User:JMvanDijk/Sandbox 9/Box 6/Box 2

"Wittelsbach" redirects here. For other uses, see Wittelsbach (disambiguation).

House of Wittelsbach
Parent house	Luitpoldings(?)
Country	Bavaria, Cologne, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Kalmar Union, Sweden, Palatinate
Founded	11th century
Founder	Otto I
Current head	Franz, Duke of Bavaria
Final ruler	Ludwig III
Titles	Holy Roman Emperor King of the Romans King of Hungary King of Denmark King of Sweden King of Norway King of Greece King of Bavaria Duke of Bavaria Elector of Bavaria Elector of the Palatinate Elector of Cologne
Deposition	13 November 1918
Cadet branches	Bavaria branch: (extinct) Bavaria-Landshut Bavaria-Straubing Bavaria-Ingolstadt Bavaria-Munich Palatinate branch: (extant) Palatinate-Simmern Palatinate-Sulzbach Palatinate-Neumarkt Palatinate-Zweibrücken Palatinate-Birkenfeld Löwenstein: (morganatic, extant) Löwenstein-Scharffeneck Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg

Coat of arms (13th to 14th century). The white-and-blue lozenges came to the family when Otto II Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavaria acquired the county of Bogen in 1240

Coat of arms (15th century), the Wittelsbach (Bogen) lozenges quartered with the lion of the Palatinate.

The House of Wittelsbach (German: Haus Wittelsbach) is a former German dynasty, with branches that have ruled over territories including the Electorate of Bavaria, the Electoral Palatinate, the Electorate of Cologne, Holland, Zeeland, Sweden (with Swedish-ruled Finland), Denmark, Norway, Hungary (with Romania), Bohemia, and Greece. Their ancestral lands of Bavaria and the Palatinate were prince-electorates, and the family had three of its members elected emperors and kings of the Holy Roman Empire. They ruled over the Kingdom of Bavaria which was created in 1805 and continued to exist until 1918.

The House of Windsor, the reigning royal house of the British monarchy, are descendants of Sophia of Hanover (1630-1714), a Wittelsbach Princess of the Palatinate by birth and Electress of Hanover by marriage, who had inherited the succession rights of the House of Stuart and passed them on to the House of Hanover.

History

When Otto I, Count of Scheyern died in 1072, his third son Otto II, Count of Scheyern acquired Wittelsbach Castle (near Aichach). The Counts of Scheyern left Scheyern Castle (constructed around 940) in 1119 for Wittelsbach Castle and the former was given to monks to establish Scheyern Abbey. The origins of the Counts of Scheyern are unclear. Some speculative theories link them to Margrave Henry of Schweinfurt and his father Berthold, whose background is also disputed. Some speculate that the Schweinfurters may be descendants of the Luitpolding dynasty, the Bavarian dukes of the 10th century.

The Wittelsbach Conrad of Scheyern-Dachau, a great-grandson of Otto I, Count of Scheyern, became Duke of Merania in 1153 and was succeeded by his son Conrad II. It was the first Duchy held by the Wittelsbach family (until 1180/82).

Otto I's eldest son Eckhard I, Count of Scheyern was father of the count palatine of Bavaria, Otto IV (died 1156), who was the first Count of Wittelsbach and whose son Otto was invested with the Duchy of Bavaria in 1180 after the fall of Henry the Lion and hence the first Bavarian ruler from the House of Wittelsbach. Duke Otto's son Louis I, Duke of Bavaria acquired the Electorate of the Palatinate in 1214.

Throughout history, members of the royal house have reigned as Dukes of Merania (1153–1180/82); Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Bavaria (1180–1918); Counts Palatine of the Rhine (1214–1803 and 1816–1918); Margraves of Brandenburg (1323–1373); Counts of Holland, Hainaut, and Zeeland (1345–1433); Elector-Archbishops of Cologne (1583–1761); Dukes of Jülich and Berg (1614–1794/1806); Kings of Sweden (1441–1448 and 1654–1720); and Dukes of Bremen-Verden (1654–1719).

The family also provided two Holy Roman Emperors (1328–1347/1742–1745), one King of the Romans (1400–1410), two Anti-Kings of Bohemia (1619–20/1742–43), one King of Hungary (1305–1308), one King of Denmark and Norway (1440–1448), and one King of Greece (1832–1862).

Bavaria and Palatinate within the Holy Roman Empire

The Wittelsbach dominions within the Holy Roman Empire (Bavaria, The Netherlands and Palatinate) 1373 are shown as      Wittelsbach, among the houses of      Luxembourg which acquired Brandenburg that year and      Habsburg which had acquired Tyrol in 1369

The Wittelsbach dynasty ruled the German territories of Bavaria from 1180 to 1918 and the Electorate of the Palatinate from 1214 until 1805. In both countries they had succeeded rulers from the House of Welf. The Duchy of Bavaria was elevated to the Electorate of Bavaria in 1623, and in 1806, Napoleon elevated it to the Kingdom of Bavaria. In 1815, the Palatinate was annexed by the Grand Duchy of Baden.

On Duke Otto II's death in 1253, his sons divided the Wittelsbach possessions between them: Henry became Duke of Lower Bavaria, and Louis II Duke of Upper Bavaria and Count Palatine of the Rhine. When Henry's branch died out in 1340 the Emperor Louis IV, a son of Duke Louis II, reunited the duchy.

The family provided two Holy Roman Emperors: Louis IV (1314–1347) and Charles VII (1742–1745), both members of the Bavarian branch of the family, and one German King with Rupert of the Palatinate (1400–1410), a member of the Palatinate branch.

The House of Wittelsbach split into these two branches in 1329: Under the Treaty of Pavia, Emperor Louis IV granted the Palatinate including the Bavarian Upper Palatinate to his brother Duke Rudolf's descendants, Rudolf II, Rupert I and Rupert II. Rudolf I in this way became the ancestor of the older (Palatinate) line of the Wittelsbach dynasty, which returned to power also in Bavaria in 1777 after the extinction of the younger (Bavarian) line, the descendants of Louis IV.

Through the efforts of Louis IV, the Wittelsbachs controlled the Duchy of Bavaria, the Electorate of the Palatine, the County of Tyrol, the Margraviate of Brandenburg, the County of Holland and Zealand and the County of Hainault. This gave them a chance to dominate the Empire as the previous imperial houses of Hohenstaufen, Salians, Ottonians and Carolingians had. However, in the next generation they were outmaneuvered in Imperial politics by the Habsburgers and the most importantly by the Luxemburgers who both held compact and large possessions in the Duchy of Austria for the former and the Kingdom of Bohemia for the latter that allowed them to expand eastward.

Bavarian branch

The Bavarian branch kept the duchy of Bavaria until its extinction in 1777.

The Electorate of Bavaria highlighted on a map of the Holy Roman Empire in 1648

The Wittelsbach Emperor Louis IV acquired Brandenburg (1323), Tyrol (1342), Holland, Zeeland and Hainaut (1345) for his House but he had also released the Upper Palatinate for the Palatinate branch of the Wittelsbach in 1329. His six sons succeeded him as Duke of Bavaria and Count of Holland and Hainaut in 1347. The Wittelsbachs lost the Tyrol with the death of duke Meinhard and the following Peace of Schärding – the Tyrol was finally renounced to the Habsburgs in 1369. In 1373 Otto, the last Wittelsbach regent of Brandenburg, released the country to the House of Luxembourg. On Duke Albert's death in 1404, he was succeeded in the Netherlands by his eldest son, William. A younger son, John III, became Bishop of Liège. However, on William's death in 1417, a war of succession broke out between John and William's daughter Jacqueline of Hainaut. This last episode of the Hook and Cod wars finally left the counties in Burgundian hands in 1433. Emperor Louis IV had reunited Bavaria in 1340 but from 1349 onwards Bavaria was split among the descendants of Louis IV, who created the branches Bavaria-Landshut, Bavaria-Straubing, Bavaria-Ingolstadt and Bavaria-Munich. With the Landshut War of Succession Bavaria was reunited in 1505 against the claim of the Palatinate branch under the Bavarian branch Bavaria-Munich.

From 1549 to 1567 the Wittelsbach owned the County of Kladsko in Bohemia.

Strictly Catholic by upbringing, the Bavarian dukes became leaders of the German Counter-Reformation. From 1583 to 1761, the Bavarian branch of the dynasty provided the Prince-electors and Archbishops of Cologne and many other Bishops of the Holy Roman Empire, namely Liège (1581–1763). Wittelsbach princes served for example as Bishops of Regensburg, Freising, Liège, Münster, Hildesheim, Paderborn and Osnabrück, and as Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order.

