Hallo Don, Hello Janiece, I should have completed my explanation: oftenly the Truchsess came from the lower nobility (service-nobility) and the job sometimes was descended on the son: Erbtruchsess: erben=inherit The service-nobility arose in the early Middle Ages, sometimes it was possible to climb up into higher regions... mainly it was a poor nobility, but with a good fief these vassals had a good life. Michael