geréb, kenéz, soltész

geréb (the German Gräve, Graf )

The head of settling people at the time of the Transylvanian Saxons' settlement. Their right for jurisdiction was inherited in their families. Later they became a social layer that led a court life. In the 14-15th centuries a great number of them moved from Saxony and assimilated to the Hungarian nobility.

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kenéz

The head of villages that were populated by the vlach right. His duty was to collect the sheep fifitieth tax, and act as the village judge. A significant number of them became noblemen by the end of the Middle Ages. The word comes from the Slav languages.

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soltész (the German Schulthei( = collector of debts)

The head of settled villages, the organiser of settling, and the collector of the landlord's dues. The soltesz signed a contract with the landlord - this was called the soltesz letter - in which he took the responsibility to bring settlers to uninhabited, uncultivated territories, and in return he was exempt from services to the landlord for a long time and his office became inheritable.

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