The word palatine has more meanings as a noun (and also an adjective), including other titles derived from the Latin Palatinus 'palatial'

Pfalzgraf is an exclusively German title (from the Latin comes palatinus 'Count of the palace'), rendered in English as Count Palatine or Palsgrave since medieval times for the permanent representative (grafio =scribe, civil servant, rather than a feudal Count) of the Frankish King, later of the Holy Roman Emperor, in a palatial domain of the crown (pfalz), of which there were dozens throughout the Empire. See Palatine Hill for geography of Rome. ... Comes (genitive: comitis) is the Latin word for companion, either individually or as a member of a collective known as comitatus (compare comitatenses), especially the suite of a magnate, in some cases large and/or formal enough to have a specific name, such as a cohors amicorum. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... For other uses, see Franks (disambiguation). ... The Holy Roman Emperor was, with some variation, the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, the predecessor of modern Germany, during its existence from the 10th century until its collapse in 1806. ... The quintessential medieval European palace: Palais de la Cité, in Paris, the royal palace of France. ... A palatinate is an area administered by a count palatine, originally the direct representative of the sovereign but later the hereditary ruler of the territory subject to the crowns overlordship. ...

The Monarch and a large court retinue would continually travel, especially between these palatial domains (and battle fields), without having a real capital; such practice of was not uncommon in the early feudal times, e.g. in England. This practice of a mobile, somewhat omnipresent King, thus also 'eating his taxes' literally wining and dining, was common in early feudal Europe. Travel was often required because of military considerations anyhow. In politics a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ...

During the 11th century, some imperial Palatine counts became a valuable political counterweight against the mighty duchies. Surviving old palatine counties were turned into new institutional pillars through which the imperial authority could be exercised. Next to the Dukes of Lotharingia, Bavaria, Swabia and Saxonia, who had become dangerously powerfull feudal princes (notably the last three were Prince-Electors and potential rivals for the reigning dynasty) loyal supporters of the German Emperor were installed as Pfalzgraf. Lotharingia was a kingdom in western Europe, named after Lothair, King of Lotharingia (reigned 855-869), who received it in 855 from his father, Lothair I (795-855), Holy Roman Emperor. ... The Free State of Bavaria  (German: Freistaat Bayern), with an area of 70,553 km² (27,241 square miles) and 12. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... With an area of 18,400 sq. ... The prince-electors or electoral princes of the Holy Roman Empire — German: Kurfürst (singular) Kurfürsten (plural) — were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Emperors of Germany. ...

The Lotharingian palatines out of the Ezzonian dynasty were important commanders of the imperial army and were often employed during internal and external conflicts (e.g. to suppress rebelling counts or dukes, to settle frontier disputes with the Hungarian and the French kingdom and to lead imperial campaings). To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Although a palatinate could be rooted for decades into one dynasty, the office of the palatine counts became hereditary only during the 12th century. During the 11th century the palatinates were still regarded as beneficia, non-hereditary fiefs .

The Count Palatine of the Rhine and junior branches of his family bore this title. A palatinate is a territory administered by a count palatine, originally the direct representative of the sovereign, but later the hereditary ruler of the territory subject to the crowns overlordship. ...

See also

• Earl palatine (exclusively British)
• Lord palatine

This article chiefly concerns the Palatine counties of England. ... A Palatine lord is a title of nobility that grants a degree of royal power over an area to its bearer. ...

Sources and References

(incomplete)

• EtymologyOnLine
• Westermann, Großer Atlas zur Weltgeschichte (in German, had a map of known Pfalz sites)