In 1623 under Maximilian I the Bavarian dukes were invested with the electoral dignity and the duchy became the Electorate of Bavaria. His grandson Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria served also as Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands (1692–1706) and as Duke of Luxembourg (1712–1714). His son Emperor Charles VII was also king of Bohemia (1741–1743). With the death of Charles' son Maximilian III Joseph, Elector of Bavaria the Bavarian branch died out in 1777.

Palatinate branch

The Electorate of the Palatinate (red) which lost the yellow territories in 1505, after the War of the Succession of Landshut

The Palatinate branch kept the Palatinate until 1918, having succeeded also to Bavaria in 1777. With the Golden Bull of 1356 the Counts Palatine were invested with the electoral dignity, their county became the Electorate of the Palatinate. Princes of the Palatinate branch served as Bishops of the Empire and also as Elector-Archbishops of Mainz and Elector-Archbishops of Trier.

After the death of the Wittelsbach king Rupert of Germany in 1410 the Palatinate lands began to split under numerous branches of the family such as Neumarkt, Simmern, Zweibrücken, Birkenfeld, Neuburg and Sulzbach. When the senior branch of the Palatinate branch died out in 1559, the Electorate passed to Frederick III of Simmern, a staunch Calvinist, and the Palatinate became one of the major centers of Calvinism in Europe, supporting Calvinist rebellions in both the Netherlands and France.

The Neuburg cadet branch of the Palatinate branch also held the Duchy of Jülich and Berg from 1614 onwards: When the last duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg died without direct heirs in 1609, the War of the Jülich succession broke out, ended by the 1614 Treaty of Xanten, which divided the separate duchies between Palatinate-Neuburg and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. Jülich and Berg fell to the Wittelsbach Count Palatine Wolfgang William of Neuburg.

In 1619, the Protestant Frederick V, Elector Palatine became King of Bohemia but was defeated by the Catholic Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria, a member of the Bavarian branch. As a result, the Upper Palatinate had to be ceded to the Bavarian branch in 1623. When the Thirty Years' War concluded with the Treaty of Münster (also called the Peace of Westphalia) in 1648, a new additional electorate was created for the Count Palatine of the Rhine. During their exile Frederick's sons, especially Prince Rupert of the Rhine, gained fame in England.

Heidelberg Castle, the seat of the Electors of Palatinate until destroyed by the French in March 1689.

The house of Palatinate of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg as heir to the Swedish throne ruled simultaneously the duchy of Bremen-Verden (1654–1719).

In 1685, the Simmern line died out, and the Catholic Philip William, Count Palatine of Neuburg inherited the Palatinate (and also Duke of Jülich and Berg). During the reign of Johann Wilhelm (1690–1716) the Electoral residence moved to Düsseldorf in Berg. His brother and successor Charles III Philip, Elector Palatine moved the Palatinate's capital back to Heidelberg in 1718 and then to Mannheim in 1720. To strengthen the union of all lines of the Wittelsbach dynasty Charles Philip organized a wedding on 17 January 1742 when his granddaughters were married to Charles Theodore of Palatinate-Sulzbach and to the Bavarian prince Clement. In the imperial election a few days later Charles III Philip voted for his Bavarian cousin Prince-Elector Charles Albert. After extinction of the Neuburg branch in 1742, the Palatinate was inherited by Duke Charles Theodore of the branch Palatinate-Sulzbach.

After the extinction of the Bavarian branch in 1777, a succession dispute and the brief War of the Bavarian Succession, the Palatinate-Sulzbach branch under Elector Charles Theodore succeeded also in Bavaria.

With the death of Charles Theodore in 1799 all Wittelsbach land in Bavaria and the Palatinate was reunited under Maximilian IV Joseph, a member of the branch Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld. At the time there were two surviving branches of the Wittelsbach family: Palatinate-Zweibrücken (headed by Maximilian Joseph) and Palatinate-Birkenfeld (headed by Count Palatine William). Maximilian Joseph inherited Charles Thedore's title of Elector of Bavaria, while William was compensated with the title of Duke in Bavaria. The form Duke in Bavaria was selected because in 1506 primogeniture had been established in the House of Wittelsbach resulting in there being only one Reigning Duke of Bavaria at any given time. Maximillian Joseph assumed the title of king as Maximilian I Joseph on 1 January 1806. The new king still served as a Prince-elector until the Kingdom of Bavaria left the Holy Roman Empire (1 August 1806).

Kingdom of Bavaria, 1806–1918

Royal Bavarian coat of arms

The Electorate of Bavaria (1778) and the Kingdom of Bavaria (1816)

The Bavarian Army were involved in the Austrian defeat at Hohenlinden, and Moreau once more occupied Munich. By the Treaty of Lunéville (9 February 1801), Bavaria lost the Palatinate and the duchies of Zweibrücken and Jülich. In view of the scarcely disguised ambitions and intrigues of the Austrian court, Montgelas now believed that the interests of Bavaria lay in a frank alliance with the French Republic; he succeeded in overcoming the reluctance of Maximilian Joseph; and, on 24 August, a separate treaty of peace and alliance with France was signed at Paris, which allied Bavaria with France.

The 1805 Peace of Pressburg (now Bratislava) between Emperor Napoleon of France and Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, as a consequence of the French victory over the Russians and Austrians at the Battle of Austerlitz (2 December), allowed Maximilian to raise Bavaria to the status of a kingdom. Accordingly, Maximilian proclaimed himself king on 1 January 1806. The King still served as an elector until Bavaria seceded from the Holy Roman Empire on 1 August 1806, joining the Confederation of the Rhine. The Duchy of Berg was ceded to Napoleon only in 1806.

Under Maximilian's descendants, Bavaria became the third most powerful German state, behind only Prussia and Austria. It was also far-and-away the most powerful secondary state. When the German Empire was formed in 1871, Bavaria became the new empire's second most powerful state after Prussia. The Wittelsbachs reigned as kings of Bavaria until 1918. On 12 November 1918 Ludwig III issued the Anif declaration (German: Anifer Erklärung) at Anif Palace in Austria, in which he released his soldiers and officials from their oath of loyalty to him and ended the 738-year rule of the House of Wittelsbach in Bavaria. The republican movement thereupon declared a republic.

Activities during the Nazi regime, 1933–1945

Before and during the Second World War, the Wittelsbachs were anti-Nazi. Crown Prince Rupert earned Hitler's eternal enmity by opposing the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923. The family initially left Germany for Hungary, but were eventually arrested. Family members spent time in several Nazi concentration camps including Oranienburg and Dachau.

Reign outside the Holy Roman Empire

With Duke Otto III of Lower Bavaria, who was a maternal grandson of Béla IV of Hungary and was elected anti-king of Hungary and Croatia as Bela V (1305–1308) the Wittelsbach dynasty came to power outside the Holy Roman Empire for the first time. Otto had abdicated the Hungarian throne by 1308.

Palatinate branch

United Kingdom

The Bill of Rights 1689 and the Act of Settlement 1701 excluded non-Protestants from inheriting the throne of Great Britain, making Sophia of Hanover of the House of Palatinate-Simmern the heir presumptive upon Anne's death. Sophia died two months before Anne, however, and Sophia's eldest son George I of Great Britain succeeded the throne in 1714.

The line of Jacobite succession, which recognises the right for a Catholic monarch from the House of Stuart, acknowledges Franz, Hereditary Prince of Bavaria to be the rightful heir as "Francis II". However, no individual since Henry Benedict Stuart has publicly taken up the claim.

Kingdom of Sweden

The Swedish Empire following the Treaty of Roskilde of 1658

Christopher III of the House of Palatinate-Neumarkt was king of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway in 1440/1442–1448, but left no descendants.

The House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken succeeded to the monarchy of Sweden again 1654–1720 when Queen Christina of Sweden abdicated her throne on 5 June 1654 in favour of her cousin Charles X Gustav. Under Charles X, Charles XI, Charles XII, Sweden reached its greatest power (see Swedish Empire). Charles XII was succeeded by his sister Ulrika Eleonora.

