From the 12th century in central Europe, a Burgmann (plural: Burgmannen or modern term Burgmänner, Latin: oppidanus, castrensus) was a knight ministeriales or member of the nobility who was obliged to guard and defend castles.
Whether a Burgmann was a free knight, dienstmann or ministerialis, he was a member of the aristocracy who was charged by the Burgrave or lord of the castle (the Burgherr) with the so-called Burghut or castle-guard.
A fief had to be defended from incursion and the supporting farmland had to be run correctly, proper repairs and improvements had to be made, possibly fortifying key points and collecting taxes.
[2] In 1131, Hohensalzburg saw its first ministerialis, Henry of Seekirchen, sit as both burgmann and burgrave, overseeing a permanent garrison of subordinate (free) knights.
Many had judicial powers to govern, as in 1111, when the Salzburg burgmann caught a ministerial who fomented armed rebellion - he had the offender blinded for his temerity.