List of Bavarian monarchs
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(October 2022) |
The following is a list of monarchs during thehistory of Bavaria.Bavariawas ruled by severaldukesandkings,partitioned and reunited, under severaldynasties.Since 1918, Bavaria has been under arepublicanform of government, and from 1949, Bavaria has been a democraticstatein the Federal Republic ofGermany.
Monarchs of Bavaria
[edit]Ducal Bavaria (also known as the "Old Stem duchy" )
[edit]Agilolfing dynasty
[edit]Around 548 the kings of theFranksplaced the border region of Bavaria under the administration of a duke—possibly Frankish or possibly chosen from amongst the local leading families—who was supposed to act as a regional governor for the Frankish king. The first duke we know of, and likely the first, was Gariwald, orGaribald I,a member of the powerfulAgilolfingfamily. This was the beginning of a series of Agilolfing dukes that was to last until 788.
Name | Image | Title | Start term | End term | Part | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Garibald I | Duke of Bavaria | 555 (c.) | 591 | Some sources call him"King of the Bavarians".[1] | ||
Tassilo I | Duke of Bavaria | 591 (c.) | 610 | Namedrex(king) at his ascension. | ||
Garibald II | Duke of Bavaria | 610 (c.) | 630 | |||
Theodo | Duke of Bavaria | 680 (c.) | 716 (?) | By the time of Theodo, who died in 716 or 717, the Bavarian duchy had achieved complete independence from the Frankish kings. Theodo's sons divided the duchy, but by 719 the rule had returned toGrimoald. | ||
Theodbert | Duke | 702 (c.) | 719 | Salzburg | Son of Theodo. | |
Theobald | Duke | 711 (c.) | 719 | Parts of Bavaria | Son of Theodo. | |
Tassilo II | Duke | 716 (c.) | 719 | Passau | Son of Theodo. | |
Grimoald | Duke | 716 (c.) | 725 | Freising | Son of Theodo, later ruling all of Bavaria. | |
Hugbert | Duke | 725 | 737 | Son of Theudbert. In 725(?),Charles Martel,ruler in fact though not in name of the Frankish realm, reasserted royal supremacy over Bavaria, defeating and killingGrimoaldand anne xing portions of Bavaria during the rule of Hugbert. | ||
Odilo | 737 | 748 | Son ofGotfrid. | |||
Grifo | 748 | 748 | Carolingian Usurper. | |||
Tassilo III | Duke of Bavaria | 748 | 788 | In 757Tassilo IIIrecognized the suzerainty of the Frankish kingsPippin IIIand did homage toCharlemagnein 781, and again in 787, while pursued an independent policy. In 788, Charlemagne had Tassilo sentenced to death on a charge of treason. Tassilo, granted pardon, entered a monastery and formally renounced his duchy atFrankfurt am Mainin 794. |
Carolingian dynastyand dominion from the Holy Roman Empire
[edit]The kings (later emperors) of the Franks now assumed complete control, placing Bavaria under the rule of non-hereditary governors and civil servants. They were not dukes but rather kings of Bavaria. EmperorLouis the Piousdivided control of the Empire among his sons, and the divisions became permanent in the decades following his death in 840. The Frankish rulers controlled Bavaria as part of their possessions.
Name | Image | Title | Start term | End term | Part | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charlemagne | Emperor | 788 | 814 | Prefects of Bavaria:Gerold(794–799) and Audulf (799–818) | ||
Louis the Pious | Emperor | 814 | 826 | In 814, Louis appointed his eldest sonLothair Ias governor of Bavaria. In 817, Louis bestowed Bavaria upon his other son, Louis the German, who took charge of the province in 826, as King of Bavaria. | ||
Louis the German | King of Bavaria | 826 | 876 | In 826, Louis started to rule as King of Bavaria, subordinate to his father, until the latter's death in 840. From 843, Bavaria was merged in Louis the German's Kingdom of East Francia. In 864, Louis the German gave control of Bavaria to his son Carloman, and died in 876. Louis' two younger sons, Louis and Charles—the latter of whom briefly recovered control of all the Frankish possessions—ruled Bavaria in succession after Carloman. | ||
Carloman | King of Bavaria | 876 | 880 | Eldest son ofLouis the German. | ||
Louis the Younger | King of Bavaria | 880 | 882 | Son ofLouis the German. | ||
Charles the Fat | King of Bavaria | 882 | 887 | Youngest son ofLouis the German.