Sweden reached its largest territorial extent under the rule of Charles X after the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658. Charles's son Charles XI rebuilt the economy and refitted the army. His legacy to his son Charles XII was one of the finest arsenals in the world, a large standing army, and a large fleet. Charles XII was a skilled military leader and tactician. However, although he was also skilled as a politician, he was reluctant in making peace. While Sweden achieved several large scale military successes early on, and won the most battles, the Great Northern War eventually ended in Sweden's defeat and the end of the Swedish Empire. Charles was succeeded to the Swedish throne by his sister, Ulrika Eleonora. Her abdication in favour of her husband Frederick I in 1720 marked the end of Wittelsbach rule in Sweden.

Kingdom of Greece

The Kingdom of Greece in 1861.

Prince Otto of Bavaria was elected king of newly independent Greece in 1832 and was forced to abdicate in 1862. King Otto I of the House of Wittelsbach was made the first King of Greece in 1832 under the Treaty of Constantinople, whereby Greece became a new independent kingdom under the protection of the Great Powers (the United Kingdom, France and the Russian Empire).

Throughout his reign, Otto faced political challenges concerning Greece's financial weakness and the role of the government in the affairs of the Church. The politics of Greece of this era was based on affiliations with the three Great Powers, and Otto's ability to maintain the support of the powers was key to his remaining in power. To remain strong, Otto had to play the interests of each of the Great Powers’ Greek adherents against the others, while not aggravating the Great Powers. Otto's standing amongst Greeks suffered when Greece was blockaded by the British Royal Navy in 1850 and 1853 to stop Greece from attacking the Ottoman Empire during the Crimean War. As a result, there was an assassination attempt on his wife Queen Amalia in 1861. In 1862, Otto was deposed while in the countryside, and in 1863, the Greek National Assembly elected George I of the House of Glücksburg, aged only 17, King of the Hellenes, marking the end of Wittelsbach rule in Greece.

• 
  The Old Royal Palace in Athens, built for King Otto I by Friedrich von Gärtner, 1841
• 
  Propylaea in Munich, monument for the secundogeniture of the Wittelsbach in Greece

Bavarian branch

Joseph Ferdinand, a son of Maximilian II Emanuel, was the favored choice of England and the Netherlands to succeed as the ruler of Spain, and young Charles II of Spain chose him as his heir. Due to the unexpected death of Joseph Ferdinand in 1699 the Wittelsbach did not come to power in Spain, leaving the Spanish Succession uncertain again.

Major members of the family

Many women in the family are known as Elisabeth of Bavaria.

• 
  Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor (1314–1347)]]
• 
  Isabeau of Bavaria, Queen of France (1370–1435)
• 
  Frederick V, Elector Palatine, King of Bohemia (1596–1632)
• 
  Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria (1662–1726)
• 
  Charles XII, King of Sweden (1682–1718)
• 
  Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor (1742–1745)
• 
  Otto, King of Greece (1815–1867)
• 
  Ludwig II, King of Bavaria (1845–1886)

Patrilineal descent

Duke Franz's patriline is the line from which he is descended father to son. Patrilineal descent is the principle behind membership in royal houses, as it can be traced back through the generations.

1. Heinrich I, Count of Pegnitz, 1008–1043
2. Otto I, Count of Scheyern, 1020–1072
3. Eckhard I, Count of Scheyern, 1044-1088
4. Otto IV, Count of Wittelsbach, 1083–1156
5. Otto I, Duke of Bavaria, 1117–1183
6. Louis I, Duke of Bavaria, 1173–1231
7. Otto II Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavaria, 1206–1253
8. Louis II, Duke of Bavaria, 1229–1294
9. Rudolf I, Duke of Bavaria, 1274–1319
10. Adolf, Count Palatine of the Rhine, 1300–1327
11. Rupert II, Elector Palatine, 1325–1398
12. Rupert of Germany, 1352–1410
13. Stephen, Count Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken, 1385–1459
14. Louis I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1424–1489
15. Alexander, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1462–1514
16. Louis II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1502–1532
17. Wolfgang, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1526–1569
18. Charles I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld, 1560–1600
19. Christian I, Count Palatine of Birkenfeld-Bischweiler, 1598–1654
20. Christian II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1637–1717
21. Christian III, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1674–1735
22. Count Palatine Frederick Michael of Zweibrücken, 1724–1767
23. Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, 1756–1825
24. Ludwig I of Bavaria, 1786–1868
25. Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria, 1821–1912
26. Ludwig III of Bavaria, 1845–1921
27. Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria, 1869–1955
28. Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria, 1905–1996
29. Franz, Duke of Bavaria, b. 1933

Bavarian branch

• Louis V, Margrave of Brandenburg, Duke of Bavaria and Count of Tyrol (1323–1361)
• Albert I, Duke of Bavaria, Count of Holland and Hainaut (1347–1404)
• Isabeau de Bavière (1371–1435), queen-consort of France
• Ernest, Duke of Bavaria (1397–1438) duke of Bavaria-Munich
• Albert III, Duke of Bavaria (1438–1460) duke of Bavaria-Munich
• Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut and Holland (1417–1432)
• Albert IV, Duke of Bavaria (1465–1508)
• William IV, Duke of Bavaria (1508–1550), co-regent Louis X from 1516 to 1545
• Louis X, Duke of Bavaria (1516–1545)
• Albert V, Duke of Bavaria (1550–1579)
• Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria (1597–1651)
• Maria Anna, Dauphine of France (1660–1690)
• Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria (1662–1726)
• Duchess Violante Beatrice of Bavaria (1673–1731), Hereditary Princess of Tuscany and Governess of Siena,
• Clemens August of Bavaria (1700–1761)
• Maria Antonia of Bavaria (1724–1780)

Palatinate branch

• Frederick I, Elector Palatine (1451–1476)
• Frederick III, Elector Palatine (1559–1576)
• Frederick V, Elector Palatine (1610–1623), King of Bohemia (the "Winter King")
• Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine (1648–1680)
• Prince Rupert of the Rhine (1619–1682)
• Sophia of the Palatine (1630–1714), daughter of Frederick V, Heiress to the British throne, mother of King George I of Great Britain
• Elizabeth Charlotte, Princess Palatine (1652–1722)
• Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine (1690–1718), his wife Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici being the last scion of the House of Medici
• King Ludwig I of Bavaria (1825–1848)
• Princess Sophie of Bavaria (1805–1872), Archduchess of Austria
• Elisabeth in Bavaria (1837–1898) ("Sisi"), Empress of Austria
• Ludwig II of Bavaria (1864–1886)
• Marie Sophie (1841–1925), last queen of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
• Elisabeth of Bavaria (1876–1965), queen-consort of Albert I of Belgium
• Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein, b. 1967

Scandinavian kings

• Christopher of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, reigned 1440–1448

Royal House of Sweden

• Charles X Gustav of Sweden, reigned 1654–1660
• Charles XI of Sweden, reigned 1660–1697
• Charles XII of Sweden, reigned 1697–1718
• Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden, reigned 1718–1720

Family tree

Antecedents of the Wittelsbachs and Early Dukes of Bavaria

As noted above, the origins of the counts of Scheyern are unclear. Some rather theories (see citations) link them to margrave Henry of Schweinfurt and his father Berthold whose background is also disputed. The Schweinfurters may be descendants of the Luitpolding dynasty, the Bavarian dukes of the 10th century (see citations below).

After securing the Duchy of Bavaria, the house split into 2 parts before reuniting Bavaria under Emperor Louis IV.

