Viguerie
Encyclopedia
In France, a viguerie was a mediaeval administrative court. A viguerie is named for the place it serves or is found in, that is, the main town of the borough, which need not be its (administrative capital).
Appearing during the Carolingian dynasty, the started as the seat of civil and criminal justice, taking its name from the Count
or Viscount
. With the decline of local power and its transfer to Royal jurisdiction, the became the lowest court, having no more to do with higher justice and dealing only with day-to-day affairs. It was administered by a , a judge whose remit varied, over time and space, from that of a judge of a Court of Assize to that of a judge of a Court of Common Pleas
.
largely disappeared after 1749, following an edict suppressing the lower courts. Even so, in many regions such as Provence
, they survived until the French Revolution
. In Languedoc
, Rouergue
and Carladez, they transformed into the lowest Courts of Appeal.
Appearing during the Carolingian dynasty, the started as the seat of civil and criminal justice, taking its name from the Count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
or Viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
. With the decline of local power and its transfer to Royal jurisdiction, the became the lowest court, having no more to do with higher justice and dealing only with day-to-day affairs. It was administered by a , a judge whose remit varied, over time and space, from that of a judge of a Court of Assize to that of a judge of a Court of Common Pleas
Court of Common Pleas
Court of Common Pleas may refer to several different courts:England and Wales and Ireland:* Court of Common Pleas * Court of Common Pleas...
.
largely disappeared after 1749, following an edict suppressing the lower courts. Even so, in many regions such as Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, they survived until the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. In Languedoc
Languedoc
Languedoc is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, and whose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées. It had an area of approximately 42,700 km² .-Geographical Extent:The traditional...
, Rouergue
Rouergue
Rouergue is a former province of France, bounded on the north by Auvergne, on the south and southwest by Languedoc, on the east by Gévaudan and on the west by Quercy...
and Carladez, they transformed into the lowest Courts of Appeal.
See also
- In other regions similar courts were called , , , and .
- Ancien Régime in France (section Justice)