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Advower

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is the advocate of a church or religious house, as a cathedral, monastery, abbey, etc., called a defensor or bailiff in Germany. Sometimes it signifies a person who has a right to present to a church living. Charlemagne had the title 'of advower of St. Peter's, which the people conferred on him for having protected Italy against the Lombards. Pope Nicholas constituted king Edward the Confessor and his successors advowers of the Monastery of Westminster and of all the churches in England. Advowers were the guardians and administrators of temporal concerns, and under their authority all contracts passed which related to the churches.. The collection of the tithes and all other church revenues were under their control, as a reward for which many of the richest benefices were placed by the heads or principals of 'convents at their disposal. The command of the forces furnished by their monasteries for war was intrusted to them. Sometimes there were subadvowers, who introduced great disorder, and very much contributed to the ruin of the monasteries. Abuses of this office having become general and intolerable, it was abolished by Frederick II of Germany.. The origin of ῥ this office is sometimes assigned to the time of Stillico, in the 4th century; but the Benedictines represent it as commencing so late as the 8th century. Persons of the first rank were gradually introduced into it on account of the skill and power, required in its execution. For a classification of advowers, (See ADVOCATE OF THE CHURCH).