House of Wittelsbach

Luitpold Founder of the Luitpoldings Margrave of Carinthia and Upper Pannonia, Count in the Nordgau ?-907 Arnulf the Bad  · Duke of Bavaria r. 907–937 ?-937 Count Henry von Schweinfurt Margrave of the Nordgau r. 994-1017 c.970–1017 or, Count Berthold of Schweinfurt ?-980 Leopold I Margrave of Ostmark r. 976-994 c. 940 – 994 Heinrich I Count of Pegnitz c. 1008 – c. 1043 House of Babenberg(de) Margraves & Dukes of Austria to 1246 Otto I Count of Scheyern Vogt of Friesling c.1020–1072 Eckhard I Count of Scheyern c. 1044–1091 Bernard I Count of Scheyern d.abt. 1102 Otto II Count of Scheyern Vogt of Friesling and Weihenstephan ?-1120 Arnold I Count of Scheyern in Dachau d. c. 1123 Udalrich I (also Ulrich) Count of Scheyern and Vogt of Freising † 1130 Otto IV Count of Scheyern Count of Wittelsbach, 1116 Count Palatine of Bavaria r. 1120-1156 c. 1083–1156 Ekkehard II 1116, Vogt von Ebersberg † after 1135 Otto III d.1130 Eckhard III d.1183 Bernard II (d. c. 1135) Conrad I Count of Scheyern-Dachau † 1130 Arnold II Count of Scheyern-Dachau † 1124 Otto I Count of Scheyern in Dachau-Valley † 1130 House of Wittelsbach Otto I the Redhead Count Palatine of Bavaria, Count of Wittelsbach & Scheyern (Otto VI) r. 1156-1180 Duke of Bavaria r. 1180-1183 1117–1183) Conrad of Wittelsbach, Cardinal Archbishop of Mainz , r. 1161–1165, 1183−1200 c.1120/1125–1200 Otto VII Count Palatine of Bavaria d.1189 Conrad I Duke of Merania r.1152–1159 d.1159 Conrad I Count of Scheyern in Dachau-Valley † 1175 Louis I the Kelheimer Duke of Bavaria r. 1183-1231 1173 -1231 Otto VIII Count Palatine of Bavaria,r.1189-1209 bef. 1180–1209 killed Philip of Swabia Conrad II Duke of Merania r.1159-–1182 d.1182 Otto II Count of Scheyern in Dachau-Valley † 1166 Conrad II Count of Scheyern in Dachau-Valley † 1200  · House of Wittelsbach Otto III Count of Scheyern in Dachau-Valley † 1268 Otto II Duke of Bavaria r. 1231-1253 (1206-1253) m.Agnes of the Palatinate,grdd of Duke Henry the Lion and Conrad of Hohenstaufen by which the Wittelsbach inherited the Palatinate Louis II Duke of Bavaria & Count Palatine of the Rhine r. 1253-1294 (1229–1294) Henry XIII Duke of (Lower) Bavaria r. 1255-1290 (1235–1290) m. Elizabeth d. Béla IV of Hungary Rudolf I the Stammerer Elector Palatine (1274–1319) Louis IV Holy Roman Emperor,1314 Duke of Upper Bavaria, 1294 (1282–1347) Otto III Duke of (Lower) Bavaria r. 1290–1312 King of Hungary r.1305–1307 (1261–1312) Louis III Duke of (Lower) Bavaria r. 1290–1296 (1269–1296) Stephen I Duke of (Lower) Bavaria r. 1290–1310 (1271–1310) House of Wittelsbach in the Palatine and Bavaria Henry XV Duke of (Lower) Bavaria r. 1312-1333 (1312–1333) Henry XIV Duke of (Lower) Bavaria r. 1310–1339 (1305–1339) Otto IV Duke of (Lower) Bavaria r. 1310–1334 (1307–1334) John I Duke of (Lower) Bavaria r. 1339–1340 (1329–1340) lower Bavaria passed to Emperor Louis IV

The Palatine/Elder Branch

After the Emperor Louis IV conquered the Palatine, the end result was that the officer and lands of Elector Palatine of the Rhine were granted to the elder line of the Wittelsbachs, stemming from Rudolf I the Stammerer. This line, several hundred years later, also inherited Bavaria on the extinction of the junior line stemming from the Emperor Louis.

House of Wittelsbach in the Palatine

House of Wittelsbach Rudolf I the Stammerer Elector Palatine (1274–1319) Louis IV Holy Roman Emperor,1314 Duke of Upper Bavaria, 1294 (1282–1347) Adolf, Count Palatine of the Rhine(1300–1327) Rudolf II, Count Palatine of the Rhine Elector Palatine (1306–1353) Rupert I, Elector Palatine Elector Palatine, 1353-1356 ((1309– 1390) Rupert II, Elector Palatine Elector Palatine (1325–1398) Rupert King of Germany (1352–1410) m. Elisabeth of Nuremberg Rupert (1375–1397) Frederick (1377–1401) Louis III Elector Palatine (1378–1436) John Count Palatine of Neumarkt (1383–1443) m. Catherine of Pomerania Stephen Count Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrucken (1385–1459) m. Anna of Veldenz Otto Count Palatine of Mosbach (1390–1461) Louis IV, Elector Palatine Elector Palatine (1424–1449) Frederick I, Elector Palatine Elector Palatine (1425–1476) Ruprect Elector and Archbishop of Cologne (1427 –1480) Christopher King of Sweden, Denmark and Norway (1416–1448) Frederick the Hunsrücker Count Palatine of Simmern (1417–1480) Rupert Bishop of Strasbourg (1420–1478) Stephen (1421–1485) Louis the Black (1424–1489) m. Johanna de Cröy John Archbishop of Magdeburg (1429–1475) Counts of Mosbach-Neumarkt Philip, Elector Palatine Elector Palatine (1448–1508) John I, Count Palatine of Simmern (1459–1509) Kaspar Count Palatine of Zweibrücken (1458–1527) Alexander the Lame (1462–1514) m. Margaret of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein Louis V Elector Palatine (1478–1544) Lutheran, 1530s Ruprecht of the Palatinate lay Bishop of Friesing (1481–1504) Frederick II the Wise Elector Palatine (1482–1556) Lutheran, 1540s John II, Count Palatine of Simmern (1492–1557) Louis the Younger (1502–1532) m. Elisabeth of Hesse Rupert Count Palatine of Veldenz (1506–1544) Otto Henry, Elector Palatine Elector Palatine (1502–1559) Lutheran, 1540s Philip, Duke of Palatinate-Neuburg (1503–1548) Frederick III the Pious Count Palatine of Simmern Elector Palatine,1559 (1515–1576) made the Palatine Calvinist Wolfgang Count Palatine of Zweibrücken (1526–1569) n. Anna of Hesse Counts of Veldenz Louis VI, Elector Palatine (1539–1583) Lutheran John Casimir Count Palatine of Lautern (1543– 1592) Calvinist general Philip Louis Count Palatine of Neuburg (1547–1614) Lutheran m.Anna of Jülich-Cleves-Berg John the Lame (1550–1604) m. Magdalene of Jülich-Cleves-Berg Otto Henry Count Palatine of Sulzbach (1556–1604) Frederick Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Vohenstrauss-Parkstein (1557–1597) Charles Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld (1560–1600) Frederick IV, Elector Palatine (1574 –1610) Calvinist Wolfgang Wilhelm, Count Palatine of Neuburg (1578–1653) Duke of Jülich & Berg, 1614 Lutheran to 1613, Catholic Augustus, Count Palatine of Sulzbach (1582–1632) Catholic John the Younger Count Palatine of Zweibrucken (1584–1635) Frederick Casimir Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Landsberg (1585–1645) John Casimir Count Palatine of Kleeburg (1589–1652) m. Catherine of Sweden George William, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld (1591–1669) Christian I, Count Palatine of Birkenfeld-Bischweiler (1598–1654) Princess Elizabeth of England, Scotland and Ireland (1596–1662) Frederick V, Elector Palatine (1596–1632), r. 1610–1623 King of Bohemia,1619-1620 Calvinist Philip William (1615–1690) C. Pal. of Neuburg: r. 1653–1690, D. Julich & Berg: r. 1653–1679, Elector Palatine: r. 1685–1690 Catholic Christian Augustus, Count Palatine of Sulzbach (1622–1708) Catholic Frederick Count Palatine of Zweibrucken & Duke of Zweibrucken (1616–1661) Frederick Louis Count Palatine of Zweibrücken (1619–1681) Charles X Gustav King of Sweden (1622–1660) m. Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp Adolf John Count Palatine of Kleeburg (1629–1689) Charles II Otto, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld (1625–1671) Christian II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld (1637–1717) John Charles, Count Palatine of Gelnhausen (1638–1704) Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine (1617–1680) r. 1648–1680 Calvinist Prince Rupert of the Rhine (1619-1682) English General and Admiral Lord High Admiral of England Duke of Cumberland Sophia (1630–1714) Her son became King George I of Great Britain in 1714. Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine, D of Julich & Berg (1658–1716) Catholic Charles III Philip, Elector Palatine, D of Julich & Berg (1661–1742) Catholic Theodore Eustace, Count Palatine of Sulzbach (1659–1732) Fredrick Louis Count Palatine of Zweibrucken& Duke of Zweibrucken (1619–1681) Charles XI King of Sweden (1655–1697) m. Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark Counts of Kleeburg, ext 1731 Duke of Zweibrucken, 1718 Christian III, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken D. of Zweibrucken (1674–1735) Frederick Bernard, Count Palatine of Gelnhausen (1697–1739) John, Count Palatine of Gelnhausen (1698–1780) Charles II, Elector Palatine (1651–1685) r. 1680–1685 Calvinist House of Hanover Kings of Great Britain John Christian, Count Palatine of Sulzbach (1700–1733) Charles XII King of Sweden (1682–1718) Ulrika Eleonora Queen of Sweden (1688–1741) m. Frederick I of Sweden Christian IV, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken D. Zweibrücken (1722–1775) Frederick Michael, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken D. Zweibrücken Imp. Field Marshal (1724–1767) Charles Theodore (1724–1799) Elector Palatine r. 1742–1777 Palatine Electorate merged with Bavarian Elector of Bavaria r. 1777–1799 Catholic Charles II August, Duke of Zweibrücken (1746–1795) Maximilian I Joseph D. Zweibrücken, 1795 El. Palatine, 1799-1806 El. Bavaria, 1799-1806 King of Bavaria, 1806 (1756-1825) William Duke in Bavaria (1752–1837) Kings of Bavaria Dukes in Bavaria

The Bavarian/Younger Branch

The Duchy of Bavaria continued in the younger line of the Wittelsbachs descended from Emperor Louis IV.