Carloman's bastard son,Arnulf of Carinthia,rebelled against Charles and took power in eastern Francia shortly before Charles' death. | ||
Arnulf of Carinthia | King of Bavaria | 887 | 899 | Son ofCarloman. | ||
Louis the Child | King of Bavaria | 899 | 911 | Son ofArnulf of Carinthia. | ||
Engeldeo | Margrave of Bavaria | 890 | 895 | Non-dynastic. Deprived of his titlemarchio Baioariorumand replaced by Luitpold. |
Ducal Bavaria (also known as the "Younger Stem duchy" )
[edit]Ruled by an array of dukes from an array of rivaling houses, individually appointed to office.
Luitpolding dynasty, 911–947
[edit]Luitpold, founder of theLuitpoldingdynasty, was not a duke of Bavaria but amargrave of Carinthiaunder the rule of Louis the Child. Frankish power had waned in the region due to Hungarian attacks, allowing the local rulers greater independence. Luitpold's son, Arnulf, claimed the title of duke (implying full autonomy) in 911 and was recognized as such by KingHenry the Fowlerof Germany in 920.
German kings, 947–1070
[edit]From 947 until the 11th century, the kings of Germany repeatedly transferred Bavaria into different hands (including their own), never allowing any one family to establish itself. Bavaria was ruled by a series of short-lasting, mostly unrelated dynasties.
Houses of Welf and Babenberg, 1070–1180
[edit]In 1070,Emperor Henry IVdeposed Duke Otto, granting the duchy instead toWelf I,a member of the Italo-Bavarian family ofEste.Welf I subsequently quarreled with King Henry and was deprived of his duchy for nineteen years, during which it was directly administered by the German crown. Welf I recovered the duchy in 1096, and was succeeded by his sons Welf II and Henry IX—the latter was succeeded by his son Henry X, who also becameDuke of Saxony.
Name | Image | Title | Start term | End term | House | Part | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Luitpold | Margrave of Bavaria | 895 | 907 | Luitpolding | |||
Arnulf the Bad | Duke of Bavaria | 907 | 920 | Luitpolding | Son ofLuitpold.
Arnulf the Bad claimed the title of duke—implying full autonomy—in 911, and was recognized as such by KingHenry the Fowlerin 920. | ||
Eberhard | Duke of Bavaria | 937 | 938 | Luitpolding | |||
Berthold | Duke of Bavaria | 938 | 947 | Luitpolding | Younger son ofLuitpold.
The German KingOtto Ireasserted central authority, banishing Arnulf's son Eberhard and re-granting the title to Berthold, a younger son of Luitpold. | ||
Henry I | Duke of Bavaria | 947 | 955 | Ottonian | Son ofHenry the Fowler.
On Berthold's death,Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor,gave the duchy to his own brother Henry (I), who was also Arnulf the Bad's son-in-law. | ||
Henry II the Quarrelsome | Duke of Bavaria | 955 | 976 | Ottonian | Henry II made war upon his cousin,Emperor Otto II,and was deprived of his duchy in 976 in favor of his cousin Otto, Duke of Swabia (who now acquired two dukedoms). | ||
Otto I | Duke of Bavaria | 976 | 982 | Ottonian | |||
Henry III the Younger | Duke of Bavaria | 983 | 985 | Luitpolding | Bavaria was given toBerthold's son Henry III, briefly restoring the Luitpolding dynasty. Henry III exchanged Bavaria for Carinthia, and Henry II received Bavaria again. | ||
Henry II the Quarrelsome | Duke of Bavaria | 985 | 995 | Ottonian | Restored | ||
Henry IV | Duke of Bavaria | 995 | 1004 | Ottonian | Son ofHenry II the Quarrelsome.
Henry IV was elected asHoly Roman EmperorHenry II, who gave Bavaria to his brother-in-lawHenry V,Count of Luxemburgin 1004. | ||
Henry V | Duke of Bavaria | 1004 | 1009 | Luxemburg | Son ofSiegfried of Luxembourg. | ||
Henry IV | Duke of Bavaria | 1009 | 1017 | Ottonian | Henry IVreasserted direct control. | ||
Henry V | Duke of Bavaria | 1017 | 1026 | Luxemburg | Son ofSiegfried of Luxembourg.
Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor,King of Germany, gave Bavaria to his son Henry VI after the death of Henry V in 1026. | ||
Henry VI the Black | Duke of Bavaria | 1026 | 1042 | Salian | Son ofConrad II, Holy Roman Emperor.
Later Henry was elected asHoly Roman EmperorHenry III, and became King of Germany in 1039. | ||
Henry VII | Duke of Bavaria | 1042 | 1047 | Luxemburg | Son ofFrederick of Luxembourg.
In 1042,Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor,granted the duchy to Henry VII, Count of Luxemburg, nephew of Henry V. | ||
Conrad I(Kuno) | Duke of Bavaria | 1049 | 1053 | Ezzonen | Son ofLiudolf of Lotharingia.
