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Vidame () was a feudal title in
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, a term descended from mediaeval Latin . Like the ''avoué'' or ''advocatus'', the ''vidame'' was originally a secular official chosen by the
bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ...
of the
diocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associ ...
—with the consent of the
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 ...
—to perform functions on behalf of the church's earthly interest that were religiously inappropriate; this especially included violence, even in the service of justice, and to act as protector. Unlike the ''advocatus'', however, the ''vice- dominus'' was at the outset an ecclesiastical official, who acted as the bishop's lieutenant ('' locum tenens'') or
vicar A vicar (; Latin: '' vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English pre ...
. But the causes that changed the character of the ''advocatus'' operated also in the case of the ''vidame''. The title of
Vidame de Chartres Vidame de Chartres was a title in the French nobility. There are a few vidame titles in France, of which that of Chartres is probably the best known, because a number of holders have been notable in widely different ways over the centuries. Vi ...
is much the best known, having been held by several people distinguished in various fields and known by the title. Although a vidame was in theory a relatively low-ranking title, in practice under the French medieval system it gained in prestige and seniority because of the unusually early dates the titles could be traced back to.


History

During the Carolingian epoch, ''advocatus'' and ''vice-dominus'' were interchangeable terms; and it was only in the 11th century that they became generally differentiated: the title of '' avoué'' being commonly reserved for a noble charged with the protection of an
abbey An abbey is a type of monastery used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot or abbess. Abbeys provide a complex of buildings and land for religious activities, work, and housing of Christian monks and nuns. The c ...
, that of ''vidame'' for one guarding an
episcopal see An episcopal see is, in a practical use of the phrase, the area of a bishop's ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Phrases concerning actions occurring within or outside an episcopal see are indicative of the geographical significance of the term, mak ...
. With the crystallization of the feudal system in the 12th century the office of ''vidame'', like that of ''avoué'', had become hereditary. As a title, however, it was much less common and also less dignified than that of ''avoué''. An ''advocatus'' was often a great
baron Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or kn ...
who added the function of protector of an abbey to his own temporal sovereignty; whereas a ''vidame'' was usually a petty noble, who exercised his office in strict subordination to the bishop. A ''vidame'' usually took his title from the see he represented, but not infrequently a ''vidame'' styled himself, not after his official fief, but after his private
seigneury ''Seigneur'' is an originally feudal title in France before the Revolution, in New France and British North America until 1854, and in the Channel Islands to this day. A seigneur refers to the person or collective who owned a ''seigneurie'' ...
. Thus, the ''vidame'' de Picquigny was the representative of the
Bishop of Amiens The Roman Catholic Diocese of Amiens (Latin: ''Dioecesis Ambianensis''; French: ''Diocèse d'Amiens'') is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. The diocese comprises the department of Somme, of which the city of A ...
, the ''vidame'' de Gerberoy of the
Bishop of Beauvais The Diocese of Beauvais, Noyon, and Senlis ( la, Dioecesis Bellovacensis, Noviomensis et Silvanectensis; french: Diocèse de Beauvais, Noyon et Senlis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in France. The ...
(since King Philip Augustus himself was a ''
pair de France The Peerage of France (french: Pairie de France) was a hereditary distinction within the French nobility which appeared in 1180 in the Middle Ages. The prestigious title and position of Peer of France (french: Pair de France, links=no) wa ...
'', i.e. peer of the realm). In many sees there was no ''vidame'', the functions being exercised by a viscount or a ''
châtelain Châtelain (from la, castellanus, derived from ''castellum''; pertaining to a castle, fortress. Middle English: ''castellan'' from Anglo-Norman: ''castellain'' and Old French: ''castelain'') was originally the French title for the keeper of a ...
''. With the growth of the central power and of that of the towns and cities, the ''vidames'' gradually lost their functions, and the title became merely honorary.


Functions

The chief functions of a ''vidame'' were to protect the temporal holdings of the see (called accordingly le vidamé or la vidamie), to represent the bishop at the count's court of justice, to exercise the bishop's temporal jurisdiction in his name ('' placitum'' or ''curia vice-domini''), and to exercise military command of feudal troops attached to the episcopal government. In return, he usually had a house near the episcopal palace, a domain within and without the city, and sometimes the right to levy certain dues on the city.


See also

* Visdomino of Ferrara


Notes


References

{{Reflist *''Nouveau Larousse Illustré'' (undated, early 20th century; in French) Christianity in the Middle Ages Catholic ecclesiastical titles Feudalism in France History of Christianity in France Noble titles