In Southern France, aviguerie (French pronunciation:[viɡʁi];Latin:vicaria) was a mediaeval administrative court. Aviguerie is named for the place it serves or is found in, that is, the main town of the borough, which need not be itschef-lieu (administrative capital).
Appearing during theCarolingian dynasty, theviguerie started as the seat of civil and criminal justice, taking its name from theCount orViscount. With the decline of feudal power and its transfer to Royal jurisdiction, theviguerie became the lowest court, dealing only with day-to-day affairs. It was administered by aviguier, a judge whose remit varied, over time and space, from that of a judge of aCourt of Assize to that of a judge of aCourt of Common Pleas.
Vigueries largely disappeared after 1749, following an edict suppressing the lower courts. Even so, in many regions such asProvence, they survived until theFrench Revolution. InLanguedoc,Rouergue and Carladés, they transformed into the lowestCourts of Appeal.
In other regions similar courts were named for the title of the title or rank of the person who held responsibility for them, such aschâtellenie (administered by achâtelain),prévôté (under aprévôt),vicomté (under aviscount), and abailie orbaillage orsénéchaussée (administered by abaliff).
  | This article relating to thelaw of France is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |