The Burgau Offnung of 1469 is a medieval law book. It governs the
relations of associates in the law courts, at the princely court,
and in communal landholdings within a court district (here the
lower court of Burgau near Flawil) with the lord of that court, the
"Vogt" (reeve). At the time this was Rudolf IX Giel of Glattburg, a
ministry official of the abbot of St. Gall Abbey. Originally the
Burgau Offnung was part of a single volume together with those of
Flawil, Gebhartschwil, Uffhoven and Rudlen. The Flawil Offnung (up
to page 17) was removed and bound separately. Preceding the text of
the Burgau Offnung on pp. 18-28 were those of the Offnung of
gebhartschwil, uffhoven und rudeln. The book was entrusted to the
respective “Ammann” (head of the district council) of Burgau of
the time. After 1798, following the dissolution of the lower court,
the book transferred to the village corporation of Burgau. After
consolidation of Burgau with Flawil, the book came into the custody
of the municipality of Flawil.
