List of counts palatine of the Rhine explained

This article lists counts palatine of Lotharingia, counts palatine of the Rhine, and electors of the Palatinate (German: Kurfürst von der Pfalz), the titles of three counts palatine who ruled some part of the Rhine region in the Kingdom of Germany and the Holy Roman Empire between 915 to 1803. From 1261 (formally 1356), the title holder was a member of the small group of prince-electors who elected the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Since then, the title has also referred to as "Elector Palatine".

Counts palatine of Lotharingia, 915–1085

The Palatinate emerged from the County Palatine of Lotharingia which came into existence in the 10th century.

• Wigeric of Lotharingia, count of the Bidgau ( 915/916–922)^[1]
• Godfrey, count of the Jülichgau (c. 940)

House of Ezzonen

During the 11th century, the Palatinate was dominated by the Ezzonian dynasty, which governed several counties on both banks of the Rhine. These territories were centered around Cologne-Bonn, but extended south to the rivers Moselle and Nahe. The southernmost point was near Alzey.^[2]

• Hermann I of Lotharingia 945–996
• Ezzo of Lotharingia 996–1034
• Otto I of Lotharingia 1034–1045 (Duke of Swabia 1045–1047)
• Henry I of Lotharingia 1045–1060/1061
• Hermann II of Lotharingia 1061/1064–1085 (in tutelage to Anno II, archbishop of Cologne until 1064)

Counts palatine of the Rhine, 1085–1214

From 1085, after the death of the last Ezzonian count palatine, Herman II of Lotharingia, the Palatinate lost its military importance in Lotharingia. The territorial authority of the count palatine was reduced to his counties along the Rhine, henceforth called the County Palatine of the Rhine.

• Heinrich II of Laach 1085–95
• Siegfried of Ballenstedt 1095–1113
• Gottfried of Kalw 1113–29
• William of Ballenstedt 1129–39
• Henry IV Jasomirgott 1139–42
• Hermann III of Stahleck 1142–55

Hohenstaufen counts palatine

The first hereditary count palatine of the Rhine was Conrad of Hohenstaufen, who was the younger brother of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. The territories attached to this hereditary office began with those held by the Hohenstaufens in Franconia and Rhineland. (Other branches of the Hohenstaufen dynasty received territories including lands in Swabia and Franche-Comté). Part of this land derived from their imperial ancestors, the Salian Emperors, and part from Conrad's maternal ancestors, the Saarbrücken. This explains the composition of the inheritance that comprised the Upper and Rhenish Palatinate in the following centuries.

• Conrad of Hohenstaufen 1156–95

Welf counts palatine

In 1195, the Palatinate passed to the House of Welf through the marriage of Agnes, heir to the Staufen count.

• Henry V of Welf 1195–1213
• Henry VI of Welf 1213–14

The Palatinate under the Wittelsbach: the Electoral dignity (1214–1803)

See main article: Electorate of the Palatinate.

On the marriage of the Welf heiress Agnes in the early 13th century, the territory passed to the Wittelsbach dukes of Bavaria, who were also counts palatine of Bavaria.During a later division of territory among the heirs of Duke Louis II of Upper Bavaria in 1294, the elder branch of the Wittelsbachs came into possession of both the Rhenish Palatinate and the territories in Bavaria north of the Danube river (the Nordgau) centred around the town of Amberg. As this region was politically connected to the Rhenish Palatinate, the name Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz) became common from the early 16th century, to contrast with the Lower Palatinate along the Rhine.

The Golden Bull of 1356, in circumvention of inner-Wittelsbach contracts and thus bypassing Bavaria, recognized the Palatinate as one of the secular electorates. The count was given the hereditary offices of Archsteward (Erztruchseß) of the Empire and Imperial Vicar (Reichsverweser) of Franconia, Swabia, the Rhine and southern Germany. From that time forth, the Count Palatine of the Rhine was usually known as the Elector Palatine (Kurfürst von der Pfalz). The position of prince-elector had existed earlier (for example, when two rival kings of Germany were elected in 1257: Richard of Cornwall and Alfonso X of Castile), though it is difficult to determine exactly the earliest date of the office.

By the early 16th century, owing to the practice of dividing territories among different branches of the family, junior lines of the Palatine Wittelsbachs came to rule in Simmern, Kaiserslautern and Zweibrücken in the Lower Palatinate, and in Neuburg and Sulzbach in the Upper Palatinate. The Elector Palatine, now based in Heidelberg, adopted Lutheranism in the 1530s and Calvinism in the 1550s.

