Page "Margrave" Paragraph 2

A Markgraf ( Margrave ) originally functioned as the military governor of a Carolingian mark, a medieval border province.

The jurisdiction of a margrave upon a march () was denoted as the margraviate and as the margravate, which also described the political and the military offices of a military governor.

Because the territorial integrity of the borders of the realm of a king or of a prince was most important, the border provinces usually were geographically larger than the interior provinces, the Count appointed margrave usually exercised greater politico-military power than did the other nobles ( counts ) of the monarchy.

Being on the border, the Margrave maintained the great armed forces and fortifications required for repelling invasion, which gave him or her great political strength and independence relative to the sovereign.

Moreover, if successful in war, a Margrave usually conquered more territory that he or she might retain as personal domain ; the consequent wealth and power might allow the establishment of an independent kingdom or princedom.