Saxony (Sachsen) Jurisdictions

Jurisdictions in Freistaat Sachsen
The administrative jurisdictions of Saxony were embossed by historical ideas and carried out well into the 19th century. In the cities usually qualified personnel took care of administrative measures. In the country it was different and can only be understood if one keeps in mind that the general administration and the judicial administration were not separate issues until 1873/74. Questions on all levels were handeled through royal or ducal or patrimonial courts. These administrations were controlling authorities not regulatory entities. Therefore, manifold matters of judicial, general and ecclesiastical nature as well as tax issues descended on these administrations, and it was not always clear where one competent authority had jurisdiction and where not. We see frequent changes in territorial relations, borders were uncertain. This called for reforms and between 1815 and 1835 Saxony was divided into 5 Kreise (districts), 11 Amtshauptmannschaften and 54 Ämter (administrations) An Amt was known by various titles and the leading administrator was known as the Amtmann. He was responsible for matters of legal and criminal nature at the lowest level.