House of Wittelsbach

Partitions of Palatinate under Wittelsbach rule

County Palatine of the Rhine (1214-1356)
Electoral Palatinate (Main line) (1356-1559)
<	---Electorate--->	Neumarkt (1410-1448)	<	---Mosbach--->	Simmern (1st creation) (1410-1598) Simmern-Sponheim (1559-1598)
Mosbach (1410-1490)
<	---Simmern--->	Zweibrücken (Main line) (1459-1661)
	<	---Electorate--->
	Neuburg (1st creation) (1505-1557)	<	---Electorate--->
		Veldenz (1543-1694)	<	---Zweibrücken--->
	Part of Zweibrücken
			Electoral Palatinate (Simmern Line, 1st creation) (1559-1623)
	Neuburg (2nd creation) (1569-1685)		Zweibrücken -Vohenstrauss -Parkstein (1569-1597)	<	---Zweibrücken--->	Zweibrücken -Birkenfeld (1569-1731)	Sulzbach (1st creation) (1569-1604)
			Part of Neuburg (1597-1684)
<				---Electorate--->
<				---Zweibrücken--->	Landsberg (1604-1661)	Kleeburg (1604-1718)	Part of Neuburg
<				---Electorate--->				Simmern (2nd creation) (1610-1674)
Sulzbach (2nd creation) (1614-1742)
				Zweibrücken -Birkenfeld -Bischweiler (1615-1671)			<		---Birkenfeld--->
							Part of the Electorate of Bavaria
							Electoral Palatinate (Simmern Line, 2nd creation) (1648-1685)
							<		---Birkenfeld--->	Zweibrücken -Birkenfeld -Gelnhausen (1654-1799)
					Zweibrücken (Landsberg Line) (1661-1677)
				<	---Birkenfeld--->
				<	---Electorate--->
				Annexed to the Kingdom of France
	Electoral Palatinate (Neuburg Line) (1685-1742)		Part of Electoral Palatinate (1685-1694)
	Zweibrücken (Swedish Kleeburg Line, 1st creation) (1693-1718)
	<	---Electorate--->
	Zweibrücken (Kleeburg Line, 2nd creation) (1718-1731)
	Zweibrücken (Birkenfeld Line) (1731-1799)
Electoral Palatinate (Sulzbach Line) (1742-1799)
Electoral Palatinate (Zweibrücken Line) (1799-1803)

