1716 and 1719. Now appointed among three candidates, the burgrave was the executive of the city, keeping the city keys and supervising the board. Following the Gothenburg model, the title was introduced in Malmö byCharles X Gustav after the city wasceded to Sweden in 1658, but was abolished 19 years later in 1677.[21]
In Anglo-French parlance, a burgrave was considered analogous to aviscount.[1][22]
viscount of antwerp.
The King's full official titles are King of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg, Count of Katzenelnbogen, Vianden, Diez, Spiegelberg, Buren, Leerdam and Culemborg, Marquis of Veere and Vlissingen, Baron of Breda, Diest, Beilstein, the town of Grave and the lands of Cuyk, IJsselstein, Cranendonk, Eindhoven and Liesveld, Hereditary Lord and Seigneur of Ameland, Lord of Borculo, Bredevoort, Lichtenvoorde, 't Loo, Geertruidenberg, Klundert, Zevenbergen, Hoge and Lage Zwaluwe, Naaldwijk, Polanen, St Maartensdijk, Soest, Baarn and Ter Eem, Willemstad, Steenbergen, Montfort, St Vith, Bütgenbach and Dasburg, Viscount of Antwerp.
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