After Henry VII's death, the dukedom was vacant for a couple of years.Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor,then gave the duchy to Kuno, Count of Zütphen, in 1049. Kuno was deposed in 1053. | ||
Henry VIII | Duke of Bavaria | 1053 | 1054 | Salian | Son ofHenry III, Holy Roman Emperor.
During his reign in Bavaria Henry VIII was a minor (born 1050). In 1056 he became King of Germany andHoly Roman Emperoras Henry IV in 1084. | ||
Conrad II | Duke of Bavaria | 1054 | 1055 | Salian | (minor, born 1052, died 1055) Son ofHenry III, Holy Roman Emperor | ||
Henry VIII | Duke of Bavaria | 1055 | 1061 | Salian | (minor: born 1050) Son ofHenry III, Holy Roman Emperor.Henry VIII became King of Germany (1056) andHenry IV, Holy Roman Emperorin 1084. | ||
Otto II | Duke of Bavaria | 1061 | 1070 | Nordheim | In 1061Empress Agnes—the 11-year-old KingHenry IV's mother and regent—entrusted the duchy to Otto of Nordheim. | ||
Welf I | Duke of Bavaria | 1070 | 1077 | Welf | Welf I subsequently quarreled withHenry IV, Holy Roman Emperorand was deprived of his duchy for nineteen years, during which it was directly administered by the German crown. | ||
Henry VIII | Duke of Bavaria | 1077 | 1096 | Salian | (minor: born 1050) Son ofHenry III, Holy Roman Emperor.Henry VIII became King of Germany (1056) andHenry IV, Holy Roman Emperorin 1084. | ||
Welf I | Duke of Bavaria | 1096 | 1101 | Welf | Welf I recovered the duchy in 1096. | ||
Welf II | Duke of Bavaria | 1101 | 1120 | Welf | Son ofWelf I | ||
Henry IXthe Black | Duke of Bavaria | 1120 | 1126 | Welf | Son ofWelf I.
Abdicated. | ||
Henry Xthe Proud | Duke of Bavaria | 1126 | 1138 | Welf | Son ofHenry IXthe Black.
In a power struggle with KingConrad III of Germany,Henry X lost his duchy to the King, who granted it to his follower LeopoldMargrave of Austria. | ||
Leopold I | Duke of Bavaria | 1139 | 1141 | Babenberg | When Leopold died,Conrad III of Germanyresumed the duchy and granted it to Leopold's brother Henry XI. | ||
Henry XIJasomirgott | Duke of Bavaria | 1143 | 1156 | Babenberg | Brother of Leopold. | ||
Henry XIIthe Lion | Duke of Bavaria | 1156 | 1180 | Welf | WhenFrederick I, Holy Roman Emperor,became king of Germany, he restored Bavaria to the Welf line in the person of Henry X's son, Henry XII the Lion, Duke of Saxony. |
Ducal and Electoral Bavaria (Hereditary dukes)
[edit]In 1180,Henry XIIthe LionandFrederick I, Holy Roman Emperor,fell out. The emperor consequently dispossessed the duke and gave his territory toOtto I Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavariaof theHouse of Wittelsbach.From now on, Bavaria remained in the possession of various branches of the family for 738 years until the end of the First World War.
First partition, 1253–1340
[edit]In 1253, on Otto II's death, Bavaria was divided between his sons. Henry became Duke of Lower Bavaria and Louis of Upper Bavaria. From this point until the beginning of the 16th century, the territories were frequently divided between brothers, making the dukes difficult to list.
InLower Bavaria,Henry XIII was succeeded by his three sons, Otto III, Louis III, and Stephen I ruling jointly. Otto III's successor in the joint dukedom was his son Henry XV. Stephen's successors were his sons Otto IV and Henry XIV. Henry XIV's son was John I.
InUpper Bavaria,Louis II was succeeded by his sons Rudolf I and Louis IV. The latter was elected King of Germany in 1314. After John I's death in 1340, Louis IV unified the Bavarian duchy.
The dukes of Upper Bavaria served also as Counts Palatinate of the Rhine. In 1329 Louis IV released the Palatinate of the Rhine including the BavarianUpper Palatinateto the sons of Rudolf I. The Upper Palatinate would be reunited with Bavaria in 1623, the Lower Palatinate in 1777.
Second partition 1349–1503
[edit]From 1349 until 1503 the second partition of Bavaria took place. In 1349, the six sons of Louis IV partitioned Bavaria into Upper and Lower Bavaria again. In 1353, Lower Bavaria was partitioned intoBavaria-LandshutandBavaria-Straubing.Upper Bavaria was partitioned between Bavaria-Straubing and Bavaria-Landshut in 1363. After the death ofStephan IIin 1392, Bavaria-Landshut was broken into three duchies,John IIgainedBavaria-Munich,Frederick, Duke of Bavaria-Landshutreceived a smaller Bavaria-Landshut, and inBavaria-IngolstadtruledStephen III, Duke of Bavaria.