Table of rulers

Ruler		Born	Reign	Death	Ruling part	Consort	Notes
Louis I the Kelheimer		23 December 1173	1214–1231	15 September 1231	County Palatine of the Rhine	Ludmilla of Bohemia 1204 one child	Son of Otto I of Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavaria. Louis obtained the Palatinate of the Rhine in 1214. So Louis I served also as Count Palatine of the Rhine. He was assassinated 1231.
Otto II the Illustrious		7 April 1206	1231–1253	29 November 1253	County Palatine of the Rhine	Agnes of the Palatinate 1222 Worms eleven children	Otto II served also as Count Palatine of the Rhine. On Otto II's death, Bavaria was divided between his sons. Louis received the Palatinate.
Louis II the Strict		13 April 1229	1253–1294	2 February 1294	County Palatine of the Rhine	Maria of Brabant 2 August 1254 (executed) no children Anna of Głogów 1260 two children Matilda of Austria 24 October 1273 four children
During a later division of territory among his heirs in 1294, the elder branch of the Wittelsbachs came into possession of both the Rhenish Palatinate and the territories in Bavaria north of the Danube river (the Nordgau) centred around the town of Amberg. As this region was politically connected to the Rhenish Palatinate, the name Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz) became common from the early 16th century, to contrast with the Lower Palatinate along the Rhine.
Rudolph I the Stammerer		4 October 1274	1294–1317	12 August 1319	County Palatine of the Rhine	Matilda of Nassau 1 September 1294 Nuremberg six children	Ruled jointly. In 1317 Rudolph abdicated of his rights to his brother
Louis IV the Bavarian		5 April 1282	1294–1329	11 October 1347	County Palatine of the Rhine	Beatrice of Świdnica-Jawor 14 October 1308 six children
In 1327, Louis IV, Duke of Bavaria occupied Palatinate, but wasn't recognized as Count Palatine, as he was defending the position of his younger nephews against the claimancy of his older nephew, Adolf, Count Palatine of the Rhine. Ten years later gave it to his nephews, sons of Rudolph. With the Treaty of Pavia in 1329, as Emperor, Louis made formal his donation, pushing back the claimant Count Adolf.
Rudolph II the Blind		8 August 1306	1329–1353	4 October 1353	County Palatine of the Rhine	Anna of Carinthia-Tyrol 1328 one child Margaret of Sicily 1348 no children	Son of Rudolph I.
The Golden Bull of 1356 confirmed the right to participate in the election of a Holy Roman Emperor to the Count Palatine, title that evolved to Elector Palatine. Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his cousin Robert, son of the pushed Count Adolf.
Robert I the Red (Ruprecht I. der Rote)		9 June 1309	1353–1356	16 February 1390	County Palatine of the Rhine	Elisabeth of Namur 1350 or 1358 no children Beatrix of Berg 1385 no children	Son of Rudolph I and brother of Rudolph II. In January 1356 was recognized as the First Elector Palatine.
			10 January 1356 – 16 February 1390		Electoral Palatinate
Robert II the Hard (Ruprecht II. der Harte)		12 May 1325	16 January 1390 – 6 January 1398	6 January 1398	Electoral Palatinate	Beatrice of Sicily 1345 seven children	Son of the claimant count Adolf.
Robert III the Righteous (Ruprecht III. der Gerechte)		5 May 1352	6 January 1398 – 18 May 1410	18 May 1410	Electoral Palatinate	Elisabeth of Nuremberg 27 June 1374 Amberg seven children	Also King of Germany (1400–1410).
Louis III the Bearded (Ludwig III. der Bärtige)		23 January 1378	18 May 1410 – 30 December 1436	30 December 1436	Electoral Palatinate	Blanche of England 6 July 1402 Cologne no children Matilda of Savoy 30 November 1417 five children	Children of Robert III, divided the land. Louis kept the Electorate; Stephen received Simmern, John inherited Neumarkt and Otto received Mosbach. Stephen brought by marriage the County of Veldenz to his possessions, and, after his death, Zweibrücken split off from Simmern.
Stephen I		23 June 1385	1410–1459	14 February 1459	Palatinate-Simmern	Anna of Veldenz 10 June 1410 Heidelberg eight children
John I		1383	1410–1443	14 March 1443	Palatinate-Neumarkt	Catherine of Pomerania-Stolp 15 August 1407 Ribe seven children
Otto I		24 August 1390	1410–1461	5 July 1461	Palatinate-Mosbach	Joanna of Bavaria-Landshut January 1430 Burghausen eight children
Regency of Otto I, Count Palatine of Mosbach (1436-1442)
Louis IV the Meek (Ludwig IV. der Sanftmütige)			1 January 1424	30 December 1436 – 13 August 1449	13 August 1449	Electoral Palatinate	Margaret of Savoy 18 October 1445 Heidelberg one child
Christopher I		26 February 1416	1443–1448	5/6 January 1448	Palatinate-Neumarkt	Dorothea of Brandenburg 12 September 1445 Copenhagen no children	Also King of the Kalmar Union (1440–1448), in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Left no descendants. Neumarkt reverted to Palatinate-Mosbach.
Neumarkt definitely annexed to Palatinate-Mosbach
Frederick I the Victorious (Friedrich I. der Siegreiche)		1 August 1425	13 August 1449 – 12 December 1476	12 December 1476	Electoral Palatinate	Clara Tott 1471/2 (morganatic) two children	Brother of his predecessor. Left no legitimate heirs to the Electorate. He was succeeded by his nephew.
Frederick I the Pious		19 November 1417	1459–1480	29 November 1480	Palatinate-Simmern	Margaret of Guelders 6 August 1454 Lobith ten children	Children of Stephen, divided the land.
Louis I the Black		1424	1459–1489	19 July 1489	Palatinate-Zweibrücken	Johanna de Croÿ 20 March 1454 Luxembourg twelve children
Otto II the Mathematician		26 June 1435	1461–1490	8 April 1499	Palatinate-Mosbach	Unmarried	Had a strong interest in astronomy and mathematics. Abdicated in 1490 to spend the remainder of his life in scientific pursuits. Mosbach reverted to the Electorate.
