Editing Consul (section)

==Medieval city-states, communes and municipalities==
[[File:Caffaro di Rustico da Caschifellone - Villetta Di Negro (Genoa) - DSC02421.JPG|thumb|[[Caffaro di Rustico da Caschifellone]], statesman of the [[Genoese Republic]] in the 12th century, for which he served eight terms as a consul.|282x282px]]
=== Republic of Genoa ===
The city-state of [[Republic of Genoa|Genoa]], unlike ancient Rome, bestowed the title of ''consul'' on various state officials, not necessarily restricted to the highest. Among these were Genoese officials stationed in various Mediterranean ports, whose role included helping Genoese merchants and sailors in difficulties with the local authorities. Great Britain reciprocated by appointing [[List of diplomats of Great Britain to the Republic of Genoa|consuls]] to Genoa from 1722. This institution, with its name, was later emulated by other powers and is reflected in the modern usage of the word (see [[Consul (representative)]]).

=== Republic of Pisa ===
In addition to the Genoese Republic, the [[Republic of Pisa]] also took the form of "Consul" in the early stages of its government. The Consulate of the Republic of Pisa was the major government institution present in Pisa from 1087 to 1189. Despite losing space within the government since 1190 in favor of the [[Podestà]], for some periods of the 13th century some citizens were again elected as consuls.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ceccarelli Lemut|first=Maria Luisa|title=I consoli e i magistrati del comune di Pisa dalla comparsa del consolato (1080/1085) al 1189|language=it}}</ref>

=== Other uses in the Medieval period ===
[[File:Alphonse de Poitiers 01.jpg|thumb|left|In this painting, [[Alphonse, Count of Poitiers]] and Count of Toulouse takes an oath before the Consuls of the town of [[Agen]], with his right hand on the town ordinances, committing himself to recognize the autonomy of the town's commune, while sitting on a pedestal. The consul administering the oath is forced to go on his knees, symbolizing Alphonse's lordship and the town's loyalty.]]
Throughout most of southern [[Kingdom of France|France]], a consul ({{langx|fr|consul}} or ''{{lang|fr|consule}}'') was an office equivalent to the {{Interlanguage link multi|Échevin (France)|fr|3=Échevin|lt=échevins}} of the north and roughly similar with [[Kingdom of England|English]] [[alderman|aldermen]]. The most prominent were those of [[Bordeaux]] and [[Toulouse]], which came to be known as [[jurat]]s and [[capitoul]]s, respectively. The capitouls of Toulouse were granted transmittable nobility. In many other smaller towns the first consul was the equivalent of a mayor today, assisted by a variable number of secondary consuls and jurats. His main task was to levy and collect tax.

The [[Duke]]s of [[Duchy of Gaeta|Gaeta]] often used also the title of "consul" in its Greek form "[[Hypatos]]" (see [[List of Hypati and Dukes of Gaeta]]).