Following theLandshut War(1503–1505), the Duke of Bavaria-MunichAlbert IV the Wisebecame ruler of Bavaria. In 1506 Albert decreed that the duchy should pass according to the rules ofprimogeniture.
In 1623Maximilian Iwas granted the titlePrince-elector(German:Kurfürst) of the Rhenish Palatinate.
House of Wittelsbach
[edit]Partitions of Bavaria under Wittelsbach rule
[edit]Duchy of Bavaria (1180–1253) | ||||||||
Lower Bavaria (1st creation) (1253–1340) |
Upper Bavaria (1st creation) (1253–1340) | |||||||
Duchy of Bavaria (Upper line) (1340–1349) | ||||||||
Lower Bavaria (2nd creation) (1349–1353) |
Upper Bavaria (2nd creation) (1349–1363) (divided among the other duchies) | |||||||
Landshut (1353–1503) |
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Straubing (1353–1432) (divided among the other duchies) | ||||||||
Munich (1392–1503) |
Ingolstadt (1392–1445) |
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Dachau (1467–1501) |
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Leuchtenberg (1646-1705) |
Duchy of Bavaria (Munich line) (1503–1623) Raised to: Electorate of Bavaria (1623-1806) | |||||||
Table of rulers
[edit](Note: Here the numbering of the dukes is the same for all duchies, as all were titled Dukes of Bavaria, despite the different parts of land and its particular numbering of the rulers. The dukes are numbered by the year of their succession.)
Ruler | Born | Reign | Death | Ruling part | Consort | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Otto IIIthe Redhead | 1117 | 1180–1183 | 11 July 1183 | Bavaria | Agnes of Loon 1169 eleven children |
In 1180Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperorgave Bavaria toOtto I Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavariaof theHouse of Wittelsbach. | |
Regency ofAgnes of Loon(1183-1189) | Son ofOtto III.Louis obtained thePalatinate of the Rhinein 1214. So Louis I served also as Count Palatine of the Rhine. He was assassinated 1231. | ||||||
Louis Ithe Kelheimer | 23 December 1173 | 1183–1231 | 15 September 1231 | Bavaria | Ludmilla of Bohemia 1204 one child | ||
Otto IVthe Illustrious | 7 April 1206 | 1231–1253 | 29 November 1253 | Bavaria | Agnes of the Palatinate 1222 Worms eleven children |
Otto IV served also as Count Palatine of the Rhine. On Otto IV's death, Bavaria was divided between his sons. Henry became duke of Lower Bavaria, and Louis of Upper Bavaria. From this point until the beginning of the 16th century, the territories were frequently divided between brothers. | |
Henry XIII | 19 November 1235 | 1253–1290 | 3 February 1290 | Lower Bavaria | Elizabeth of Hungary 1250 ten children |
Son ofOtto IV.After the partition of 1253, received Lower Bavaria. | |
Louis IIthe Strict | 13 April 1229 | 1253–1294 | 2 February 1294 | Upper Bavaria | Maria of Brabant 2 August 1254 (executed) no children Anna of Głogów 1260 two children Matilda of Austria 24 October 1273 four children |
Son ofOtto IV.After the partition of 1253, received Upper Bavaria. | |
Otto V | 11 February 1261 | 1290–1312 | 9 November 1312 | Lower Bavaria | Catherine of Austria January 1279 two children Anna of Głogów 18 May 1309 two children |
Sons of Henry XIII, ruled jointly. In 1305 Otto became alsoKing of HungaryandCroatia,as grandson ofBéla IV of Hungary. | |
Louis III | 9 October 1269 | 1290–1296 | 9 October 1296 | Lower Bavaria | Isabella of Lorraine 1287 no children | ||
Stephen I | 14 March 1271 | 1290–1310 | 10 December 1310 | Lower Bavaria | Judith of Świdnica-Jawor 1299 eight children | ||
Regency ofMatilda of Austria(1294-1296) | Sons of Louis II, ruled jointly. In 1317 Rudolph abdicated of his rights to his brother, who in 1328 was electedHoly Roman Emperor.louis had already been elected King of Germany in 1314. In theTreaty of Pavia (1329)Louis IV released the Palatinate of the Rhine passing the BavarianUpper Palatinateto the sons of Rudolf I. AfterJohn I the Child's death in 1340, Louis IV unified the Bavarian duchy. | ||||||
Rudolph Ithe Stammerer | 4 October 1274 | 1294–1317 | 12 August 1319 | Upper Bavaria | Matilda of Nassau 1 September 1294 Nuremberg six children | ||
Louis IVthe Bavarian | 5 April 1282 | 1294–1340 | 11 October 1347 | Upper Bavaria | Beatrice of Świdnica-Jawor 14 October 1308 six children Margaret II, Countess of Holland-Hainaut 26 February 1324 Cologne ten children | ||
