Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
charges
English translation:
offices
- The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2016-11-26 13:54:07 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Nov 23, 2016 12:28
7 yrs ago
French term
charges
Non-PRO
French to English
Social Sciences
History
Hi there,
Would anyone know what the meaning of 'charges' is in this context (discussing chateaux/estates):
"Il s’agit de membres de la noblesse établie depuis des siècles et de la bourgeoisie ayant accédée au 18e siècle aux charges et à la propriété, ainsi que des membres actifs de la société contemporaine."
Would this refer to 'liens' or 'encumbrances' perhaps?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Would anyone know what the meaning of 'charges' is in this context (discussing chateaux/estates):
"Il s’agit de membres de la noblesse établie depuis des siècles et de la bourgeoisie ayant accédée au 18e siècle aux charges et à la propriété, ainsi que des membres actifs de la société contemporaine."
Would this refer to 'liens' or 'encumbrances' perhaps?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Change log
Nov 23, 2016 13:01: writeaway changed "Field" from "Other" to "Social Sciences"
Proposed translations
+3
27 mins
Selected
offices
The appropriate translation of "charge" is probably "office" (which is also a synonym in French). As it is an old French term, this is quite likely, but I'm not a native speaker. Please confirm... or reject!
See my discussion notes.
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Note added at 3 hrs (2016-11-23 16:16:20 GMT)
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See also this, in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancien_Régime :
Another key source of state financing was through charging fees for state positions (such as most members of parlements, magistrates, maître des requêtes and financial officers). Many of these fees were quite elevated, but some of these offices conferred nobility and could be financially advantageous. The use of offices to seek profit had become standard practice as early as the 12th and 13th centuries. A law in 1467 made these offices irrevocable, except through the death, resignation or forfeiture of the title holder, and these offices, once bought, tended to become hereditary charges (with a fee for transfer of title) passed on within families.[4]
See my discussion notes.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2016-11-23 16:16:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
See also this, in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancien_Régime :
Another key source of state financing was through charging fees for state positions (such as most members of parlements, magistrates, maître des requêtes and financial officers). Many of these fees were quite elevated, but some of these offices conferred nobility and could be financially advantageous. The use of offices to seek profit had become standard practice as early as the 12th and 13th centuries. A law in 1467 made these offices irrevocable, except through the death, resignation or forfeiture of the title holder, and these offices, once bought, tended to become hereditary charges (with a fee for transfer of title) passed on within families.[4]
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
B D Finch
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolition_of_feudalism_in_Fran... www.heraldica.org/topics/france/noblesse.htm
11 mins
|
| agree |
Tony M
1 hr
|
| agree |
Daryo
: exactly that - it was a time when you had to / could literally buy your way into being a tax collector or a magistrate! Maybe: "public office"?
2 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks! That looks to be the most likely fit here. Thank you for the useful references too"
Discussion
Le principal problème des charges est qu'on payait pour obtenir la fonction (et donc le retour sur investissement dépendait de chacun, sans grand contrôle ultérieur). Voir http://www.wikiberal.org/wiki/Vénalité_des_charges