What is a medieval count's duty?

Answer 1

A count (the English equivalent being earl) is a member of the higher levels of the nobility, usually the overlord of a county in the Middle Ages. The count was at a higher rank than a baron, but below a duke. The count's duty was to support the king, usually with soldiers, in times of crisis.

There were different kinds of counts. Most, but not all, counts were subjects of monarchs, required to provide support for the monarch as needed.

Some counts were given the responsibility to defend a border, and the English title for such a person is marquess. A marquess usually had the right and responsibility to maintain a standing military force sufficient to task.

Some counts were independent of any king, and so were monarchs in their own right. The counts of Barcelona were of this level for many years, before one decided he would be a king, and they were kings after that.

There was such a thing as a count palatine. In the Holy Roman Empire, the count palatine, whose county was called the Palatinate, was considered to be at the same level as a prince. There was a seat in the Electoral College, which elected the emperors, for the count palatine. Other members of the college were kings and bishops, and there was a total of seven members.

Depending on the system in use, a count might have been the direct feudal lord for a number of members of the nobility in his county, including barons, knights, and various members of the gentry. In other times and places, however, there were counts without actual counties, the title being only an honorific.

There is a link to an article on the title of count below.

Answer 2

A Count was a lesser noble. He ruled for a county and within the county he would give a smaller fief called a Baronies. Sometimes a Baron could hold their fief directly from the King. Nearly all nobles were knights and it was their duty to protect the peasants and Church from enemies. Nobles were powerful military leaders who could command "banners" of the many knights who lived on their lands. Nobles also had to defend their liege in a political sense, serving as judges in their own courts. Nobles also spent their time hunting, tending to accounts, advising their liege, inspecting their lands, training, and going to war with their liege.