1340–1347 | Bavaria | ||||||
Regency ofLouis IV, Duke of Bavaria(1312-19) | Sons of Stephen I (Henry XIV and Otto VI) and Otto V (Henry XV), ruled jointly. | ||||||
Henry XIVthe Elder | 29 September 1305 | 1312–1339 | 1 September 1339 | Lower Bavaria | Margaret of Bohemia 12 August 1328 two children | ||
Otto VI | 3 January 1307 | 1312–1334 | 14 December 1334 | Lower Bavaria | Richardis of Jülich 1330 one child | ||
Henry XVthe Natternberger | 28 August 1312 | 1312–1333 | 18 June 1333 | Lower Bavaria | Anna of Austria between 1326 and 1328 no children | ||
Regency ofLouis IV, Duke of Bavaria(1339-40) | Left no male heirs, which allowed his cousin (and brother-in-law) Louis to reunite the Bavarian lands. | ||||||
John Ithe Child | 29 November 1329 | 1339–1340 | 20 December 1340 | Lower Bavaria | Anna of Upper Bavaria 18 April 1339 Munich no children | ||
Louis Vthe Brandenburger | May 1315 | 1347–1349 | 18 September 1361 | Bavaria | Margaret of Denmark 1324 no children Margaret, Countess of Tyrol 10 February 1342 Meran four children |
The six sons of Louis IV, ruled jointly until 1349, when they divided the land: Louis V, Louis VI and Otto VII kept Upper Bavaria; William, Albert and Stephen Lower Bavaria. In 1351 Louis VI and Otto gave up their inheritance in Bavaria, in exchange of theElectoral dignity in Brandenburg.Having lost the Electorate of Brandenburg in 1373, Otto returned to Bavaria to claim new inheritance, and shared the part of Stephen II's sons (his nephews) in Landshut.
In Lower Bavaria, the three brothers divided the land again in 1353: Stephen kept Landshut, William and Albert shared Straubing, and from 1389 the two shared Straubing also with Albert I's son, Albert II. | |
1349–1361 | Upper Bavaria | ||||||
Louis VIthe Roman | 7 May 1328 | 1347–1349 | 17 May 1365 | Bavaria | Cunigunde of Poland before 1349 no children Ingeborg of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1360 no children | ||
1349–1351 | Upper Bavaria | ||||||
Otto VIIthe Lazy | 1340/42 | 1347–1349 | 15 November 1379 | Bavaria | Catherine of Bohemia 19 March 1366 no children | ||
1349–1351 | Upper Bavaria | ||||||
1375–1379 | Bavaria-Landshut | ||||||
Stephen IIthe Representative | 1319 | 1347–1349 | 13 May 1375 | Bavaria | Elisabeth of Sicily 27 June 1328 four children Margaret of Nuremberg 14 February 1359 three children | ||
1349–1353 | Lower Bavaria | ||||||
1353–1375 | Bavaria-Landshut | ||||||
William Ithe Mad | 12 May 1330 | 1347–1349 | 15 April 1389 | Bavaria | Matilda of England 1352 London no children | ||
1349–1353 | Lower Bavaria | ||||||
1353–1389 | Bavaria-Straubing | ||||||
Albert I | 25 July 1336 | 1347–1349 | 13 December 1404 | Bavaria | Margaret of Brzeg after 19 July 1353 Passau seven children Margaret of Clèves 1394 Heusden no children | ||
1349–1353 | Lower Bavaria | ||||||
1353–1404 | Bavaria-Straubing | ||||||
Albert II | 1368 | 1389–1397 | 21 January 1397 | Bavaria-Straubing | Unmarried | ||
Meinhard I | 9 February 1344 | 1361–1363 | 13 January 1363 | Upper Bavaria | Margaret of Austria 4 September 1359 Passau no children |
Left no male descendants. After his death Upper Bavaria was divided between Bavaria-Landshut and Bavaria-Straubing. | |
Definitively annexed byBavaria-Landshut(1/2) andBavaria-Straubing(1/2) | |||||||
Frederick Ithe Wise | 1339 | 1375–1393 | 4 December 1393 | Bavaria-Landshut | Anna of Neuffen 1360 one child Maddalena Visconti 2 September 1381 five children |
Ruled jointly. Shared rule, until 1379, with their uncle Otto VII. In 1392 the brothers divided the land once more. Frederick retained Landshut, Stephen kept Ingolstadt and John received Munich. | |
Stephen IIIthe Magnificent | 1337 | 1375–1392 | 26 September 1413 | Bavaria-Landshut | Taddea Visconti 13 October 1364 two children Anna of Neuffen 16 January 1401 Cologne no children | ||
1392–1413 | Bavaria-Ingolstadt | ||||||
John II | 1341 | 1375–1392 | 14 June/1 July 1397 | Bavaria-Landshut | Catherine of Gorizia 1372 three children | ||
1392–1397 | Bavaria-Munich | ||||||
Regencies ofMaddalena ViscontiandStephen III, Duke of Bavaria(1393-1401),John II, Duke of Bavaria(1393-97),Ernest, Duke of BavariaandWilliam III, Duke of Bavaria(1397-1401) | Annexed Ingolstadt in 1445. | ||||||
