Their area of influence extended far beyond the borders of their home in the Upper Palatinate: the Landgravate was the largest secular non-Wittelsbach realm in Bavaria in their time.
The original dynasty was first mentioned in 1146 in connection with a nobleman named Gebhard.
[1] Gebhard had three sons: Friedrich I (who died at age 9); Gebhard II whose descendants became the senior, Landgrave line; and Marquad, whose descendants formed the cadet branch.
Marquad died in action accompanying his brother on a campaign in Italy.
[2] The title of Landgrave was awarded to his son Diepold.