Landdrost
Encyclopedia
Landdrost was the title of various officials with local jurisdiction. It is of Dutch
origin, with land- corresponding to the English meaning of an area, suggesting a somewhat larger jurisdiction than just a village or estate; and drost being a short form of Drossaard, one of many similar titles in feudal lordships and corresponding to a Reeve
or Steward
in some localities on the British Isles
, Drost[e] in Low Saxon languages of Northern Germany
(an etymologically analogous term to Truchsess in New High German
), or a Meier
(from Latin language Maiordomus) in German ones.
– where various other titles were in use for similar offices – was an officer of the local Lord, exercising various functions depending on the endlessly varied local customary law, such as tax collection, policing, public prosecutor and execution of sentence
s.
In many Lower Rhenish and Westphalian and Lower Saxon
estates of the Holy Roman Empire
the term Landdrost or Drost[e] described the chief executive official of a military, jurisdictional and/or police ambit, representing his lord-paramount of the territory, therefore often appearing with the affix 'land-'. Among the many territories using the term are the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, the Prince-Bishopric of Hildesheim, the County of Mark, and the Duchy of Mecklenburg.
.
However it only came to more gubernatorial significance in some of the Boer
polities that seceded shortly after the British took over the colony, notably:
A similar gubernatorial role in other Boer polities was played by officials styled Kaptyn ('captain', in the original sense of Headman).
In the Cape Colony
, an ordinance passed in 1827 abolished the old Dutch "landdrost" and "heemraden" courts, instead substituting British-type resident magistrate
s, who would act only in English.
, then in personal union
with the UK, adopted the term for its administrative subdivisions called Landdrostei[en] (sg.[pl.]), each presided by a Landdrost, with those terms then translated into English as High-Bailiwick and High-Bailiff. On 1 April 1885 the terms were replaced in Hanover
by the terms Regierungsbezirk
(governorate) and Regierungspräsident (gubernator).
The Dutch annexation effectively started on 23 April that year, with the following two jurisdictions declared:
This situation lasted until 11 August 1963, when all territories were returned except for minor frontier adjustments, following German agreement to pay war compensation.
, the newly claimed area was governed by the landdrost of the Openbaar Lichaam Zuidelijke IJsselmeerpolders (Public Body of the Southern IJsselmeer Polders) until it was partitioned into municipalities.
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
origin, with land- corresponding to the English meaning of an area, suggesting a somewhat larger jurisdiction than just a village or estate; and drost being a short form of Drossaard, one of many similar titles in feudal lordships and corresponding to a Reeve
Reeve (England)
Originally in Anglo-Saxon England the reeve was a senior official with local responsibilities under the Crown e.g. as the chief magistrate of a town or district...
or Steward
Steward (office)
A steward is an official who is appointed by the legal ruling monarch to represent him or her in a country, and may have a mandate to govern it in his or her name; in the latter case, it roughly corresponds with the position of governor or deputy...
in some localities on the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
, Drost[e] in Low Saxon languages of Northern Germany
Northern Germany
- Geography :The key terrain features of North Germany are the marshes along the coastline of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, and the geest and heaths inland. Also prominent are the low hills of the Baltic Uplands, the ground moraines, end moraines, sandur, glacial valleys, bogs, and Luch...
(an etymologically analogous term to Truchsess in New High German
New High German
New High German is the term used for the most recent period in the history of the German language. It is a translation of the German Neuhochdeutsch...
), or a Meier
Meier
- People :* Meier, Carl A., a Swiss psychiatrist, Jungian Psychologist* Meier, Barbara, German model, most known for winning the third cycle of Germany's Next Topmodel* Meier, Bernd, German football goalkeeper* Meier, Billy, UFO contactee...
(from Latin language Maiordomus) in German ones.
Feudal era
Originally, a Drost in the Low CountriesLow Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
– where various other titles were in use for similar offices – was an officer of the local Lord, exercising various functions depending on the endlessly varied local customary law, such as tax collection, policing, public prosecutor and execution of sentence
Sentence (law)
In law, a sentence forms the final explicit act of a judge-ruled process, and also the symbolic principal act connected to his function. The sentence can generally involve a decree of imprisonment, a fine and/or other punishments against a defendant convicted of a crime...
s.
