Bürgerschaft

Judge, Council and Burghers

The relationship between the market town and the abbey (both the property owner and civil authority) was often tense. The burghers appointed their judge and councilmen each year. In an elaborate ceremony, the abbot instated the council and entrusted the judge with minor jurisdiction, hearing the latter’s oath on the sceptre of justice. The common law, laid down in writing, was read aloud on the occasion.

The judge and council were responsible for numerous duties: keeping the wells and town streams clean, sewage drainage, building, maintaining and defending the walls, ensuring security at the gates and during the night, organising the weekly and annual markets, verifying weights and measures, collecting fees, and many more duties.

The abbot often referred cases brought before the territorial court, which could impose the death sentence, to the market court. While the gallows were outside town, the pillory – where minor punishments were meted out – was located in the town centre at Rathausplatz.