Mosbach definitely annexed to the Electoral Palatinate
Philip I the Upright (Philipp I. der Aufrichtige)		14 July 1448	12 December 1476 – 28 February 1508	28 February 1508	Electoral Palatinate	Margaret of Bavaria 1474 Amberg fourteen children
John I		15 May 1459	1480–1509	27 January 1509	Palatinate-Simmern	Joanna of Nassau-Saarbrücken 29 September 1481 three children
Alexander I the Lame		26 November 1462	1489–1514	21 October 1514	Palatinate-Zweibrücken	Margaret of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein 1499 Zweibrücken six children	Sons of Louis the Black, ruled jointly.
Kaspar		11 July 1459	1489–1490	1527	Palatinate-Zweibrücken	Amalie of Brandenburg 19 April 1478 Zweibrücken no children
Louis V the Pacific (Ludwig V. der Friedfertige)		2 July 1478	28 February 1508 – 16 March 1544	16 March 1544	Electoral Palatinate	Sibylle of Bavaria 23 February 1511 Heidelberg no children	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
John II		21 March 1492	1509–1557	18 May 1557	Palatinate-Simmern	Beatrix of Baden 22 May 1508 twelve children	He introduced the Reformation into Simmern which led to increased tensions with his neighbours, the Archbishoprics of Trier and Mainz.
Louis II the Younger		14 September 1502	1514–1532	3 December 1532	Palatinate-Zweibrücken	Elisabeth of Hesse 10 September 1525 Kassel two children
Robert I		1506	1532–1544	28 July 1544	Palatinate-Veldenz	Ursula of Salm-Kyrburg 23 June 1537 three children	Divided the land. Robert was a younger brother of Louis II, and Wolfgang was Louis' son. Technically, Robert held both lands during Wolfgang's minority.
Regency of Robert, Count Palatine of Veldenz (1532-1543)
Wolfgang		26 September 1526	1532–1569	11 June 1569	Palatinate-Zweibrücken	Anna of Hesse 24 February 1544 thirteen children
Frederick II the Wise (Friedrich II. der Weise)		9 December 1482	16 March 1544 – 26 December 1556	26 December 1556	Electoral Palatinate	Dorothea of Denmark 18 May 1535 Heidelberg no children	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by a cousin.
Regencies of Ursula of Salm-Kyrburg (1544-1546) and Wolfgang, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken (1544-1560)
George John I the Astute		11 April 1543	1560–1592	18 April 1592	Palatinate-Veldenz	Anna of Sweden 20 December 1562 eleven children
Regencies of Philip, Elector Palatine (1505-1508) and Frederick II, Elector Palatine (1508-1516)	Children of Robert of Palatinate, bishop of Freising (and grandsons of Philip I). Their father married the heiress of Bavaria-Landshut, Elisabeth, was adopted by his father-in-law, and eventually became heir of Bavaria-Landshut. This new declaration led to the Landshut War. In the aftermath of the conflict, a part of Landshut joined Palatinate with the name of Palatinate-Neuburg. In 1557 Otto Henry abdicated of Neuburg to become Elector. Neuburg fell to Wolfgang I. Otto Henry left no descendants: the main line became extinct with his death. Simmern line succeeded in the Electorate.
Otto Henry the Magnanimous (Ottheinrich. der Großmütige)			10 April 1502	1505-1557	12 February 1559	Palatinate-Neuburg	Susanna of Bavaria 16 October 1529 Neuburg an der Donau no children
				26 December 1556 – 12 February 1559		Electoral Palatinate
Philip I the Warlike			12 November 1503	1505–1541	4 July 1548	Palatinate-Neuburg	Unmarried
Neuburg annexed to Zweibrücken
Frederick III the Pious (Friedrich III. der Fromme)		14 February 1515	1557–1559	26 October 1576	Palatinate-Simmern	Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach 21 October 1537 Kreuznach eleven children Amalia of Neuenahr 25 April 1569 Heidelberg no children	When the senior branch of the family died out in 1559, the electorate passed to Frederick III of Simmern, son of John II and a staunch Calvinist. The Palatinate became one of the major centers of Calvinism in Europe, supporting Calvinist rebellions in both the Netherlands and France.
			12 February 1559 – 26 October 1576		Electoral Palatinate
George		20 February 1518	1559–1569	17 May 1569	Palatinate-Simmern	Elisabeth of Hesse 9 January 1541 one child	Son of John II. Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
Richard		25 July 1521	1569–1598	13 January 1598	Palatinate-Simmern	Julianna of Wied 30 January 1569 four children Emilie of Württemberg 26 March 1578 no children Anne Margaret of Palatinate-Veldenz 14 December 1589 no children	Son of John II. Left no descendants. Simmern returned to the Electorate.
Simmern briefly annexed to the Electoral Palatinate (1598–1610)
Regency of Anna of Hesse, William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Louis VI, Elector Palatine (1569-1574)	Children of Wolfgang, divided the land: John received Zweibrücken; Frederick received Vohenstrauss-Parkstein, which after his death with no descendants went to Neuburg; Otto Henry received Sulzbach, which after his death with no descendants went to Neuburg; Charles received Birkenfeld; Philip Louis (the eldest son) received Neuburg, and absorbed his childless brothers land after their deaths.
John I the Lame			8 May 1550	1569–1604	12 August 1604	Palatinate-Zweibrücken	Magdalene of Jülich-Cleves-Berg 1579 Bad Bergzabern nine children
Philip Louis			2 October 1547	1569–1614	22 August 1614	Palatinate-Neuburg	Anna of Cleves 27 September 1574 Neuburg an der Donau eight children
Frederick I			11 April 1557	1569–1597	17 December 1597	Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Vohenstrauss-Parkstein	Katharina Sophie of Legnica 26 February 1587 three children