Henry XVIthe Rich | 1386 | 1393–1450 | 30 July 1450 | Bavaria-Landshut | Margaret of Austria 25 November 1412 Landshut six children | ||
Ernest | 1373 | 1397–1438 | 14 June/1 July 1397 | Bavaria-Munich | Elisabetta Visconti 26 January 1395 Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm four children |
Ruled jointly. | |
William III | 1375 | 1397–1435 | 12 September 1435 | Bavaria-Munich | Margaret of Cleves 1433 two children | ||
William II | 5 April 1365 | 1404–1417 | 31 May 1417 | Bavaria-Straubing | Margaret of Burgundy 12 April 1385 Cambrai one child |
Eldest son of Albert I. | |
Louis VIIthe Bearded | 1368 | 1413–1443 | 1 May 1447 | Bavaria-Ingolstadt | Anne de Bourbon-La Marche 1 October 1402 two children Catherine of Alençon 1413 two children |
Imprisoned by his son, who was allied with Henry XVI. Died in prison. | |
John IIIthe Pitiless | 1374 | 1417–1425 | 6 January 1425 | Bavaria-Straubing | Elizabeth I, Duchess of Luxembourg 11418 no children |
Son ofAlbert I.ContestedJacqueline,the heiress of the Wittelsbach possessions in theLow Countries,until his death. | |
Definitively annexed by the remaining Bavarian duchies | |||||||
Albert III | 27 March 1401 | 1438–1460 | 29 February 1460 | Bavaria-Munich | Agnes Bernauer c. 1432? (morganatic) no children Anna of Brunswick-Grubenhagen 22 January 1437 Munich ten children |
Son ofErnest. | |
Louis VIIIthe Hunchback | 1 September 1403 | 1443–1445 | 7 April 1445 | Bavaria-Ingolstadt | Unmarried | After his death Ingolstadt was annexed by Landshut. | |
Definitively annexed byBavaria-Landshut | |||||||
Louis IXthe Rich | 23 February 1417 | 1450–1479 | 18 January 1479 | Bavaria-Landshut | Amalia of Saxony 21 March 1452 Landshut four children |
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John IV | 4 October 1437 | 1460–1463 | 18 November 1463 | Bavaria-Munich | Unmarried | Son of Albert III, ruled jointly with his brothers Sigismund and Albert IV. | |
Sigismund | 26 July 1439 | 1460–1467 | 1 February 1501 | Bavaria-Munich | Unmarried | In 1467, Sigismund created a smaller duchy with its center in Dachau, but left no descendants, and this duchy was merged again in Bavaria-Munich after his death. | |
1467–1501 | Bavaria-Dachau | ||||||
Definitively annexed byBavaria-Munich | |||||||
George Ithe Rich | 15 August 1455 | 1479–1503 | 1 December 1503 | Bavaria-Landshut | Hedwig of Poland 14 November 1475 Landshut five children |
Left no male descendants at his death. His duchy was annexed to Bavaria-Munich, which reunited the Bavarian duchy. | |
Albert IVthe Wise | 15 December 1447 | 1460–1503 | 18 March 1508 | Bavaria-Munich | Kunigunde of Austria 3 January 1487 Munich seven children |
Co-ruled with his brothers John IV and Sigismund. Reunited the duchy in 1503. In 1506 Albert decreed that the duchy should pass according to the rules ofprimogeniture. | |
1503–1508 | Duchy of Bavaria | ||||||
William IVthe Steadfast | 13 November 1493 | 1508–1550 | 7 March 1550 | Duchy of Bavaria | Jakobaea of Baden 5 October 1522 Munich four children |
Sons of Albert IV, the last Bavarian pair of brothers ruling together. | |
Louis X | 18 September 1495 | 1516–1545 | 22 April 1545 | Duchy of Bavaria | Unmarried | ||
Albert Vthe Magnanimous | 29 February 1528 | 1550–1579 | 24 October 1579 | Duchy of Bavaria | Anna of Austria 4 July 1546 Regensburg seven children |
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William Vthe Pious | 29 September 1548 | 1579–1597 | 7 February 1626 | Duchy of Bavaria | Renata of Lorraine 22 February 1568 Munich ten children |
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Maximilian Ithe Great | 17 April 1573 | 1597–1651 | 27 September 1651 | Duchy of Bavaria (until 1623) Electorate of Bavaria (from 1623) |
Elisabeth of Lorraine 9 February 1595 Nancy no children Maria Anna of Austria 15 July 1635 Vienna two children |
Children ofWilliam V.Maximilian I, was an ally of EmperorFerdinand IIin theThirty Years' War.When theElector of the Palatinate,Frederick V,head of a senior branch of the Wittelsbachs, became involved in the war against the Emperor, he was stripped of his Imperial offices and thePrince-electortitle. Maximilian I was granted theElectorate of the Palatinatein 1623.
