merchantelder
Merchant elder, sometimes written as merchant elder or merchantelder, is a term used to describe a senior figure within a mercantile community or guild who combines commercial authority with communal leadership. In historical and fantasy settings, a merchant elder often acts as an intermediary between traders and civic authorities, setting standards for trade, resolving disputes, and maintaining guild records.
Etymology and usage vary, but the term generally denotes a person elected or appointed for long service
Responsibilities of a merchant elder typically include advising on trade policy, mediating disputes among merchants, supervising
In modern discourse, the term is most common in historical studies, fantasy literature, and role-playing games,