BURGGRAVE

BURGGRAVE, properly denotes the hereditary governor of a castle, or fortified town, chiefly in Germany. The word is compounded of bourg, town, and graf or grave, count. The burgraves were originally the same with what we otherwise call castellans, or comites castellani; but their dignity was considerably advanced under Rudolph of Hapsburgh: before his time they were ranked only as counts, and below the princes, but under him began to be esteemed on a footing with princes. In some parts, the dignity is much degenerated, especially in the palatinate. There were formerly, according to Leti, 15 families who enjoyed the

^Burggrave the title of burggraves, 13 of which are now extinct. ^Burglary. But this is differently represented by others. In Bohemia the title of burggrave is given to the chief officer, or to him that commands in quality of viceroy. In Prussia, the burggrave is one of the four chief officers of the province. In Guelderland, the burggrave of Nimeguen is president of the states of the province.