noun
- territories ruled by a palatine or count palatine, especially historical regions with special privileges and semi-autonomous governance
Usage: historical; often capitalized when referring to specific regions
Examples
- The Palatinates of the Holy Roman Empire enjoyed considerable autonomy.
- Several German palatinates maintained their own courts and laws.
- The Count Palatine governed his palatinates with special royal privileges.
- Medieval palatinates served as buffer zones between kingdoms.
- The Rhineland palatinates were strategically important territories.
- These palatinates had the right to mint their own coins.