A French medieval official with administrative, judicial, and military authority; the direct ancestor of the English bailiff and Scottish bailie.
From Old French 'bailli,' derived from 'bailler' (to deliver or administer). This term originated in Normandy and spread throughout medieval France and eventually to conquered territories like England.
Baillis were among the most powerful figures in medieval France—they represented the king's authority directly, which meant they could make life-and-death decisions while collecting taxes and enforcing law simultaneously.
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