In many Lower Rhenish and Westphalian and Lower Saxon
Lower Saxon Circle
The Lower Saxon Circle was an Imperial Circle of the Holy Roman Empire. Covering much of the territory of the mediæval Duchy of Saxony , firstly the circle used to be called the Saxon Circle , only to be later better differentiated from the Upper Saxon Circle the more specific name prevailed.An...
estates of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
the term Landdrost or Drost[e] described the chief executive official of a military, jurisdictional and/or police ambit, representing his lord-paramount of the territory, therefore often appearing with the affix 'land-'. Among the many territories using the term are the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, the Prince-Bishopric of Hildesheim, the County of Mark, and the Duchy of Mecklenburg.
Dutch Cape colony and Boer secessions
The office was also introduced in the Dutch colony of the Cape of Good HopeCape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
.
However it only came to more gubernatorial significance in some of the Boer
Boer
Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for farmer, which came to denote the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th century, as well as those who left the Cape Colony during the 19th century to settle in the Orange Free State,...
polities that seceded shortly after the British took over the colony, notably:
- Graaff-Reinet had only one "national" Landdrost, 6 February 1795 – 22 August 1796: Friedrich Carl David Gerotz (1739–1828)
- The Utrecht Republic had three consecutive Landdrosts:
- 1852 – 1855: Andreas Theodorus Spies (1800–1889), who was already in office before the settlement declared itself a republic
- 1855 – February 1856: J.C. Styen
- February 1856 – 8 May 1858: Andreas Theodorus Spies (2nd time)
A similar gubernatorial role in other Boer polities was played by officials styled Kaptyn ('captain', in the original sense of Headman).
In the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
, an ordinance passed in 1827 abolished the old Dutch "landdrost" and "heemraden" courts, instead substituting British-type resident magistrate
Resident Magistrate
A resident magistrate is a title for magistrates used in certain parts of the world, that were, or are, governed by the British. Sometimes abbreviated as RM, it refers to suitably qualified personnel - notably well versed in the law - brought into an area from outside as the local magistrate,...
s, who would act only in English.
Netherlands under Napoleonic rule
- DrentheDrentheDrenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
province, after Administrators (16 February 1795 – 8 May 1807), had two Landdrosts:- 8 May 1807 – 1 January 1810 Petrus Hofstede (b. 1755 – d. 1839)
- 1 January 1810 – 1811 Jan Adriaan, baron van Zuylen van Nijevelt (b. 1776 – d. 1840); next it had Governors
- FrieslandFrieslandFriesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
(Dutch Frisia), after several Administrators, had one Landdrost: 8 May 1807 – February 1811 Regnerus Livius van Andringa de Kempenaer (b. 1752 – d. 1813), next a PrefectPrefectPrefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
(1811 – 13 December 1813 January: Gijsbert Verstolk van Soelen), then Commissarissen-generaal - GelderlandGelderlandGelderland is the largest province of the Netherlands, located in the central eastern part of the country. The capital city is Arnhem. The two other major cities, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn have more inhabitants. Other major regional centers in Gelderland are Ede, Doetinchem, Zutphen, Tiel, Wijchen,...
, after Administrators (16 February 1795 – 8 May 1807), had Landdrosts:- 8 May 1807 – 14 November 1807: Gerrit Willem Joseph, baron van Lamswerde (b. 1758 – d. 1837)
- 14 November 1807 – 1 January 1811 Johan Arend de Vos van Steenwijk (b. 1746 – d. 1813)
- 1810 – February 1811 Verstolk van Soelen; next a Prefect (February 1811 – 1 December 1813 Regnerus Livius van Andringa de Kempenaer (b. 1752 – d. 1813), afterwards Governors
- Groningen province, after Administrators (16 February 1795 – 8 May 1807), had one Landdrost: 8 May 1807 – 1 January 1811 Hendrik Ludolf Wichers (b. 1747 – d. 1840), next two Prefects of Ems-Occidental, then Governors
- Noord Brabant ('North Brabant'), after Administrators (16 February 1795 – 8 May 1807) had one Landdrost, 8 May 1807 – 1810: Paul Emanuel Anthony de la Court (b. 1760 – d. 1848), next a Prefect of Bouches-du-RhinBouches-du-RhinBouches-du-Rhin is the name of a département of the First French Empire in the present Netherlands. It is named after the mouth of the river Rhine. It was formed in 1810, when the Kingdom of Holland was annexed by France. Its territory corresponds with the eastern half of the present Dutch...
