in the Frankish kingdom, a royal court official who presided over the palace court of law. Under the Carolingians, he held a high position and his court was made separate from the royal court. In Germany from the ninth to the 11th century, the count palatine, just like the district count, was formally deemed a royal official. In time, he became a propertied prince. The Rhenish count palatine, or prince of Pfalz, held a particularly high position. The title of count palatine was abolished in 1806.