Albert VI inherited from his wife the lands of Leuchtenberg, and from 1646 reorganizes them as a new Bavarian duchy, the short-lived Duchy of Bavaria-Leuchtenberg. | |
Albert VI | 26 February 1584 | 1646-1666 | 5 July 1666 | Duchy of Bavaria-Leuchtenberg | Mechtild of Leuchtenberg (24 October 1588 – 1 June 1634) 8 December 1650 five children | ||
Regency ofAlbert VI, Duke of Bavaria(1651-1654) | Son ofMaximilian I. | ||||||
Ferdinand Maria | 31 October 1636 | 1651-1679 | 26 May 1679 | Electorate of Bavaria | Henriette Adelaide of Savoy 8 December 1650 eight children | ||
Maximilian Philip Hieronymus | 30 September 1638 | 1666-1705 | 20 March 1705 | Duchy of Bavaria-Leuchtenberg | Mauricienne Fébronie de La Tour d’Auvergne (1652-1706) 1668 Château-Thierry no children |
Son of Maximilian I, inherited his uncle Albert VI's possessions. His childless death led to the union of the Bavarian Leuchtenberg lands and the Electorate. | |
Annexed to the Electorate of Bavaria | |||||||
Regency ofMaximilian Philipp Hieronymus, Duke of Bavaria-Leuchtenberg(1679-1680) | Took part in theWar of the Spanish Successionon the side of France, againstLeopold I, Holy Roman Emperor.He was accordingly forced to flee Bavaria following theBattle of Blenheimand deprived of his Electorate on 29 April 1706. He regained his Electorate in 1714 by thePeace of Badenand ruled until 1726. | ||||||
Maximilian II Emanuel | 11 July 1662 | 1679-1726 | 26 February 1726 | Electorate of Bavaria | Maria Antonia of Austria 15 July 1685 Vienna three children Theresa Kunegunda Sobieska 15 August 1694 Warsaw (by proxy) ten children | ||
Charles Albert | 6 August 1697 | 1726-1745 | 20 January 1745 | Electorate of Bavaria | Maria Amalia of Austria 5 October 1722 Vienna seven children |
Took on theHouse of Habsburgin theWar of the Austrian Succession,again in combination with France, succeeding so far as to be electedHoly Roman Emperorin 1742 (as Charles VII). However, the Austrians occupied Bavaria (1742–1744), and the Emperor died shortly after returning to Munich. | |
Maximilian III Josephthe Beloved | 28 March 1727 | 1745-1777 | 30 December 1777 | Electorate of Bavaria | Maria Anna Sophia of Saxony 9 July 1747 no children |
As he had no children, was the last of the direct Bavarian Wittelsbach line descended fromLouis IV.He was succeeded by theElector of the Palatinate,Charles Theodore,who thereby regained their old titles for the senior Wittelsbach line—descended from Louis IV's older brotherRudolf I. | |
Charles Theodore | 11 December 1724 | 1777-1799 | 16 February 1799 | Electorate of Bavaria (merged withElectoral Palatinate) |
Elisabeth Augusta of Palatinate-Sulzbach 17 January 1742 Mannheim one child Maria Leopoldine of Austria-Este 15 February 1795 Hofburg, Innsbruck no children |
Son ofJohn Christian, Count Palatine of Sulzbachand Marie Anne Henriëtte Leopoldine de La Tour d'Auvergne. Distant cousin ofMaximilian III;Elector Palatine from 1743. Charles Theodore was also childless, and was succeeded by a distant cousin, theCount Palatine of Zweibrücken,Maximilian IV Joseph—later King Maximilian I. | |
Maximilian IV Joseph | 27 May 1756 | 1799-1806 | 6 August 1806 | Electorate of Bavaria (merged withElectoral Palatinate) |
Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt 30 September 1785 Darmstadt five children Caroline of Baden 9 March 1797 Karlsruhe eight children |
Son ofCount Palatine Frederick Michael of Zweibrücken. Distant cousin ofCharles Theodore;Count Palatine of Zweibrücken from 1795. In the chaos of the wars of theFrench Revolution,the old order of theHoly Roman Empirecollapsed. In the course of these events, Bavaria became once again the ally of France, and Maximilian IV Joseph became King Maximilian I of Bavaria—whilst remaining Prince-Elector and Arch-steward of the Holy Roman Empire until 6 August 1806, when the Holy Roman Empire was abolished. |
Kingdom of Bavaria
[edit]In 1805 under thePeace of PressburgbetweenNapoleonic Franceand theHoly Roman Empireseveral duchies were elevated to kingdoms. The Wittelsbach rulers of Bavaria held the titleKing of Bavariafrom 1806 until 1918. Theprince-electorof Bavaria, Maximilian IV Joseph formally assumed the title KingMaximilian I of Bavariaon 1 January 1806. The well-known so calledMärchenkönig(Fairy tale king)Ludwig IIconstructedNeuschwanstein Castle,Herrenchiemsee,andLinderhof Palaceduring his reign (1864–1886), threatening not only to go bankrupt in person, but also to bankrupt the country in the process. In 1918Ludwig IIIlost his throne in theGerman Revolution of 1918–1919.