department (9 July 1810 – 1814 Nicolas, baron Frémin de Beaumont), then Governors - Holland (only 1840 divided in the present two provinces North – and South Holland) as such never had a Landdrost; however, while the Amstel, Delf and Texel départements were only under Commissioners, these temporary fractions did:
- AmstellandAmstellandAmstelland is the area along the river Amstel, a river running north towards Amsterdam in southern North Holland.- Location and composition :"Amstelland" today refers generally to the area along the river Amstel just south of the city of Amsterdam...
, formed in 1807 from Amsterdam and northern part of département Holland, until it was on 9 July 1810 merged with Utrecht into French département ZuyderzeeZuyderzéeZuyderzée is the name of a département of the First French Empire in the present Netherlands. It is named after the Zuider Zee sea inlet. It was formed in 1810, when the Kingdom of Holland was annexed by France. Its territory corresponds more or less with the present Dutch provinces North Holland...
, had one Landdrost, 1807 – 9 July 1810: Jan van Styrum (b. 1757 – d. 1829) - MaaslandMaaslandMaasland is a town in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. It lies in the municipality of Midden-Delfland and covers an area of 24.42 km² ....
, in 1807 a département formed from The Hague and southern parts of département of Holland, had a single Landdrost, May 1807 – November 1807: Jacob Abraham de MistJacob Abraham de MistJacob Abraham Uitenhage de Mist was a Dutch statesman. He was Head of State of the National Assembly of the Batavian Republic from 17 April 1797 - 1 May 1797 and Commissioner-General of the Cape Colony during the interregnum from 21 February 1803 - 25 September 1804 in accordance with the...
(b. 1749 – d. 1823), then Prefects (continuing when on 9 July 1810 renamed French département Bouches-de-la-MeuseBouches-de-la-MeuseBouches-de-la-Meuse is the name of a département of the First French Empire in the present Netherlands. It is named after the mouth of the river Meuse. It was formed in 1810, when the Kingdom of Holland was annexed by France. Its territory corresponds more or less with the present Dutch province...
) until it was in 1814 abolished
- Amstelland
- OverijsselOverijsselOverijssel is a province of the Netherlands in the central eastern part of the country. The region has a NUTS classification of NL21. The province's name means "Lands across river IJssel". The capital city of Overijssel is Zwolle and the largest city is Enschede...
, after Administrators (16 February 1795 – 1 January 1810) had one Landdrost, 1 January 1810 – 1811: Petrus Hofstede (b. 1755 – d. 1839), then two Prefects of Bouches-de-l'Yssel (1811–1814) - Utrecht province, after Administrators (16 February 1795 – 1806) had one Landdrost, 1806 – 1811: Jan Hendrik van Lynden (b. 1765 – d. 1854), then Governors
- ZeelandZeelandZeeland , also called Zealand in English, is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. With a population of about 380,000, its area is about...
, after Administrators (17 February 1795 – 8 May 1807) had two Landdrosts:- 8 May 1807 – 1809 Abraham van Doorn (b. 1760 – d. 1814)
- 8 September 1809 – 16 March 1810 François Ermerins (b. 1753 – d. 1840); next two Prefects of Bouches-de-l'EscautBouches-de-l'EscautBouches-de-l'Escaut is the name of a département of the First French Empire in the present Netherlands. It is named after the mouth of the river Scheldt . It was formed in 1810, when the Kingdom of Holland was annexed by France. Its territory corresponds with the present Dutch province Zeeland,...
