Legal Definitions - seneschal

Definition: A seneschal (sen-uh-shuhl) is a historical French title of office that is equivalent to a steward in England. Originally, a seneschal was a duke's lieutenant or a lieutenant to other dignities of the kingdom. In modern times, it refers to the steward of a manor or an administrative or judicial officer, such as the governor of a city or province.

• The seneschal of the manor was responsible for managing the estate and overseeing the work of the servants.
• The seneschal of the city was in charge of maintaining law and order and collecting taxes.

These examples illustrate how a seneschal was a person in a position of authority who had specific duties and responsibilities. They were responsible for managing and overseeing various aspects of a manor or city, such as finances, security, and administration.