Châtelain was originally the French title for the keeper of a castle.Abraham Rees Ebers, "CASTELLAIN", in:
The Cyclopædia, or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature
' (London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme & Brown, 1819), vol. 6.

History

With the growth of the

feudal system Feudalism, also known as the feudal system, was a combination of legal, economic, military, cultural, and political customs that flourished in medieval Europe from the 9th to 15th centuries. Broadly defined, it was a way of structuring socie ...

, the

title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify their generation, official position, military rank, professional or academic qualification, or nobility. In some languages, titles may be ins ...

gained in France a special significance which it never acquired in England since the

Norman conquest The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Normans, Norman, French people, French, Flemish people, Flemish, and Bretons, Breton troops, all led by the Du ...

, as implying the jurisdiction of which the castle became the centre. The ''châtelain'' was originally, in Carolingian times, an official of the ''comte'' (

count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

); with the development of

feudalism Feudalism, also known as the feudal system, was a combination of legal, economic, military, cultural, and political customs that flourished in Middle Ages, medieval Europe from the 9th to 15th centuries. Broadly defined, it was a way of struc ...

the office became a

fief A fief (; ) was a central element in medieval contracts based on feudal law. It consisted of a form of property holding or other rights granted by an overlord to a vassal, who held it in fealty or "in fee" in return for a form of feudal alle ...

, and so ultimately hereditary. In this as in other respects the ''châtelain'' was the equivalent of the

viscount A viscount ( , for male) or viscountess (, for female) is a title used in certain European countries for a noble of varying status. The status and any domain held by a viscount is a viscounty. In the case of French viscounts, the title is ...

. Sometimes the two titles were combined, but more usually there were no viscounts in provinces where ''châtelains'' existed and no ''châtelains'' in those with viscounts. The title ''châtelain'' continued also to be applied to the inferior officer, or concierge ''châtelain'', who was merely a

castellan A castellan, or constable, was the governor of a castle in medieval Europe. Its surrounding territory was referred to as the castellany. The word stems from . A castellan was almost always male, but could occasionally be female, as when, in 1 ...

in the English sense. The power and status of ''châtelains'' necessarily varied greatly at different periods and places. Usually their rank in the feudal hierarchy was equivalent to that of the "Sire" (medieval French) or

lord Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power (social and political), power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the Peerage o ...

(), between the baron and the chevalier; but occasionally they were great

nobles Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. T ...

with an extensive jurisdiction, as in the

Low Countries The Low Countries (; ), historically also known as the Netherlands (), is a coastal lowland region in Northwestern Europe forming the lower Drainage basin, basin of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta and consisting today of the three modern "Bene ...

(see Burgrave). This variation was most marked in the cities, where in the struggle for power that of the ''châtelain'' depended on the success with which he could assert himself against his feudal superior, lay or ecclesiastical, or, from the 12th century onwards, against the rising power of the communes. The ''châtellenie'' (''casteliania''), or jurisdiction of the ''châtelain'', as a territorial division for certain judicial and administrative purposes, survived the disappearance of the title and office of the ''châtelain'' in France, and continued until the

Revolution In political science, a revolution (, 'a turn around') is a rapid, fundamental transformation of a society's class, state, ethnic or religious structures. According to sociologist Jack Goldstone, all revolutions contain "a common set of elements ...

. The feminine form, ''châtelaine'', refers to the mistress of a castle or

château A château (, ; plural: châteaux) is a manor house, or palace, or residence of the lord of the manor, or a fine country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally, and still most frequently, in French-speaking re ...

, or the mistress of any large medieval household."Chatelaine," ''Webster's New World College Dictionary'' (London: John Wiley, 2003), . It can also refer to a woman's ornamental chain worn around the waist, with keys, a purse, timepiece, or other household attachments.

Canada

In Canada, the wife of the Governor General (the

Viceregal consort of Canada The viceregal consort of Canada is the spouse of the serving governor general of Canada, assisting the viceroy with ceremonial and charitable work, accompanying him or her to official state occasions, and occasionally undertaking philanthropic wo ...

), is referred to by the nominal and symbolic title "Châtelaine of Rideau Hall", in diplomatic and ceremonial protocol for Canadian and British government ceremonies and special events.

Notes and references

Notes

References

* Achille Luchaire, ''Manuel des institutions françaises'' (Paris, 1892). * Du Cange, ''Glossarium, s. Castellanus''. * {{DEFAULTSORT:Chatelain Carolingian Empire Castellans Domestic work Feudalism French noble titles Medieval military leaders Medieval titles Military command staff occupations Noble titles Social class in France de:Kastellan it:Castellano (storia) lt:Šatelenas oc:Castelaniá