castellany

Castellany is a historical term referring to the territorial and administrative domain associated with a castle in medieval feudal Europe. The word derives from Latin castellania, via Old French castellanie, and denotes both the castle itself and the surrounding lands and communities that fell under its jurisdiction.

In practice, a castellany was administered by a castellan, who acted as the lord’s representative in the region. The castellan could be responsible for maintaining the castle, commanding the garrison, collecting rents and dues, preserving order, and overseeing local justice and administration. The extent of a castellany varied widely; it might include the castle, its demesne lands, villages, and peasant tenants, and it could form a distinct territorial unit within a larger fief, county, or lordship. In some cases the castellany corresponded to a formal administrative division; in others the term emphasized the castle’s political and military authority rather than fixed borders.

The legal and political significance of castellanies declined as centralized authority and standardized territorial units—such as counties and baronies—became more common. Nevertheless, the concept reflects the central role of castles as administrative and military hubs in medieval governance, and it appears in charters and chronicles to describe the jurisdiction surrounding a castle and its management.

See also: Castle, Castellan, Feudalism, Lordship, Manor, Sheriff.