After Louis, the Duchy was split and split again, eventually settling into four parts. This diluted the power of the dukes and of Bavaria overall in the wider German polity. It also led to wars between the rival dukes. However, it did encourage the growth of representative institutions and civic spirit. The government of the country and the control of the finances passed mainly into the hands of an assembly called the Landtag or Landschaft, organized in 1392. The towns, assuming a certain independence, became strong and wealthy as trade increased, and the citizens of Munich and Regensburg often proved formidable antagonists to the dukes. The duchy was finally re-united in 1506 under duke Albert, as the other lines died out.

Bavaria-Munich (green) with Bavaria-Landshut (orange), Bavaria-Ingolstadt (brown) and Bavaria-Straubing (grey)

The duchy played an important part in the religious conflicts in Germany culminating in the Thirty Years' War. The duchy was also raised to an electorate, first in place of the Palatinate, then in addition to it.

The younger Wittelsbachs died out in 1777, leading to the short War of the Bavarian Succession and the inheritance of the duchy and electorate in accordance with the Treaty of Pavia (1329). The two electorates of the Palatinate and Bavaria were then collapsed into one.

House of Wittelsbach in Bavaria

The colours denote the Dukes, Counts and Electors over the following regions of Bavaria and under the following circumstances:   – Holy Roman Emperor  Name of Duke  – Dukes of Bavaria (united)  Name of Elector  – Elector and Duke of Bavaria, ArchSenechal of the Empire (1623–1777)  Name of Elector  – Elector Palatine of the Rhine  Name of Count  – Count of Holland, Zealand, and Hainaut, Duke of Bavaria in Bavaria-Straubing (Lower Bavaria)  Name of Count  – Count of Holland, Zealand, and Hainaut, Duke of Bavaria-Straubing (Lower Bavaria) -- disputed  Name of Margrave  – Margrave of Brandenburg (Elector by Emperor Charles IV with Golden Bull of 1356)  Name of Archbishop/Cardinal and Elector  – Prince-Elector and Archbishop of Cologne/Cardinal  Name of Duke  – Dukes of Bavaria in Upper Bavaria (Oberbayern)  Name of Duke  – Dukes of Bavaria in Lower Bavaria (Niederbayern)  Name of Duke  – Dukes of Bavaria in Bavaria-Landshut (Lower Bavaria)  Name of Duke  – Dukes of Bavaria in Bavaria-Ingolstadt (Upper Bavaria)  Name of Duke  – Dukes of Bavaria in Bavaria-Munich (Upper Bavaria)  Name of Duke  – Dukes of Bavaria-Munich-Dachau (Upper Bavaria)  Name of Duke  – Duke in Bavaria, used since 1506, when primogeniture was established in Bavaria, by all other members of the house of Wittelsbach House of Wittelsbach Rudolf I the Stammerer Elector Palatine (1274–1319) Louis IV Holy Roman Emperor,1314 Duke of Upper Bavaria, 1294 (1282–1347) Louis V the Brandenburger Margrave of Brandenburg r. 1323–1351 Duke of (Upper) Bavaria r. 1347–1361 (1319–1375) Stephen II Duke of Bavaria-Landshut r. 1349–1363Duke of (Upper)Bavaria r. 1363–1375 (1319–1375) Louis VI the Roman Duke of (Upper)Bavaria|Duke of (Upper) Bavaria r. 1347–1365 El. Margrave of Brandenburg r. 1356–1365 raised to El. 1356 (1328–1365) William I Duke of (Lower) Bavaria r. 1349–1353 Duke of Bavaria(-Straubing) r. 1353–1398 Count of Holland, Zealand, and Hainaut r. 1345–1389 (1330–1389) Albrecht I Duke of (Lower) Bavaria r. 1349–1353 Duke of Bavaria(-Straubing) r. 1353–1404 Count of Holland, Zealand, and Hainaut r. 1389–1404 (1336–1404) Otto V the Bavarian Duke of (Upper)Bavaria|Duke of (Upper) Bavaria r. 1349–1351 El. Margrave of Brandenburg r. 1351–1373 raised to El. 1356, dep. 1373 by Emp. Charles IV for his son Wenceslaus (1340–1379) Meinhard III Count of Tyrol r. 1361–1363Duke of (Upper)Bavaria r. 1361–1363 (1344–1363) Stephen III of Ingolstadt Duke of Bavaria-Ingolstadt r. 1375–1413 (1337–1413) Frederick of Landshut Duke of Bavaria-Landshut r. 1375–1393 (1339–1393) John II of Munich Duke of Bavaria-Munich r. 1375–1397 (1341–1397) William II Duke of Bavaria(-Straubing) r. 1404–1417 Count of Holland, Zealand, and Hainaut r. 1404–1417 (1365–1417) Albrecht II Duke of Bavaria(-Straubing), admin for Will. II r. 1389–1397 (1368–1397) John III the Pitiless Prince Bp. of Liege, resigned r. 1374–1425 Count of Holland, Zealand, de facto r. 1420–1425 Duke of Bavaria(-Straubing)r. 1417–1425 Duke of Luxembourg w/ wife Eliz.of Gorlitzr. 1418–1425 (1374–1425) Louis VII Duke of Bavaria-Ingolstadt r. 1413–1443 (1368–1447) Henry XVI Duke of Bavaria-Landshut r. 1393–1450 Ingolstadt (merged), r. 1447–1450 (1386–1450) Ernest Duke of Bavaria-Munich r. 1397–1438 absorbed Straubing, 1429 (1373–1438) William III co-Duke of Bavaria-Munich r. 1397–1438 (1375–1435) Jacqueline Count of Holland, Zealand, and Hainaut Holl & Zea. r. 1417–1420, r. 1425–1432, Hain r. 1417–1432 (1401–1436) Louis VIII Duke of Bavaria-Ingolstadt r. 1443–1445 (1403–1445) Louis IX Duke of Bavaria-Landshut & Ingolstadt r. 1450–1479 (1417–1479) Albrecht III the Pious Duke of Bavaria-Munich & Straubing r. 1438–1460 (1401–1460) John IV of Munich Duke of Bavaria-Munich & Straubing r. 1460–1463 (1437–1463 of plague) Sigismund of Dachau co-Duke of Bavaria-Munich & Straubing r. 1460–1467 Duke of Bavaria-Munich-Dachau, r. 1467–1501 (1439–1501) Albrect IV, the Wise Duke of Bavaria-Munich & Straubing r. 1467–1508, Landshut, r. 1503–1508, & Ingolstadt (1447–1508) Male-Primogeniture est. 1506 Christopher (1449–1493, Rhodes) Wolfgang (1451–1514), a canon in Passau, Augsburg and Köln William IV Duke of Bavaria-Munich & Straubing, & Ingolstadt r. 1508–1550 (1493 –1550) Louis X of Landshut Duke of Bavaria-Landshut r. 1516–1545 (1495–1545) Ernest Administrator of Diocese of Passau, r. 1516–1540 Administrator of Diocese of Salzburg, r. 1540–1554 (1500–1560) Albrecht V Duke of Bavaria r. 1550–1579 (1528–1579) United Bavaria William V Duke of Bavaria r. 1579–1597 (1548–1626) Ferdinand Duke in Bavaria, general (1550–1608) Ernest Duke in Bavaria Elector and Abp. of Cologne, r. 1583–1612, & Pr. Bishop of Liege, (1581) & Hildesheim (1573), Freising, r. 1566–1612 (1554–1612) Maximilian I the Great Duke of Bavaria r. 1597–1651 Elector & Arch-Seneschal (repl. Palatine, conf. 1648) r. 1623–1648 Elector of Bavaria & Arch-Seneschal r. 1648–1651 (1573–1651) Philip Duke in Bavaria Bp. of Regensburg r. 1579–1598 Cardinal, 1596 (1576–1598) Ferdinand Duke in Bavaria Elector and Abp. of Cologne & etc., r. 1612–1650 (1577–1650) Albrecht VI Duke in Bavaria Landgrave of Leuchtenberg to 1650, Reichsgraf of Haag in Oberbayern Regent of Bavaria, r. 1651–1654 (1584–1666) Ferdinand Elector and Duke of Bavaria r. 1651–1679 (1636–1679) Maximilian Duke in Bavaria Landgrave of Leuchtenberg Prince Administrator (Kuradministrator) of Bavaria r. 1679–1680 (1638–1705) Maxmilian Henry Duke in Bavaria Elector and Abp. of Cologne & etc., r. 1650–1688 {1621- 1688) Sigmund Albrecht Duke in Bavaria Bishop of Freising and Regensburg, 1668 (1623–1685) Maria Antonia of Austria eldest d. & only surviving child of Emp.Leopold I & Margaret Theresa of Spain. heir to the Spanish throne (1669–1692) Maximilian II Emanuel Elector and Duke of Bavaria r. 1679–1726 Governor of Spanish Netherlands r. 1692–1706 (1662–1726) Joseph Clemens, Duke in Bavaria Elector and Abp. of Cologne & etc., r. 1688–1723 (1671- 1723) Joseph Ferdinand Duke in Bavaria heir of Spain (1692–1699) Charles VII Elector and Duke of Bavaria r. 1726–1745 King of Bohemia r. 1741–1743 Holy Roman Emperor r. 1742–1745 (1697–1745) Philipp Moritz Maria Duke in Bavaria elected bishop of Paderborn and Münster (1698–1719) Ferdinand Maria Innocenz Duke in Bavaria Imperial General (1699–1738) Clemens Augustus Duke in Bavaria Elector and Abp. of Cologne & etc., r. 1723–1761 (1700–1761) Johann Theodore Duke in Bavaria Prince-Bishop of Regensburg, Prince-Bishop of Freising, and the Prince-Bishop of Liège Cardinal (1703–1763) Maximilian III Joseph Elector and Duke of Bavaria r. 1745–1777 (1727–1777) by the Treaty of Pavia (1329), Bavaria was inherited by the elder branch of the Palatine Clemens Franics Duke in Bavaria Crown Prince of Bavaria (1722–1770)

