burgrave

[ bur-greyv ]

noun

, German History.

1. the appointed head of a fortress.
2. the hereditary governor of a castle or town.

burgrave

/ ˈbɜːɡreɪv /

noun

1. the military governor of a German town or castle, esp in the 12th and 13th centuries
2. a nobleman ruling a German town or castle by hereditary right

Word History and Origins

Origin of burgrave¹

1540–50; < German Burggraf, equivalent to Burg castle, town + Graf count

Word History and Origins

Origin of burgrave¹

C16: from German Burggraf , from Old High German burg borough + grāve count

Example Sentences

It was the hereditary burial-place of the Hohenzollern family and ten burgraves of Nuremberg, five margraves and three electors of Brandenburg, and many other persons of note are buried within its walls.

From Project Gutenberg

It was held for some time by the dukes of Meran, and was sold in 1373 to the burgraves of Nuremberg.

From Project Gutenberg

Grave, grāv, n. a count, prefect, a person holding office, as in landgrave, margrave, burgrave, &c.

From Project Gutenberg

Down to the 15th century an episcopal prefect, or burgrave, had his seat in the city, his authority extending over the neighbouring districts known as the Gorecht.

From Project Gutenberg

The origin of the word is obscure, but it is probably connected with the German graf, count, and thus appears as the second part of many Teutonic titles, such as landgrave, burgrave and margrave.

From Project Gutenberg