Medieval adaptations of comital offices Comes

1 medieval adaptations of comital offices

1.1 gothic comites
1.2 frankish gaugraf
1.3 feudalism

medieval adaptations of comital offices
gothic comites

the goths ruled spain , italy followed roman tradition of granting title of comes various principals of departments of royal households, including not limited the:

comes cubiculariorum: count in charge of chamberlains (l. cubicularii).
comes scanciorum: count commanded cup bearers.
comes stabulorum: count commanded equerries , stables.
comes notariorum: count commanded chancery, i. e., writing office.
comes thesaurorum: count commanded officials of treasury.

frankish gaugraf

the frankish kings of merovingian dynasty retained of roman administration, including office , title of comes , original meaning of preserved, i. e., companion of king , royal servant of high dignity. under frankish kings comites did not have definite functions: merely attached person of king , executed orders. others filled highest offices, e. g. comes palatii , comes stabuli (from contemporary title of constable derives).

yet other comites served regional officials. administrative purposes, kingdom of franks divided small districts denominated pagi (hence french pays , german gaue ), corresponding roman civitas ( city qua polity). principal of pagus comes, corresponding german graf (in full, gaugraf ). king appointed comites serve @ pleasure, , chosen classes, enfranchised serfs.

the essential competences of comes comprehensive in pagus: martial, judicial, , executive; , in documents described agens publicus ( public agent ) of king or iudex publicus/fiscalis ( royal judge ). @ once public prosecutor , judge, , responsible execution of sentences well. delegate of executive power, had right exercise bannis regis ( royal ban ), gave him right command military in name of king , act necessary preserve peace. king s representative, exercised royal right of protection ( mundium regis ) of churches, widows, orphans, , like. enjoyed triple wergeld , had no definite salary, being remunerated receipt of specific revenues, system contained germs of discord, on account of confusion of public , private obligations.

according philologists, anglo-saxon word gerefa , denoting illustrious chief , however, not connected german graf , meant servant ; compare etymologies of words knight , valet . more curious gerefa should end subservient reeve while graf became noble count.

feudalism

in feudal tradition, latin was, in law, official language, , therefore rendering in latin equal in importance vernacular title. thus, comes has been used latin equivalent, or part of it, of titles of comital office, whether containing count or other word etymologically derived comes or graf . similarly, part of rendering, not exclusive, of derived inferior titles containing such words, notably vicecomes viscount , burgicomes , burgravio burgrave .