Otto Henry			22 July 1567	1569–1604	29 August 1604	Palatinate-Sulzbach	Dorothea Maria of Württemberg 25 November 1582 thirteen children
Charles I			4 September 1560	1569–1600	16 December 1600	Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld	Dorothea of Brunswick-Lüneburg 23 November 1590 four children
Vohenstrauss-Parkstein annexed to Neuburg
Sulzbach annexed to Neuburg
Louis VI the Careless (Ludwig VI. der Leichtsinnige)		4 July 1539	26 October 1576 – 22 October 1583	22 October 1583	Electoral Palatinate	Elisabeth of Hesse 8 July 1560 Marburg twelve children Anne of Ostfriesland 12 July 1583 Heidelberg no children	Children of Frederick III, divided the land: Louis received the Electorate, and John Casimir was given a portion at Lautern. The latter didn't have descendants, and his portion returned to the Electorate.
John Casimir		7 March 1543	1576-1592	16 January 1592	Palatinate-Simmern (at Lautern)	Elisabeth of Saxony 4 June 1570 Heidelberg no children
Lautern reabsorbed in the Electorate
Regency of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Lautern (1583-1592)	With his adviser Christian of Anhalt, he founded the Evangelical Union of Protestant states in 1608.
Frederick IV the Righteous (Friedrich IV. der Aufrichtige)			5 March 1574	22 October 1583 – 19 September 1610	19 September 1610	Electoral Palatinate	Louise Juliana of Orange-Nassau 23 June 1593 Dillenburg eight children
Regency of Anna of Sweden (1592-1598)	Children of George John I, ruled jointly. In 1598 divided the land: George Gustavus kept Veldenz; John Augustus received Lützelstein; and Louis Philip and George John received jointly received Gutenberg. In 1601 George John ruled alone Gutenberg. In 1611, after the death of John Augustus with no descendants, Lützelstein was annexed to Guttenberg. In 1654, after the death of George John without descendants, Guttenberg reverted to Veldens, united under Leopold Louis, George Gustavus' son.
George Gustavus			6 February 1564	1598–1634	3 June 1634	Palatinate-Veldenz	Elisabeth of Württemberg 30 October 1586 no children Maria Elizabeth of Palatinate-Zweibrücken 17 May 1601 eleven children
John Augustus			26 November 1575	1598–1611	18 September 1611	Palatinate-Veldenz (at Lützelstein)	Anne Elizabeth of the Palatinate 1599 no children
Louis Philip I			24 November 1577	1598–1601	24 October 1601	Palatinate-Veldenz (at Gutenberg)	Unmarried
George John II			24 June 1586	1598–1654	29 September 1654	Palatinate-Veldenz (at Gutenberg)	Susanna of Palatinate-Sulzbach 20 December 1562 eleven children
Regency of Philip Louis, Count Palatine of Neuburg (1600-1612) and John I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken (1600-1604)	Children of Charles I, divided the land.
George William			6 August 1591	1608–1669	25 December 1669	Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld	Dorothea of Solms-Sonnenwalde 30 November 1616 six children Juliana of Salm-Grumbach 30 November 1641 no children Anne Elizabeth of Öttingen-Öttingen 8 March 1649 no children
Christian I			3 November 1598	1615–1654	6 September 1654	Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler	Magdalene Catherine of Palatinate-Zweibrücken 14 November 1630 nine children Maria Joanna of Helffenstein 28 October 1648 one child
John II the Younger		26 March 1584	1604–1635	9 August 1635	Palatinate-Zweibrücken	Catherine de Rohan 26 August 1604 one child Louise Juliana of the Palatinate 13 May 1612 seven children	Children of John I, divided the land: John Kept Zweibrücken, Frederick Casimir received Landsberg and John Casimir inherited Kleeburg.
Frederick Casimir		10 June 1585	1604–1645	30 September 1645	Palatinate-Landsberg	Emilia Antwerpiana of Orange-Nassau 4 July 1616 three children
John Casimir		20 April 1589	1604–1652	18 June 1652	Palatinate-Kleeburg	Catherine of Sweden 11 June 1615 Stockholm eight children
Frederick V the Winter King (Friedrich V. der Winterkönig)		26 August 1596	19 September 1610 – 23 February 1623	29 November 1632	Electoral Palatinate	Elizabeth of Great Britain 14 February 1613 London thirteen children	In 1619, he accepted the throne of Bohemia from the Bohemian estates. He was defeated by the Emperor Ferdinand II at the Battle of White Mountain in 1620, and Spanish and Bavarian troops soon occupied the Palatinate itself. He was known as "the Winter King" because his reign in Bohemia only lasted one winter. In 1623, Frederick was put under the ban of the Empire.
Frederick V's territories and his position as elector were transferred to the Duke of Bavaria, Maximilian I, of a distantly related branch of the House of Wittelsbach. Although technically Elector Palatine, he was known as the Elector of Bavaria. From 1648 he ruled in Bavaria and the Upper Palatinate alone, but retained all his electoral dignities and the seniority of the Palatinate Electorate. Electoral Palatinate briefly annexed to the Electorate of Bavaria (1623–1648)
Louis Philip		23 November 1602	1610–1655	6 January 1655	Palatinate-Simmern	Marie Eleonore von Brandenburg 4 December 1631 seven children	Son of Elector Frederick, restored Simmern.
Wolfgang William		4 November 1578	1614–1653	14 September 1653	Palatinate-Neuburg	Magdalene of Bavaria 11 November 1613 Munich one child Catharina Charlotte of Palatinate-Zweibrücken 11 November 1631 Blieskastel two children Maria Franziska of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg 3 June 1651 no children	Son of Philip Louis, inherited Neuburg.
Augustus		2 October 1582	1614–1632	14 August 1632	Palatinate-Sulzbach	Hedwig of Holstein-Gottorp 17 July 1620 seven children	Sons of Philip Louis, inherited Sulzbach. John Frederick created Palatinate-Sulzbach-Hilpoltstein, but at his death with no surviving children, Sulzbach became reunited under Augustus' son, Christian August.
