What is a Vogt?

Meaning

Vogt is a German word that originates from high old German, and it is sometimes written as Voigt. According to the Holy Roman Empire, the word means an advocate or a reeve. In general, a Vogt is a guardian that asserts protection, for example, a military protection or a legal protection in a particular territory or a region. The territorial responsibility of a Vogt is known as a Vogtei. A Vogt was an overlord in the time of the Holy Roman Empire.

Vogt According to the Frankish Empire

According to the Frankish empire, the office of a Vogt was entitled or held by the most high-class people, formally the nobles and prince, although the people who keep this post have always exploited it. The entire concept of the Vogt is initially an old German idea known as the munt or simply the guardian. The munt had responsibilities, which included physical defense as well as the legal defense and representation; this is where there is a close relationship between advocacy and the Vogt. During the ecclesiastical time, the Vogt was appointed to represent official territorial dignitaries, which included the bishops and abbots who were the councils of individual institutions on nonspiritual matters. Therefore, regarding institutional defense, the Vogt represented the lesser from the cruelty of the local counts, fulfilling their purpose.

The Holy Roman Empire

The German colonized and ruled the Holy Roman Empire, therefore the Vogt was very significant. During that time, the word Vogt represented two offices, the imperial Vogt and the church Vogt. The term was also used during the season to describe those who hold high positions, for instance, the territorial rulers.

Church Vogt

The post of Vogt was thought or considered some acquired nobility. Thus the three arms that struggled for the job were imminent, the church, territorial aristocracy, and the central monarchy formed the three-way struggle for the power of a Vogt. The post of Vogt in the church developed into a significant position of which it evolved into a hereditary job because of its nobility advantages. Later on, those that hold the post of Vogt eventually took matters upon themselves and used the power for their gain. Most of the churches made the church assets and estates for themselves.

Imperial Vogt

An imperial Vogt was a representative of the king who performed royal legal functions, which included administration and passing judgment upon royal properties or any kingdoms abbey. The imperial Vogt resided in the magnificent city, but when the cities regained their independence, the post of supreme Vogt was sub-divided into town Vogt who represented the metropolitan and the land Vogt who was in charge of the rest of the area.

Old Swiss Confederacy

The title of Landvogt appeared in the Swiss region in 1415. According to the Swiss, the Landvogt represented or act on behalf of the Confederacy and administered a condominium between many cantons. Cantons appointed the Vogt who served in office for two consecutive years before the expiration of their term.