Rupert was the elder son of Adolf, Count Palatine of the Rhine and Countess Irmengard of Oettingen.

In 1391 he banished Jews and prostitutes from the Palatinate, confiscated their property, and bequeathed it to the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg.

In 1395 he promulgated the so-called Rupertinische Konstitution which was intended to provide for unity of the Palatinate.

[2] Among other provisions, he incorporated to his realm the former Imperial Free City Neckargemünd.

Rupert was married in 1345 to Beatrice,[1] daughter of King Peter II of Sicily.