John Frederick		23 August 1587	1614–1644	19 October 1644	Palatinate-Sulzbach (at Hilpoltstein)	Sophie Agnes of Hesse-Darmstadt 7/17 November 1624 eight children
Regency of John Frederick, Count Palatine of Sulzbach-Hilpoltstein (1632-1636)	Reunited Sulzbach after John Frederick's death in 1644.
Christian Augustus			26 July 1622	1632–1708	23 July 1708	Palatinate-Sulzbach	Amalie of Nassau-Siegen 27 March 1649 five children
Regency of George John II, Count Palatine of Lützelstein-Guttenberg (1634-1639)	Reunited Palatinate-Veldenz in 1654. However, left no surviving male descendants. Veldenz went to the Electorate.
Leopold Louis			1 February 1625	1634–1694	29 September 1694	Palatinate-Veldenz	Agatha Christine of Hanau-Lichtenberg 4 July 1648 Bischweiler twelve children
Veldenz definitely annexed to the Electoral Palatinate
Frederick I		5 April 1619	1635–1661	9 July 1661	Palatinate-Zweibrücken	Anna Juliane of Nassau-Saarbrücken 6 April 1640 ten children	Left no male surviving descendants. Zweibrucken was inherited by Landsberg line.
Frederick Louis		27 October 1619	1645–1661	11 April 1681	Palatinate-Landsberg	Juliana Magdalena of Palatinate-Zweibrücken 14 November 1645 Düsseldorf thirteen children Anna Marie Elisabeth Hepp 21 August 1672 (morganatic) five children	Inherited Zweibrücken from his cousin Frederick in 1661, and annexed Landsberg to it. In 1677 the Kingdom of France occupied his duchies. He left no surviving descendants.
			1661–1677		Palatinate-Zweibrücken
Palatinate-Landsberg was definitely reannexed to the Palatinate-Zweibrücken
Palatinate-Zweibrücken (with Landsberg) was briefly annexed to the Kingdom of France (1677–1693)
Charles Louis (Karl I. Ludwig)		22 December 1617	24 October 1648- 28 August 1680	28 August 1680	Electoral Palatinate (Simmern line restored)	Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel 22 February 1650 Kassel (unilateral divorce in 1658) three children Marie Luise von Degenfeld 6 January 1658 Schwetzingen (morganatic and bigamous) thirteen children Elisabeth Hollander von Bernau 11 December 1679 Vohenstrauß (morganatic) one child	Son of Frederick V. By the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, Charles Louis was restored to the Lower Palatinate and was given a new electoral title, also that of "Elector Palatine" but lower in precedence than the other electorates.
Charles Gustavus		8 November 1622	1652–1654	13 February 1660	Palatinate-Kleeburg	Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp 24 October 1654 Stockholm one child	Abdicated from Kleeburg in 1654, to become King of Sweden (as Charles X), right hat he inherited from his mother.
John Charles		17 October 1638	1654–1704	21 February 1704	Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Gelnhausen	Sophie Amalie of Palatinate-Zweibrücken 1685 Weikersheim one child Esther Maria von Witzleben 28 July 1696 five children	Son of Christian I, received Gelnhausen.
Adolph John I		21 October 1629	1654–1689	24 October 1689	Palatinate-Kleeburg	Elsa Beata Brahe 19 June 1649 Stockholm one child Elsa Elisabeth Brahe 1661 Stockholm nine children	Brother of Charles Gustavus, received Kleeburg after the abdication of his brother.
Louis Henry		11 October 1640	1655–1674	3 January 1674	Palatinate-Simmern	Maria of Orange-Nassau 23 September 1666 Kleve no children	Left no descendants. Simmern returned to the Electorate.
Simmern definitely annexed to the Electoral Palatinate
Charles Otto		5 September 1625	1669–1671	30 March 1671	Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld	Margaret Hedwig of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein 26 September 1658 three children	Left no surviving descendants. Birkenfeld passed to Bischweiler line.
Christian II		22 June 1637	1654–1671	26 April 1717	Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler	Catherine Agatha of Rappoltstein 5 September 1667 seven children	Son of Christian I, kept Bischweiler, while his brother John Charles gained Gelnhausen.Inherited Birkenfeld from his cousin Charles Otto, and annexed Bischweiler to it.
			1671–1717
Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler definitely reannexed to the Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld
Charles II (Karl II)		10 April 1651	28 August 1680 – 26 May 1685	26 May 1685	Electoral Palatinate	Wilhelmine Ernestine of Denmark 20 September 1671 Heidelberg no children	Last of Simmern line.
Philip William (Philipp Wilhelm)		24 November 1615	1653–1685	2 September 1690	Palatinate-Neuburg	Anna Catherine of Poland 8 June 1642 Warsaw no children Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt 3 September 1653 Bad Schwalbach seventeen children	When the Simmern branch of the family died out in 1685, the electorate passed to Philip William of Neuburg (also Duke of Jülich and Berg), son of Wolfgang William. He was a Catholic and a maternal nephew of Maximilian I of Bavaria.
			26 May 1685 – 2 September 1690		Electoral Palatinate
Adolph John II		21 August 1666	1689–1701	27 April 1701	Palatinate-Kleeburg	Unmarried	Left no descendants. His lands went to his brother, Gustavus.
John William (Johann Wilhelm)		19 April 1658	2 September 1690 – 8 June 1716	8 June 1716	Electoral Palatinate	Maria Anna Josepha of Austria 25 October 1678 Wiener Neustadt two children Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici 6 May 1691 Innsbruck no children	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
