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Amtmann
(929 words)

While in the Middle Ages the German term Amtmann indicated the holder of any office, in the early modern period the term Amtmann indicated the official overseer, somewhat like the English “bailiff,” of a seigniorial district such as had emerged since the 13th century. It was frequently applied, however, to the judges of the patrimonial courts (Patrimonial jurisdiction) of the nobility. Amtmann was also an umbrella term for the officials of the local judiciary and local administration[6]; [10]. In contrast to the holder of a fief an Amtmann was clearly the recipient of de…

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Brakensiek, Stefan, “Amtmann”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_SIM_016803>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20160321



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