Name | Image | Title | Start term | End term | House | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximilian I | King of Bavaria | 1 January 1806 | 13 October 1825 | Wittelsbach | See above. | |
Ludwig I | King of Bavaria | 13 October 1825 | 20 March 1848 | Wittelsbach | Son ofMaximilian I Joseph.
Abdicated in theRevolutions of 1848. | |
Maximilian II | King of Bavaria | 20 March 1848 | 10 March 1864 | Wittelsbach | Son ofLudwig I. | |
Ludwig II | King of Bavaria | 10 March 1864 | 13 June 1886 | Wittelsbach | Son ofMaximilian II
Ludwig II was called theMärchenkönig(Fairy tale king). He grudgingly acceded to Bavaria becoming a component of theGerman Empirein 1871, was declared insane in 1886.[2] | |
Otto | King of Bavaria | 13 June 1886 | 5 November 1913 | Wittelsbach | Brother ofLudwig IIand son ofMaximilian II.
From a mathematical, calendrical point of view, his marked the longest "reign" amongst the Kings of Bavaria. However, Otto was mentally ill since teenhood and throughout all of his later life, hence the royal functions had to be carried out by the followingprince regents:
| |
Ludwig III | King of Bavaria | 5 November 1913 | 13 November 1918 | Wittelsbach | Cousin ofOtto,son ofPrince Luitpoldand grandson ofLudwig I.
Prince regent from 1912 until 1913. Declared King of Bavaria following a controversial change of the constitution, discharging his cousin Otto from "office". Lost the throne in the German Revolution of 1918–1919 at the end ofWorld War I.Marks the end of 738 years of uninterrupted Wittelsbach rule over Bavaria. |
Post-monarchy
[edit]In 1918, at the end of theFirst World Warin the German Revolution of 1918–1919, Bavaria became ademocraticrepublic within theWeimar Republic;the name for the period of Germany from 1919 to 1933. Since then, the heads of government of Bavaria have beenministers-president.
Family tree
[edit]Note that Dukes called Louis are usually numbered from Louis the Kelheimer (r. 1189–1231), although four Dukes of Bavaria had been called Louis before that. The same applies to Dukes called Otto, who are sometimes renumbered starting with Otto III, the first Wittelsbach Duke of Bavaria. The highest number has been used in this chart to minimise confusion, with one exception: Ludwig is the German for Louis, but Kings Ludwig I, II and III are not numbered XV, XVI and XVII.
The colours denote the Dukes, Electors and Kings over the following regions of Bavaria and under the following circumstances: |
– Dukes of Bavaria – Regents and pretenders to the Bavarian throne – Dukes of Lower Bavaria – Dukes of Upper Bavaria – Dukes of Bavaria-Lanshut |
– Dukes of Bavaria-Ingolstadt – Dukes of Bavaria-Munich – Dukes of Bavaria-Munich-Dachau – Dukes of Bavaria-Straubing – Dukes of Bavaria-Straubing, disputed |
References
[edit]- ^Paul the Deacon(1907),History of the Langobards (Historia Langobardorum)Archived24 February 2008 at theWayback Machine,William Dudley Foulke, trans. (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania),III, xArchived25 September 2008 at theWayback Machine,calls him "king of the Bavarians". The mid-thirteenth-centurySeries Ducum Bavariæcalls himGaribaldus rex
- ^King, Greg (1996),The Mad King: The Life and Times of Ludwig II of Bavaria.,ISBN978-1-55972-362-6
External links
[edit]- Media related toDukes of Bavariaat Wikimedia Commons
- Media related toKings of Bavariaat Wikimedia Commons