Charles III		24 November 1655	1693–1697	5 April 1697	Palatinate-Zweibrücken	Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark 6 May 1680 Skottorp seven children	Son of Charles Gustavus (Charles X of Sweden), assumed the restored Palatinate-Zweibrücken. Also King of Sweden, as Charles XI.
Charles IV		17 June 1682	1697–1718	30 November 1718	Palatinate-Zweibrücken	Unmarried	Son of Charles II. Also King of Sweden, as Charles XII. After his death with no descendants, Zweibrücken was inherited by Kleeburg line.
Gustavus		12 April 1670	1701–1718	17 September 1731	Palatinate-Kleeburg	Dorothea of Palatinate-Veldenz 10 July 1707 no children Louise Dorothea von Hoffmann 13 May 1723 (morganatic) no children	Inherited Zweibrücken from his cousin Charles III, and annexed Kleeburg to it. Left no descendants. His lands went to Birkenfeld line.
			1718–1731		Palatinate-Zweibrücken
Palatinate-Kleeburg was definitely reannexed to the Palatinate-Zweibrücken
Regency (1704-1711)	Left no male descendants. He was succeeded by his brother John.
Frederick Bernard			28 May 1697	1704–1739	5 August 1739	Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Gelnhausen	Ernestine Louise of Waldeck-Pyrmont 30 May 1737 Arolsen two children
Theodore Eustace		14 February 1659	1708–1732	11 July 1732	Palatinate-Sulzbach	Maria Eleonore of Hesse-Rotenburg 6 June 1692 Lobositz nine children
Charles Philip (Karl III. Philipp)		4 November 1661	8 June 1716 - 31 December 1742	31 December 1742	Electoral Palatinate	Ludwika Karolina Radziwiłł 10 August 1688 Berlin four children Teresa Lubomirska 15 December 1701 Kraków two children Violante Theresia of Thurn and Taxis 1728 (morganatic) no children	Left no descendants. The Electorate went to Sulzbach line.
Christian III		7 November 1674	1717–1731	3 February 1735	Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld	Caroline of Nassau-Saarbrücken 21 September 1719 Lorentzen four children	Inherited Zweibrücken from his cousin Gustavus, and annexed Birkenfeld to it.
			1731–1735		Palatinate-Zweibrücken
Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld definitely reannexed to Palatinate-Zweibrücken
John Christian		23 January 1700	1732–1733	20 July 1733	Palatinate-Sulzbach	Maria Henriette de La Tour d'Auvergne 15 February 1722 two children Eleonore of Hesse-Rotenburg 21 January 1731 Mannheim no children
Regency of Caroline of Nassau-Saarbrücken (1735-1740)	His children from his morganatic marriage were barred from succession. He was succeeded by his nephew.
Christian IV			6 September 1722	1735–1775	5 November 1775	Palatinate-Zweibrücken	Maria Johanna Camasse 1751 (morganatic) six children
John		24 May 1698	1739–1780	10 February 1780	Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Gelnhausen	Sophie Charlotte of Salm-Dhaun 1743 Dhaun eight children
Regency of Charles Philip, Elector Palatine (1733-1738)	The title and authority of Elector Palatine were subsumed into the Electorate of Bavaria in 1777. Charles Theodore and his heirs retaining only the single vote and precedence of the Bavarian elector, though they continued to use the title "Count Palatine of the Rhine" (German: Pfalzgraf bei Rhein, Latin: Comes Palatinus Rheni). Left no descendants, and the Electorates passed to Zweibrücken line.
Charles Theodore (Karl IV Theodor)			11 December 1724	1733-1742	16 February 1799	Palatinate-Sulzbach	Elisabeth Auguste of Palatinate-Sulzbach 17 January 1742 Mannheim one child Maria Leopoldine of Austria-Este 15 February 1795 Innsbruck no children
				31 December 1742 - 30 December 1777		Electoral Palatinate
				30 December 1777 - 16 February 1799		Electoral Palatinate and Electorate of Bavaria
Charles August		29 October 1746	1775–1795	1 April 1795	Palatinate-Zweibrücken	Maria Amalia of Saxony 12 February 1774 Dresden no children	Son of Frederick Michael, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, brother of Christian IV. Succeeded his uncle, but left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
Charles John		13/18 September 1745	1780–1789	31 March 1789	Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Gelnhausen	Unmarried	Left no male descendants. He was succeeded by his brother William.
William		10 November 1752	1789–1799	8 January 1837	Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Gelnhausen	Maria Anna of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld 30 January 1780 Mannheim three children	In 1799 his lands were annexed to Bavaria.
Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Gelnhausen definitely annexed to the Electorate of Bavaria
Maximilian Joseph (Maximilian I. Joseph)		27 May 1756	1795-1799	13 October 1825	Palatinate-Zweibrücken	Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt 30 September 1785 Darmstadt five children Caroline of Baden 9 March 1797 Karlsruhe eight children	Charles Theodore's heir, Maximilian Joseph, Duke of Zweibrücken (on the French border), brought all the Wittelsbach territories under a single rule in 1799. The Palatinate was dissolved in the Wars of the French Revolution. First, its left bank territories were occupied (and then annexed) by France starting in 1795; then, in 1803, its right bank territories were taken by the Margrave of Baden. The Rhenish Palatinate, as a distinct territory, disappeared. In 1806, the Holy Roman Empire was abolished, and all the rights and responsibilities of the electors with it.
			16 February 1799 - 27 April 1803		Electoral Palatinate and Electorate of Bavaria
			27 April 1803 - 1 January 1806		Electorate of Bavaria
Palatinate-Zweibrücken was definitely annexed to the Electorate of Bavaria
Electoral Palatinate was definitely annexed to the Electorate of Bavaria

