Imperial count palatine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Count of the Sacred Palace of the Lateran" redirects here. For this title in papal usage, see Count palatine § Papal counts palatine.
An imperial count palatine (Latin: comes palatinus caesareus, German: Kaiserlicher Hofpfalzgraf) was an official in the Holy Roman Empire with quasi-monarchical ("palatine") powers. In all, over 5,000 imperial counts palatine were created between the 14th and 18th centuries.[1] The office was hereditary in perpetuity in the legitimate male line.[2]