Provincial Government

Abstract

The scattered estates of the Hospital throughout Christendom can be divided into two groups. First, there were the castellanies and commanderies of Syria and Cyprus, whose administrators were capitular bailiffs. They will be considered in a later chapter. Secondly there were the priories, capitular castellanies and capitular commanderies of Europe, also governed by capitular bailiffs, who naturally enjoyed a greater autonomy than their colleagues in the East. The history of the development of these provinces is confusing, because it is only partially revealed in the documents and because the Hospitallers seem to have avoided a clear-cut hierarchy of official titles.¹ That of prior was used by ecclesiastical officers, but at the same time by local commanders, by the agents of capitular bailiffs and by the capitular bailiffs themselves. The rulers of small houses were referred to most commonly as commanders or preceptors, but they were also called priors, masters and procurators. Capitular bailiffs were usually entitled priors, but could also be castellans or commanders. The title of bailiff was used indiscriminately of all who held office.