Electors of Bavaria and counts palatine of the Rhine, 1777–1803

Zweibrücken Line
Image	Name	Began	Ended	Notes
	Maximilian I Joseph	16 February 1799	27 April 1803	Charles Theodore's heir, Maximilian Joseph, Duke of Zweibrücken (on the French border), brought all the Wittelsbach territories under a single rule in 1799. The Palatinate was dissolved in the Wars of the French Revolution. First, its left bank territories were occupied (and then annexed) by France starting in 1795; then, in 1803, its right bank territories were taken by the Margrave of Baden. The Rhenish Palatinate, as a distinct territory, disappeared. In 1806, the Holy Roman Empire was abolished, and all the rights and responsibilities of the electors with it.

Later history

Following the great restorations of 1815, the Lower Palatinate (albeit without any prince-elector role) was restored as one of eight Bavarian Districts. After World War II the American Military Government of Germany took the Lower Palatinate from Bavaria and merged it with neighbouring territories to form a new state called Rhineland-Palatinate (German: Rheinland-Pfalz) with Mainz as the state capital. The people had felt neglected by the governments in Munich for generations and later approved the merger in a plebiscite.

The present head of the House of Wittelsbach, Franz, Duke of Bavaria (born 1933), is still traditionally styled as His Royal Highness the Duke of Bavaria, Duke of Franconia and in Swabia, Count Palatine of the Rhine.

Notes and References

1. Kreins, Jean-Marie. Histoire du Luxembourg. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 2010. 5th edition, p. 16
2. Book: Kohnle, Armin. Kleine Geschichte der Kurpfalz. G. Braun Buchverlag. Karlsruhe. 2005. First. Regionalgeschichte-fundiert und kompakt. 17. Mittelalterliche Grundlagen; Pfalzgraftenamt, Territorialentwicklung und Kurwürde. 3-7650-8329-1. German.