Écoutète
See also: Provost
Écoutète or provost is the French translation of the German term “Schultheiss” (translation literal: “That which pronounces a judgment”). This function is found in the Germanic countries, including in Belgium and in Luxembourg. After the annexation of Alsace by Louis XIV (1648 then 1681 for Strasbourg), this function was prohibited to the Protestants who circumvented this prohibition by calling their provost “Stabhalter” (literal translation: “That which holds the stick”); the stick being the badge of its judging function, from where still nowadays the name “Barristers president”.
He occupied the lower level of the feudal hierarchy : in top one found the Seigneur, chief of the Seigneurie or Herrschaft , then came the Baillif or Amtmann, finally in each village Schultheiss or Stabhalter was charged to make apply the decisions of the lord.
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