The Royal House of the Kingdom of Bavaria

As we saw above, the 1805 Peace of Pressburg (today Bratislava) imposed by the Emperor Napoleon on the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, as a consequence of the French victory over the Russians and Austrians at the Battle of Austerlitz (2 December). This allowed Maximilian to raise Bavaria to the status of a kingdom. Accordingly, Maximilian proclaimed himself king on 1 January 1806.

Royal House of Bavaria/Wittelsbach

The colors denote the Kings, Prince, Dukes in Bavaria during the kingdom of Bavaria. All the male and female descendants were "Princes of Bavaria" and "Princesses of Bavaria" even the younger line of the "Dukes in Bavaria".  Name of King  - King of Bavaria  Name of Duke  - Duke in Bavaria  Name of Prince  – Head of Royal House 2. Caroline of Baden 1776–1841 Maximilian I/IV Joseph D. Zweibrücken, 1795 El. Palatine & Bavaria, 1799-1806 King of Bavaria,r. 1806–1825 (1756-1825) 1. Princess Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt 1765–1796 William Duke in Bavaria (1752–1837) Countess Palatine Maria Anna of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld sister of King Max I of Bavaria Fr Wm IV of Prussia 1795–1861 Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria 1801–1873 Ludwig I King of Bavaria r. 1825–1848 (1786––1868 ) Theresa of Saxe- Hildburghausen 1792–1854 Karl Theodor Fld Mar. & Insp. Gen. (1795–1875) Pius D. in Bavaria (1786-1837) Maximilian II/V King of Bavaria r. 1848–1864 (1811––1864) Marie of Prussia 1825–1889 Otto King of Greece r. 1832–1862 (1815–1867) Luitpold Prinz Regent r. 1886–1912 (1821–1912) Augusta Ferdinande of Austria 1825–1864 Adalbert P. of Bavaria (1828–1875)m. Inf. Amalia, s. K.-Cnsrt Francis of Spain Maximilian Joseph Duke in Bavaria (1808–1888) Ludwig II King of Bavaria r. 1864–1886 "the Swan King" or "der Märchenkönig" (1845-1886) Otto I (VIII) King of Bavaria r. 1886–1913 deposed (1848–1916) Ludwig III Prince Regent, r. 1912–1913 King of Bavariar. 1913–1918 abd. in pretence 1918–1921 (1845–1921) Maria Theresa of Austria-Este 1849–1919 Leopold, Fld. Mar. (1846–1930) Arnulf (1852–1907) Louis Ferdinand (1859–1949)m. Infanta María de la Paz of Spain Alphonso (1862–1933) Louis William, Gen. Cavalry Duke in Bavaria (1831–1920) Charles Theodore, Ophthalmologist Duke in Bavaria (1839–1909) Maximilian, 2nd Lt. Duke in Bavaria (1849–1893) 'Rupert (1869–1955) in pretence 1921–1955 Marie Gabrielle of Bavaria, d. Charles Theordore (1876–1912) Charles (1874–1927) Francis, Gen. (1875–1957) George, Col. Priest, 1921, Mnsgr. (1880–1943) Conrad, Maj. (1883–1969) Henry, Maj. (1884–1916),k. in action WWI Ferdinand (1884–1958) m. Inf. Maria Teresa of Spain Adalbert (1886–1970) Joseph Clemens (1902–1990) Luis William, Lt. (1884–1968) Siegfried (1876–1952) Christoph, Maj. (1879-1963) Luitpold (1890-1973) Luitpold Hereditary Prince of Bavaria (1901–1914) Albert VI "Duke of Bavaria" 1905–1996 in pretence 1955–1996 Maria Draskovich of Trakostjan 1904–1969 Henry (1922–1958) Louis (1913–2008) Rasso (1926–2011) Eugen (1925–1997) Princes of Spain Franz "Duke of Bavaria" 1933– in pretence (1996–) Maximilian Emmanuel Duke in Bavaria (1937-) Luitpold (1951-) Father Florian born Francis Joseph (1957–2022) Wolfgang (1960-) Christopher (1962-)

Complete Genealogy of the Wittelsbach Dynasty

Living Legitimate Members of the Wittlesbach

Numbers shown indicate the pretense to the kingship of Bavaria:

• Ludwig I of Bavaria (1786–1868)
  • Luitpold (1821–1912)
    • Ludwig III of Bavaria 1845–1921
      • Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria (1869–1955)
        • Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria (1905–1996)
          • (1) Franz, Duke of Bavaria (1933)
          • (2) Max, Duke in Bavaria (1937)
      • Franz, Prince of Bavaria (1875–1957)
        • Ludwig, Prince of Bavaria (1913–2008)
          • (3) Luitpold, Prince of Bavaria (b. 1951)
            • (4) Ludwig Heinrich, Prince (born 14 June 1982) m. Sophie-Alexandra Evekink
            • (5) Heinrich Rudolf, Prince (born 23 January 1986)
              • (6) Maximilian, Prince (born 2021)
            • (7) Karl Rupprecht, Prince (born 10 March 1987)
        • Rasso Maximilian Rupprecht, Prince of Bavaria (1926-2011)
          • (8) Wolfgang Rupprecht Maria Theodor of Bavaria (born 1960)
            • (9) Tassilo, Prince (born 1992)
            • (10) Richard, Prince (born 1993)
            • (11) Philip. Prince (born 1996)
          • (12) Christoph Ludwig Maria of Bavaria (born 1962)
            • (13) Corbinian, Prince (born 1996)
            • (14) Stanislaus, Prince (born 1997)
            • (15) Marcello. Prince (born 1998)
  • Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (1828–1875)
    • Ludwig Ferdinand, Prince of Bavaria (1859–1949)
      • Adalbert, Prince of Bavaria (1886–1970)
        • Konstantin, Prince of Bavaria (1920–1969)
          • (16) Leopold, Prince of Bavaria (born 1943), potential Wittlesbach pretender to the throne of Greece due to Ludwig III's renunciation of the Greek throne for him and his descendants.
            • (17) Manuel, Prince (born 1972)
              • (18) Leopold, Prince (born 2007)
              • (19) Gabriel, Prince (born 2010)
              • (20) Joseph, Prince (born 2019)
            • (21) Konstantin, Prince (born 1986)
              • (22) Alexis, Prince (born 2020)
          • (23) Adalbert, Prince (born 1944)
            • (24) Hubertus, Prince of Bavaria (born 1989)

