Landgraf

A Landgraf (German Landgraf; French landgrave; Latin comes magnus, comes patriae, comes provinciae, comes terrae, comes principalis, lantgravius) or Landgrave was a count in Medieval Germany, who had feudal duty directly to the German King (or Emperor). His jurisdiction stretched over a sometimes quite considerable territory, which was not subservient to an intermediate power like a Duke, a Bishop or Count Palatine. The title survived from the times of the Holy Roman Empire (first records in Lower Lotharingia from 1086 on). A landgrave usually exercised sovereign rights. His decision-making power was comparable to that of a Duke.

Related Topics:
German - French - Latin - Count - Duke - Bishop - Count Palatine - Holy Roman Empire

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Landgraf occasionally continued in use as the subsidiary title of such nobility as the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar, who functioned as the Landgrave of Thuringia in the first decade of the 20th century; but the title fell into disuse after World War I. The jurisdiction of a landgrave was a landgraviate and the wife of a landgrave was a landgravine. Examples: Landgrave of Thuringia, Landgrave of Hesse, Landgrave of Leuchtenberg.

Related Topics:
Saxe-Weimar - Thuringia - 20th century - World War I - Hesse - Leuchtenberg

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Landgraviate refers to the rank, office, or territory held by a landgraf.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~