Miner captain
A mining captain or chief miner (formerly Berghofmeister ) was a mining official in the German states who, as director of the upper mining office , i.e. the second or middle mining authority , was responsible for the management of the mining operations , the smelting works and the supervision of the miners and smelters . There were in all major mining states such. B. Prussia, Saxony and Hanover a mining captain. He was the highest official for the mining industry and represented the sovereign in all matters relating to mining law, in Austria he was the head of the mining authority .
Tasks and competencies
From the 15th century to the beginning of the 18th century, the chief miner or miner was also called the mountain steward . The mines, were subject to all Bergmeister and mining Bergvögte , as well as all other mining officials of the country. In this function he had to supervise all officials subordinate to him, who in turn were obliged to obey him. At that time only one member of the nobility could take on the position of mining captain . It was his job to ensure that no abuse was committed and, as soon as he noticed abuse, he had to stop it immediately. He was urged by his sovereign to take immediate sanctions in the event of fraud or breach of trust. For this reason, he was also authorized to reprimand or punish the higher mountain officials.
Furthermore, he had to introduce everything that served to improve the mining industry and to ensure peace and order. He was obliged to exercise justice against everyone.
Hierarchy in Prussia
In Prussia there was a chief miner at the head of the mining authorities, assisted by councilors. The mining authorities were divided into Oberbergämter. At the head of every senior mining office was a mining captain as director. He was assisted by the upper mountain councils , as well as the mountain assessors , surveyors and building inspectors as assistants.
literature
- Johann Karl Gottfried Jacobsson: Technological dictionary, alphabetical explanation of all useful mechanical arts, manufactories, factories and craftsmen. Friedrich Nicolai, Berlin and Stettin 1781.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Carl Hartmann (Ed.): Concise dictionary of the mountain, hut and Saltwork science of mineralogy and geognosy. First volume, second completely revised edition, Bernhard Friedrich Voigt bookstore, Weimar 1859.
- ^ German legal dictionary (last accessed on June 6, 2016).
- ↑ Wilfried Ließmann: Historical mining in the Harz. 3rd edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin and Heidelberg 2010, ISBN 978-3-540-31327-4 .
- ^ Retro library: Meyers Konversallexikon (last accessed on June 4, 2012).