count of the palace

feudal official

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "palatine" refers to various officials in medieval and early modern Europe. Originally, it denoted chamberlains and guards of the Roman emperor's palace. By the early Middle Ages, among Germanic peoples, the most significant was the count palatine. This official served in the sovereign's household, particularly in the court of law, representing the king in legal proceedings and managing records.1

In feudal Japan, a jitō was a land steward appointed by the military government to collect taxes and maintain peace. They also served as local judges and provided military service to the shogun. In England, a "county palatine" was a region where the lord held powers typically reserved for the crown. The proprietor of such a county was also known as a count palatine.213

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

France
The central government
…by three men—the seneschal, the count of the palace, and, foremost, the mayor of the palace, who also presided over the king’s estates. They traveled with the king, who, while having various privileged places of residence, did not live at a fixed capital. Only under Charlemagne did this pattern begin…
Read More
…by three men—the seneschal, the count of the palace, and, foremost, the mayor of the palace, who also presided over the king’s estates. They traveled with the king, who, while having various privileged places of residence, did not live at a fixed capital. Only under Charlemagne did this pattern begin…
Read More