Legal Definitions - comes

The term comes is a historical legal and administrative designation with two primary meanings, often referring to individuals of significant standing or responsibility in medieval and ancient contexts. The plural form is comites.

Historically, comes could refer to:

• A high-ranking noble, such as a count or an earl, who held significant land and authority within a specific territory.
• An individual who served as a close companion, attendant, or official within the retinue of a high-ranking government official or monarch.

Here are some examples illustrating the use of comes:

• Example 1 (Noble Title): Imagine a powerful monarch in 11th-century France who grants a loyal knight a large tract of land and the right to govern it, including administering justice and raising troops. This knight would be elevated to the status of a comes, or count, of that territory.

  This example illustrates the first meaning of comes, where it denotes a noble title associated with the ownership and governance of a specific region, similar to an earl in the English system.

• Example 2 (Official's Retinue): Consider a Roman emperor traveling across his vast empire to inspect various provinces. He would be accompanied by a trusted group of advisors, secretaries, and military officers. One individual, specifically tasked with managing the emperor's personal security and administrative affairs during the journey, might have been referred to as a comes.

  This example demonstrates the second meaning of comes, highlighting an individual who is a key member of a high-ranking official's entourage, providing essential support and companionship in their official duties.

• Example 3 (Feudal Hierarchy): In the Holy Roman Empire during the 13th century, a powerful duke might have several subordinate lords who managed smaller regions within his duchy. These subordinate lords, who held their lands and titles from the duke and owed him fealty, would often be styled as comites, each governing their own county.

  This example further clarifies the first meaning, showing how comes functioned within a feudal hierarchy, where a count or earl held a specific rank and territorial responsibility, often subservient to a higher noble like a duke.