Lokator

The locator (Latin locator: lessor, land distribution, " assign " from the Latin (col) locare, " rent ", " build ", " settle ", also magister incolarum, in Mecklenburg and Pomerania also posessor or cultor similar to Reute Master in southern Germany ) was a medieval subcontractor of a country or the landlord was responsible for the clearance, surveying and allocation of land to erschließendem usually in the order. In addition, he recruited settlers for these purposes, we assume for the transition period ( eg during clearing) the livelihood available and anxious study materials and machines (seeds, draft animals, iron plows, and others). He thus played an important role in the founding of towns and villages, as well as the reclamation of unbewirtschaftetem country during the internal colonization in northern Germany and its eastern settlement and was therefore involved in their success.

• 2.1 Economic Background
• 2.2 Social status, rights and obligations
• 2.3 Alternative procedure

Bases, tasks and procedure

Contract to settlement

The contract for the settlement of the country was to be developed mostly by a noble or spiritual rulers or by a landowner who had this first obtain the sovereign permission. However, villages without prior permission of locators were subjected to reclamation or settlers acted on their own. With regard to the tasks in the reclamation and position in the new settlement, it is important to differentiate between Stadtlokatoren and Dorflokatoren.

Legal framework

Provided the legal basis for the emergence of a new settlement of Lokationsvertrag (Latin locatio ). This was either closed directly between the sovereign and the locator representative or between landlord and locator. In Lokationsvertrag the previously agreed with the sovereign Lokationsprivilegien, and the tithe regulations were held and the like. Contractually was thus the legal and organizational change ( in the German Ostsiedlungen the change from Polish to German law ), regulated reductions for locator and settlers as well as duties and taxes paid. This included the requirement to secure the fields against flooding or other natural influences or to protect the settlement, for example, by digging a trench against enemies. The Lokationsvertrag had for settlers and locator thus a mandatory action against the landlord, but also formed a legal basis, the legal security for the settlement and its inhabitants means. Often included the locatio also penalty clauses, the subject in the event of a failed colonization withdrawal of privileges and a fine for the locator after themselves.

Social position

Locators belonged mainly to the gentry or the layer of the city citizens. They were knights or vassals of the lords. Often there were also people, going about the prestigious professions, such as mint master or royal service men. In addition, they usually have a sufficiently good experience or in the time training. There is also report on simple peasants who acted as locators, but this approach was rather unusual. Because usually had to have the locators over a larger asset and good social connections. The basic and lords it preferred to forgive Lokationsaufträge those required little or no financial support, so as to minimize their own risk.

Procedure and tasks

The locator can be described as middle-man between landlord and settlers, who was responsible for the recruitment in the first place. Often initiated or he supported the measures initiated by the landlord advertising campaign. The structure of the resulting local system to he carried out in his own direction and responsibility and the assignments in the course of cultivation. One of the basic tasks of the locator also included the measurement of the allocated land and its distribution to the individual settlers. Here he led often the lottery or divided the land to fair as possible to avoid confrontation from the start. He also seed, machinery and other study materials are available which (such as the draining of swampy area just at the eastern settlement ) and other tasks were for establishing settlements, Reclamation necessary. Also, advances for purchases as well as the livelihood for the settlers in the transitional period were generally borne by the locator. The locator was also the deputy for the settlers, which he supervised.

Technical Background

Observations from Bergen and smoke signals as points were means by which the locator eingrenzte the country roughly. For a more precise dimensions of the settlement areas were the trees in heavily wooded areas scribed and in open terrain bordered with a plow. The division and allocation of individual land parcels for the settlers took place in the land surveying usually by measuring rod or measuring ropes. Maßgrundlage was depending on the settlement either the Flemish hooves (about 16 acres ), or Franconian hooves (approx. 24 hectares).

The locator after the end of settlement activity

With the establishment of a settlement, the real task of a locator was done. If it was not professional locator that passed establishing of new settlements, the locator remained at the founding place to live and where he took a prominent position.

Economic background

The locator usually received more land than the other settlers and had on this as opposed to the other village residents pay no or very low fees. In addition, he oversaw the jurisdiction under the law applied in Lokationsvertrag. It achieved fees and charges allowed the locator partially retained (usually 1/3 of the total, with 2/3 to be paid to the sovereign were ).

Social status, rights and obligations

Other benefits, such as the right to hold office in the new settlement ( often the mayor ) to pursue or a particular activity ( brewing / serving ), privileges that the locator had enjoyed and him to prosperity and social advancement within the settlement helped. The construction of a mill in which the settlers had to have their grain ground, was also often allows the locator and means with respect to the resulting charges incurred an additional source of income, with the bulk of this income usually tion states the landlord. In addition, the resulting settlements were often named after their locator. Examples of this abound ( Diedersdorf, Peter Heath, Heiner village, etc.). Often the settlement name was also where the settlers came and the locator ( Frankenfelde, Flemmingen, Saxony field Schoobsdorf etc.). The endings of the place names are clear indications of the origin of that municipal residents.

Alternative Procedure

Some locators sold after completion of the settlement of their rights and privileges and were active elsewhere again as a locator. This resulted in a relatively high professionalization of Lokaturentums. Some locators could therefore be described as Berufslokatoren.