Burgher (social class)

After the fall of the estate monarchy, this social class, more often referred to as the bourgeoisie (from French: bourgeoisie – city residents) and less often as the burgher class, generally refers to town or city inhabitants.

The burgher class formed in the 13th century in connection with the emergence of medieval towns governed by separate laws.

To meet the conditions for acquiring these rights, one first had to obtain municipal citizenship under specific legal conditions regulated in municipal bylaws, town council ordinances, and sometimes very strict edicts.

[1] In Hungary, proof of ownership of property in a town was a condition for acceptance as a burgher.

[3] In the Netherlands, burghers were often exempted from corvée or forced labour, a privilege that was later extended to the Dutch East Indies.