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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Burgrave

Burgrave \Bur"grave\, n. [F.] See Burggrave.

Wiktionary
burgrave

n. (lb en German historical Medieval) The military governor of a German town or castle; a nobleman of the same status

WordNet
burgrave
  1. n. a nobleman ruling a German castle and surrounding grounds by hereditary right

  2. the military governor of a German town in the 12th and 13th centuries

Wikipedia
Burgrave

Burgrave (from , ) was since the medieval period a title for the ruler of a castle, especially a royal or episcopal castle, as well as a castle district ( castellany) or fortified settlement or city. The burgrave was a count in rank (German Graf, Latin Comes) equipped with judicial powers. The title became hereditary in certain feudal families and was associated with a territory or domain called a Burgraviate (German Burggrafschaft, Latin Prefectura). The position and office of burgrave could be held either by the king, a nobleman or a bishop, the responsibilities were administrative, military and jurisdictional.

Usage examples of "burgrave".

Prince of Melito, the Marquess of Burgrave, Vespasian Gonzaga, John Medicis, Amadas of Savoy, in short, the illegitimate sons of all the southern princes, having no lands of their own, were coming to find that necessary of life in this pleasant little wheat-garden.

Henry of Brederode, Baron of Viane and Burgrave of Utrecht, was descended from the old Dutch counts, who formerly ruled that province as sovereign princes.

In the beginning history says that Burgrave Frederick tried all the arts of peace, but it was only with the army of Franks and some artillery that he was able to batter down the castles of the robber lords and bring order into Brandenburg.

In Germany, owing to the peculiar conditions of the Empire, though the office of burgrave had become a sinecure by the end of the 13th century, the title, as borne by feudal nobles having the status of princes of the Empire, obtained a quasi-royal significance.

Prussia, whose ancestors were burgraves of Nuremberg for over 200 years, is still styled burgrave of Nuremberg.

In French narrative literature there is nothing to surpass the first hundred pages in which George Sand introduces us to the burgraves of central France.