Burgvogt


The Burgvogt was the administrator of a castle in the Holy Roman Empire.

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.

History

Castles had been administered since the Early Middle Ages by castle commanders, captains or governors, also known as castellans . This led to the development of the terms Burgvoigt, the man specifically in charge of organisation and jurisdiction, and Burggraf, who ruled over the wider territory around a castle, the Burggrafschaft.
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