Gallery of the Bavarian Kings

• 
  Max I. Joseph (1806–1825)
• 
  Ludwig I. (1825–1848)
• 
  Maximilian II. (1848–1864)
• 
  Ludwig II. (1864–1886)
• 
  Prinzregent Luitpold (1886–1912)
• 
  Ludwig III. (1913–1918)

Castles and palaces

Bavaria

Some of the most important Bavarian castles and palaces that were built by Wittelsbach rulers, or served as seats of ruling branch lines, are the following:

• 
  The Old Court in Munich
• 
  Munich Residenz by Michael Wening
• 
  Nymphenburg Palace in Munich
• 
  Schleissheim Palace in Munich
• 
  Trausnitz Castle in Landshut
• 
  Ingolstadt Castle
• 
  Straubing Castle
• 
  Burghausen Castle
• 
  Hohenschwangau Castle
• 
  Linderhof Palace
• 
  Herrenchiemsee Palace
• 
  Neuschwanstein Castle

Palatinate branch

Some of the most important castles and palaces of the Palatinate Wittelsbach were:

• 
  Heidelberg Castle 1670
• 
  Mannheim Palace
• 
  Schwetzingen Castle
• 
  Neuburg Castle (Bavaria)
• 
  Düsseldorf Castle
• 
  Benrath Mansion in Düsseldorf
• 
  Bensberg Castle
• 
  Zweibrücken Castle
• 
  Birkenfeld Castle 1645
• 
  Sulzbach Castle
• 
  Neumarkt Castle
• 
  Simmern Castle 1648

Electorate of Cologne

From 1597 to 1794, Bonn was the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and residence of the Archbishops and Prince-electors of Cologne, most of them belonging to the Bavarian branch of the House of Wittelsbach (continuously from 1583 to 1761).

• 
  Electoral Palace, Bonn
• 
  Poppelsdorf Palace, Bonn
• 
  Augustusburg Palace, Brühl

Coats of arms

A full armorial of the Wittelsbach family can be found on the French-language Wikipedia at Armorial of the House of Wittelsbach.

Origins

Armoiries	Écu	Nom et blasonnement
		House of Scheyern De gueules, à fasce vivrée d'argent. Cimier: un chapeau piramidal aux armes de l'ècu, retrousseré d'argent, sommé d'une plume d'autruche de même. (azure, a golden fess dancetty)
		House of Wittelsbach The "strikingly simple and beautiful" arms of Wittelsbach were taken from the arms of the counts of Bogen, who became extinct in 1242. When Louis I married Ludmilla, the widow of Albert III, Count of Bogen, he adopted the coat of arms of the counts of Bogen together with their land, along the Danube between Regensburg and Deggendorf. The first members of the family to use the arms were that Louis I/Ludwig and Heinrich, who were the sons of first Wittelsbach Duke of Bavaria, Otto I. They used the arms in their seals around 1240. The arms have ever since been the arms of the family. The number of lozenges varied; from the 15th century 21 were used, increasing to 42 when Bavaria became a kingdom in 1806. Fuselé en bande d'azur et d'argent.
		Count Palatine of the Rhine from 1215. de sable, au lion d'or, armé, lampassé et couronné de gueules et en 2 et 3 fuselé en bande d'azur et d'argent. The Count Palatine was also an Electoral Prince of the Empire, with the title of arch-seneschal of the Empire, as symbolized by : gueules à l'orbe d'or cerclée de même.

Grand Offices of the Prince Electors of the House of Wittelsbach (Erzämter)

Each of the prince electors carried one of the grand offices of the Empire. Each office was indicated by a heraldic mark; the ones that the House of Wittelsbach carried are shown below.

Office and titles	Mark of office	Holder	Blazon (of mark of office)
Arch-Senechal (Arch-Steward) of the Empire (Count Palatine of the Rhine from 1329 to 1623 and 1706 to 1714, plus Dukes of Bavaria from 1623 to 1706 and after 1714)			De gueules à l'orbe d'or.
Arch-treasurer of the Empire (Count Palatine of the Rhine from 1652 to 1706 and from 1714 to 1777, plus House of Hanover from 1710 to 1714 and after 1777)			De gueules à la couronne de Charlemagne d'or.

Palatinate branch (senior line), issue of Rudolph I of the Palatinate and Bavaria

In the German fashion, all the sons were "Count Palatine of the Rhine" (German: Pfalzgraf bei Rhein). There was only one Elector Palatine of the Rhine (German: Kurfürst von der Pfalz). Similarly, all the sons were Dukes of Bavaria (German: Herzog von Bayern), until 1506. Then, Duke in Bavaria (German: Herzog in Bayern) was the title used by all members of the House of Wittelsbach with the exception of the Duke of Bavaria. This became a unique position given to the eldest descendant of the younger branch of the Wittelsbachs, who inherited the rule of the entire duchy of Bavaria. For example, so reads the full title of the late 16th century's Charles I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld and patriarch of the House of Palatinate-Birkenfeld: "Count Palatine by Rhine, Duke in Bavaria, Count at Veldenz and Sponheim" (Pfalzgraf bei Rhein, Herzog in Bayern, Graf zu Veldenz und Sponheim).

