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A bailiff (from Late Latin baiulivus, adjectival form of baiulus) is a governor or custodian (cf. bail); a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed. Bailiffs are of various kinds and their offices and duties vary greatly. The rank of bailiff was used in Flanders, Holland, Henegouwen, Zeland and in the north of France. The bailiff was a civil servant who represented the ruler in town and country. In Flanders the count usually appointed the bailiff and in France the king. The position originated in France when Philip II Augustus installed the first bailiff. In the northern parts of continental Europe this position was known as "baljuw" a direct derivative of the French word "bailli" but other words were used such as "drost", "drossaard" (Brabant), "amman" (Brussels), "meier" (Leuven, Asse), "schout" (Antwerp, ’s-Hertogenbosch, Turnhout), "amtmann" and "ammann" (Germany, Switzerland, Austria).they were aound in 1066 mostly. The Netherlands In these days, the rank "Bailiff" is not in used in the Netherlands, but there is one exception. The term is used for the position of president and some honorary Bailiffs of the Dutch branch of the Knights Hospitaller. A person who amongst others sees to the execution of court orders such as the confiscation of goods is called a deurwaarder. See also From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia : Bailiff Offices |
