Vilicus

A Villicus ( Latin ) in ancient Rome for a good manager was usually a slave or freedman serfs, who had the oversight of the work of slaves on the estate. He had as of right by the whole agriculture have a full hands-on experience. He managed all revenue and expenditure in the name of his master.

Due to the compared to the slaves under his farming less physically verausgabenden activity of Villicus a correspondingly lower ration of food received from his masters assigned as this.

In the Middle Ages the title designated a representative designated by the lord steward of the assets of a Herrenhof (see also Villikation ). As stewards were a villicus and a subvillicus active, who farmed the arable land with her ​​servants, the duties of the subordinate courts had moved in and passed on the whole yield of the gentlemen. They were mostly representatives of the Dominions and could at any time be removed from office. For the services they received a portion of the collected taxes.

From the farming profession and position designation Villicus the widespread not only in North Germany Surname Wilke, Wilcke or Wilke formed. Even today these surnames are still commonly found on Meier courts in towns.