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{{For|the conservative activist and direct mail pioneer|Richard Viguerie}}

In Southern France, a '''''viguerie''''' ({{IPA|fr|viɡʁi}}; {{langx|la|vicaria}}) was a mediaeval administrative court. A ''viguerie'' is named for the place it serves or is found in, that is, the main town of the borough, which need not be its {{lang|fr|[[chef-lieu]]}} (administrative capital).

Appearing during the [[Carolingian dynasty]], the {{lang|fr|viguerie}} started as the seat of civil and criminal justice, taking its name from the [[Count]] or [[Viscount]]. With the decline of feudal power and its transfer to Royal jurisdiction, the {{lang|fr|viguerie}} became the lowest court, dealing only with day-to-day affairs. It was administered by a {{lang|fr|viguier}}, a judge whose remit varied, over time and space, from that of a judge of a [[Court of Assize]] to that of a judge of a [[Court of Common Pleas (England)|Court of Common Pleas]].

{{lang|fr|Vigueries}} largely disappeared after 1749, following an edict suppressing the lower courts. Even so, in many regions such as [[Provence]], they survived until the [[French Revolution]]. In [[Languedoc]], [[Rouergue]] and Carladés, they transformed into the lowest [[Court of Appeal|Courts of Appeal]].

In other regions similar courts were named for the title of the title or rank of the person who held responsibility for them, such as ''châtellenie'' (administered by a [[châtelain]]), ''prévôté'' (under a [[prévôt]]), ''vicomté'' (under a [[viscount]]), and a ''bailie'' or ''baillage'' or ''sénéchaussée'' (administered by a [[Bailiff (France)|baliff]]).

== See also ==
* [[Magistrate]], a minor lawyer in the United Kingdom
* [[Vicar]], one who administers religious law
* [[Vegueria]], in Catalonia
* [[Ancien Régime in France#Justice|Ancien Régime in France]] (section '''Justice''')

[[Category:Law of the Ancien Régime]]

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