Land"grave` (?), n. [G. landgraf; land land + graf earl, count; cf. D. landgraaf, F. landgrave.] A German nobleman of a rank corresponding to that of an earl in England and of a count in France.

&fist; The title was first adopted by some German counts in the twelfth century, to distinguish themselves from the inferior counts under their jurisdiction. Three of them were princes of the empire.