  The Fe-Cu intersite charge transfer and Fe charge disproportionation are
interesting phenomena observed in some LnCu3Fe4O12 (Ln: Lanthanides) compounds
containing light and heavy Ln atoms, respectively. We show that a change in the
spin state is responsible for the intersite charge transfer in the light Ln
compounds. At the high spin state, such systems prefer an unusual Cu-d^8
configuration, whereas at the low spin state they retreat to the normal Cu-d^9
configuration through a charge transfer from Fe to Cu-3d_{xy} orbital. We find
that the strength of the crystal field splitting and the relative energy
ordering between Cu-3d_{xy} and Fe-3d states are the key parameters,
determining the intersite charge transfer (charge disproportionation) in light
(heavy) Ln compounds. It is further proposed that the size of Ln affects the
onsite interaction strength of Cu-3d states, leading to a strong modification
of the Cu-L_3 edge spectrum, as observed by the X-ray absorption spectroscopy.
