In this article we will explore Burgher (social class), a topic that has attracted great interest in recent years. We will learn about its importance, its impact on various aspects of daily life and how it has evolved over time. In addition, we will analyze the different perspectives that exist around Burgher (social class) and how it has influenced different areas. It will be a journey through the history, present and future of Burgher (social class), in which we will discover its implications and its relevance in today's society.
You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in German. (October 2020) Click for important translation instructions.
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A burgher was a rank or title of a privileged citizen of medieval towns in early modern Europe. Burghers formed the pool from which city officials could be drawn,[citation needed] and their immediate families that formed the social class of the medieval bourgeoisie.
Entry into burgher status varied from country to country and city to city. In Hungary proof of ownership of property in a town was a condition for acceptance as a burgher.
Any crime against a burgher was taken as a crime against the city community.[citation needed] In Switzerland if a burgher was assassinated, the other burghers had the right to bring the supposed murderer to trial by judicial combat.
In the Netherlands burghers were often exempted from corvee or forced labor, a privilege which later extended to the Dutch East Indies. Only burghers could join the city guard in Amsterdam because in order to join, guardsmen had to purchase their own equipment. Membership in the guard was often a stepping stone to political positions.