(9 July 1810 – 1814), then Governors
- Meanwhile Dutch Limburg (which had had one Drossard as Chief Justice, 1754 – 1794: Philippe Joseph Dieudonné, graaf van Woestenraedt) was simply annexed to France as one of the 'Belgian' provinces, département Meuse-InférieureMeuse-InférieureMeuse-Inférieure is the name of a département of the First French Empire in present Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. It is named after the river Meuse. Its capital was Maastricht....
'Lower Maas (=Meuse)'
In 19th century Hanover
In 1823 the Kingdom of HanoverKingdom of Hanover
The Kingdom of Hanover was established in October 1814 by the Congress of Vienna, with the restoration of George III to his Hanoverian territories after the Napoleonic era. It succeeded the former Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg , and joined with 38 other sovereign states in the German...
, then in personal union
Personal union
A personal union is the combination by which two or more different states have the same monarch while their boundaries, their laws and their interests remain distinct. It should not be confused with a federation which is internationally considered a single state...
with the UK, adopted the term for its administrative subdivisions called Landdrostei[en] (sg.[pl.]), each presided by a Landdrost, with those terms then translated into English as High-Bailiwick and High-Bailiff. On 1 April 1885 the terms were replaced in Hanover
Province of Hanover
The Province of Hanover was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia from 1868 to 1946.During the Austro-Prussian War, the Kingdom of Hanover had attempted to maintain a neutral position, along with some other member states of the German Confederation...
by the terms Regierungsbezirk
Regierungsbezirk
In Germany, a Government District, in German: Regierungsbezirk – is a subdivision of certain federal states .They are above the Kreise, Landkreise, and kreisfreie Städte...
(governorate) and Regierungspräsident (gubernator).
Post-World War II Dutch-occupied Germany
After World War II, the old landdrost title was re-used for two extraordinary jurisdictions within the Dutch Occupation Zone in Germany. On 22 March 1949, the Allies agreed to let the Netherlands occupy and annex some German border territories. These included the municipalities of Havert, Hillensberg, Millen, Süsterseel, Tüddern (Dutch: Tudderen), Wehr, parts of Höngen, Gangelt, Schumm, Saeffelen as well as Elten and Hoch-Elten.The Dutch annexation effectively started on 23 April that year, with the following two jurisdictions declared:
- Landdrost of Tudderen (Tüddern in German) (directly subordinated to the Dutch government up to September 1951, then to the Governor of Dutch LimburgLimburg (Netherlands)Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
province): 1949 – 1963 Hubert M.J. Dassen - two Landdrosten of EltenEltenElten is a small German town located in Northrhine-Westfalia. It has a population of around 4,500. Since 1975, it is part of the town Emmerich am Rhein. Between 1949 and 1963, Elten was part of the Netherlands . There is a substantial minority of Dutch citizens.- External links :*...
(subordinated to the Dutch government up to September 1951, then to the Commissioner of the Queen -i.e. Governor- for GelderlandGelderlandGelderland is the largest province of the Netherlands, located in the central eastern part of the country. The capital city is Arnhem. The two other major cities, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn have more inhabitants. Other major regional centers in Gelderland are Ede, Doetinchem, Zutphen, Tiel, Wijchen,...
)- April 1949 – October 1961: Dr. Adriaan Blaauboer (b. 1906 – d. 1961)
- October 1961 – August 1963: Baron Hans Georg Inundat van Tuyll van Serooskerken (b. 1917 – d. 1988)
This situation lasted until 11 August 1963, when all territories were returned except for minor frontier adjustments, following German agreement to pay war compensation.
Openbaar Lichaam Zuidelijke IJsselmeerpolders
After the creation of the Zuidelijke IJsselmeerpolders, now part of the province of FlevolandFlevoland
Flevoland is a province of the Netherlands. Located in the centre of the country, at the location of the former Zuiderzee, the province was established on January 1, 1986; the twelfth province of the country, with Lelystad as its capital...
, the newly claimed area was governed by the landdrost of the Openbaar Lichaam Zuidelijke IJsselmeerpolders (Public Body of the Southern IJsselmeer Polders) until it was partitioned into municipalities.