Under Aragonese rule, the feudal system continued to exist, not anymore under the "Assizes of Romania", but under the "Customs of Barcelona", and the official common language was now Catalan instead of French. Each city and district—on the example of Sicily—had its own local governor ("veguer", "castlà", "capità"), whose term of office was fixed at three years and who was nominated by the Duke, the vicar-general or the local representatives. The principal towns and villages were represented by the "síndic", which had their own councils and officers. Judges and notaries were elected for life or even as inherited offices.