Legal Definitions - commendator

Definition: A commendator is a person who holds a benefice (a position in the church) as a trustee in ecclesiastical law. They are called commendators because they are entrusted with the supervision of the benefice.

Example: In the Middle Ages, a bishop might appoint a commendator to oversee a monastery or other religious institution. The commendator would be responsible for managing the property and ensuring that the monks or nuns were following the rules of the church.

This example illustrates how a commendator was a person who had been entrusted with a position of authority within the church. They were responsible for overseeing the affairs of a particular benefice and ensuring that it was being managed properly.

Example: Another example of a commendator might be a person who was placed under the protection of a lord in medieval times. This person would swear an oath of homage to the lord and would be expected to serve him in some capacity.

This example illustrates how the term "commendator" was used in a different context in medieval times. In this case, it referred to a person who had voluntarily placed themselves under the protection of a lord and had pledged to serve him in some way.