Plural of chatelain; men who are lords or governors of a castle, or the chains worn at the waist.
From Old French 'châtelain,' derived from Latin 'castellanus' (related to castle). The title originally meant the military commander of a fortress in medieval times.
A chatelain was basically a medieval security guard—they controlled who entered the castle, managed supplies, housed soldiers, and were responsible if enemies broke through, making them crucial to survival in violent times.
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