Figure	Name of armiger and blazon
	Electoral Palatinate, County Palatine of the Rhine from 1215 to 1623. Quarterly 1 and 4 sable, a lion or, armed, langued and crowned gules, 2 and 3 fusilly bendwise azure and argent. Heraldic augmentation for the Count Palatine of the Rhine, a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire: Quarterly 1 and 4 sable, a lion or, armed, langued and crowned gules, 2 and 3 fusilly bendwise azure and argent, overall gules, an orb or encircled of the same.
	Electoral Palatinate, County Palatine of the Rhine from 1215 to 1623. Coat of arms (15th century), the Wittelsbach (Bogen) lozenges quartered with the lion of the Palatinate.
	Rupert of Germany (1352 † 1410), king of the Romans from 1400 to 1410. Or, an eagle sable, membered, beaked and langued gules; overall quarterly 1 and 4 sable, a lion or, armed, langued and crowned gules, 2 and 3 fusilly bendwise azure and argent.
	Christopher of Bavaria (1416 † 1448), king of Denmark, Norway and Sweden Quarterly a cross paty argent, fimbriated gules, cantonned 1 and 4, azure three bars wavy argent, overall a lion crowned or, which is Sweden ancien, 2 and 3 fusilly bendwise argent and azure, which is Bavaria. Overall quarterly 1 or, nine hearts gules in three pallets, three lions passant guardant azure in pale, armed and langued gules, crowned of the field, brochant sur-le-tout, which is Denmark, 2 azure, three crowns or, which is Sweden moderne, 3 gules, a lion crowned or, holding in his paws a battle-axe argent, the handle of the second, which is Norway ancien and 4 gules, a dragon or, which is for the Kingdom of the Vandals
	Stephen, Count Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken (1385 † 1459), Count Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken Quarterly 1 and 4 sable, a lion or, armed, langued and crowned gules (Palatinate), 2 and 3 fusilly bendwise azure and argent (Bavaria), overall an inescutcheon Chequy or and azure (Simmern)
	Counts Palatine of Veldenz Quarterly 1 and 4 sable, a lion or, armed, langued and crowned gules (Palatinate), 2 and 3 fusilly bendwise azure and argent (Bavaria), overall an inescutcheon d'argent a lion d'azur, with a couronné d'or
	Counts of Palatinate–Birkenfeld (1584–1717) Quarterly 1 sable, a lion or, armed, langued and crowned gules (Palatinate), 2 fusilly bendwise azure and argent (Bavaria), 3 a lion azure crowned or (Veldenz), 4 Chequy gules and azure (Birkenfeld).
	Frederick V, Elector Palatine (1596 † 1632), elector palatine from 1610 to 1623 and king of Bohemia from 1619 to 1620. Quarterly of six, three rows of two, 1 gules, a lion argent, queue fourchée in saltire, crowned, armed and langued or (Bohemia), 2 azure, an eagle chequy of argent and gules, beaked, langued, membered and crowned or (Moravia), 3 or, an eagle sable, armed, beaked and langued gules, on its heart a crescent below a cross argent (Silesia), 4 barry of six argent and azure, a lion gules, queue fourchée in saltire, armed, langued and crowned or (Luxembourg), 5 per fess embattled azure and or (Upper Lusace), 6 argent, a bull gules issuant from a terrace vert (Lower Lusace). Overall per pale sable, a lion or, armed, langued and crowned gules (Palatinate) and fusilly bendwise azure and argent (Bavaria); grafted in point gules, an orb or, which is the heraldic augmentation for the archsteward of the Holy Roman Empire.
	Counts Palatine of the Rhine from 1648 to 1688. Quarterly 1 and 4 sable, a lion or, armed, langued and crowned gules (Palatinate), 2 and 3 fusilly bendwise azure and argent (Bavaria), overall gules, a crown of Charlemagne or, which is the heraldic augmentation for the archtreasurer of the Holy Roman Empire.
	Counts palatine of Neuburg from 1574 to 1688. Counts palatine of Sulzbach from 1688 to 1795. Quarterly of eight, two rows of four, 1 fusilly bendwise azure and argent (Bavaria), 2 or, a lion sable, armed and langued gules (Juliers), 3 gules, an escutcheon argent surmounted by an escarbuncle with rays or (Cleves), 4 argent, a lion gules, queue fourchée in saltire, armed, langued and crowned or (Berg), 5 argent, a lion azure armed, langued and crowned or (Veldenz), 6 or, a fess chequy argent and gules of three rows (de la Marck), 7 argent, three chevrons gules (Ravensberg), 8 argent, a fess sable. Overall, a lion or, armed, langued and crowned gules (County palatine of the Rhine).
	Electors palatine of Neuburg from 1688 to 1742. Per pale, I quarterly 1 sable, a lion or, armed, langued and crowned gules (county palatine of the Rhine), 2 fusilly bendwise azure and argent (Bavaria), 3 argent, a lion azure armed, langued and crowned or (Veldenz), 4 or, a fess chequy of three rows argent and gules (de la Marck), II per fess, the chief tierced in pale, the base per pale: 1, or, a lion sable, armed and langued gules (Juliers), 2 gules, an escutcheon argent, surmounted by an escarbuncle with rays or (Cleves), 3 argent, a lion gules, queue fourchée in saltire, armed, langued and crowned or (Berg); 4 argent, three chevrons gules (Ravensberg), 5 argent, a fess sable. Overall gules, a crown of Charlemagne or (Arch-treasurer of the Holy Roman Empire).
	Counts palatine of Zweibrücken from 1569 to 1675 Palatine Zweibrücken Per pale, I quarterly 1 and 4 sable, a lion or, armed, langued and crowned gules (county palatine of the Rhine), 2 and 3 fusilly bendwise, azure and argent (Bavaria); overall argent, a lion azure armed, langued and crowned or (Veldenz); II quarterly of six, two rows of three, 1 or, a lion sable, armed and langued gules (Juliers), 2 gules, an escutcheon argent, surmounted by an escarbuncle with rays or (Cleves), 3 argent, a lion gules, queue fourchée in saltire, armed, langued and crowned or (Berg), 4 or, a fess chequy of three rows, argent and gules (de la Marck), 5 argent, three chevrons gules (Ravensberg), 6 argent, a fess sable.
	Electorate of Bavaria under Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria, 1777–1799 1. duchy of Cleve, 2. duchy of Jülich, 3. duchy of Berg, 4. principality of Moers, 5. heart, 6. markgraviat of Bergen op Zoom, 7. county of Mark, 8a. county of Veldenz, 8b. county of Sponheim, 9. county of Ravensberg, heart: duchy of Bavaria and Palatinate, electorate.
	Electorate of Bavaria under Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, 1799–1804 Grand quarters 1: Or a lion Sable with a forked tail in saltire armed and langued Gules, crowned Or (which is from Juliers) in 2, Argent a lion Gules, a forked tail in saltire, armed, langued and crowned Azure (which is of Berg), in 3, Gules, an escutcheon Argent, carbuncle rays Or, debruising over all (which is of Cleves) , in 4, Or a fess Sable (which of the County of Sponheim), in 5, checky Argent and Gules of three tires (which is of Birkenfeld), in 6 Gules, three mountain Vert charged of three silver crosses in saltire (which is from Bergen op Zoom), in 7, Argent with a lion Azure crowned Or (which is from the County of Veldenz, in 8, Or, a fess checkered argent and gules of three tires (which is from la Marck), in 9, argent, three coats of arms gules (2 and 1) (which is from Ribeaupierre), in 10, argent, three chevrons gules (which is from Ravensberg), in 11, argent three-headed eagle sable crowned or 2 and 1 (which is from the Principality of Waldeck-Pyrmont, over all, quarterly in 1 and 4 Sable, a lion Or, armed and langued and crowned Gules (which is of the County Palatine of the Rhine) and 2 and 3 tapering in bend Azure and Argent (which is of Bavaria), on the all from gules to orb d'or.;.;
	Electorate of Bavaria under Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, 1804–1806 Per pale in 1: Azure, to the penon quarterly Argent and Gules, the shaft Or and Argent and Gules of three pieces (which is of the Bishopric of Würzburg), in 2, Argent a lion Gules, the forked tail in saltire, armed, langued and crowned Azure (which is of Berg), in 3, Gules, an escutcheon Argent, carbuncle rays Or, debruising over the whole (which is of Cleves), in 4, Or a lion Sable armed and langued Gules a stick Argent debruising over the whole (which is of the Archdiocese of Bamberg), in 5, parti gules and argent (which is of the abbey of Augsburg, in 6, per fess gules and azure on the head of a princess crowned or (which is of the abbey of Kempten, in 7, d argent a Moor's head neck and earring Gules, crowned Or (which is of Freising Abbey), in 8, argent a wolf Gules (which is of the Abbey of Passau), in 9, Argent a fess Azure (which is of Leuchtenberg), in 10, Per fess in 1 Gules an elephant Argent and in 2 Or (which is of County Helfenstein ), 11, argent, three chevrons gules (which is Ravensberg), 12, argent a mounting three peaks vert surmounted by a lion gules armed and langued also gules (which is of Mindeheim), 13, Or, a fess chequered Argent and Gules of three rows (which is of the Marck), 14, Gules a half-headed eagle Argent (which is of Ottobeuren Abbey ), 15, Argent to the castle with two towers Gules (which is of Rothenburg), over all, quarterly in 1 and 4 Sable, to the lion Or, armed and langued and crowned Gules (which is of County Palatine of the Rhine) and in 2 and 3 tapered in bend Azure and Argent (which is of Bavaria), over all Gules an orb Or..
	Kings of Sweden from 1654 to 1720 (from the Counts Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg a sub-cadet branch of the Counts Palatine of Zweibrücken) Quarterly, a cross paty or, which is the cross of Saint Eric, cantonned 1 and 4, azure, three crowns or, two and one (Sweden moderne), 2 and 3 azure, three bars wavy argent, a lion crowned or, armed and langued gules (Sweden ancien). Overall quarterly Bavaria, Juliers, Cleves and Berg, inescutcheon sable, a lion or, armed, langued and crowned gules (County palatine of the Rhine).
	Counts palatine of Birkenfeld from 1569 to 1795. Per pale, I quarterly 1 and 4 County palatine of the Rhine, 2 and 3 Bavaria; II quarterly 1 Veldenz, 2 chequy gules and argent (de Birkenfeld), 3 argent, three escutcheons gules, two and one (Rappolstein), 4 argent, three heads of eagles sable, crowned or, two and one (de Hohenach).
	King of Bavaria from 1809 to 1835. Fusilly bendwise, azure and argent, an inescutcheon gules, a sword argent pommelled or and a scepter or in saltire, in chief a royal crown or
	Kings of Bavaria from 1835 to 1918 (see Coat of arms of Bavaria). Quarterly 1 sable, a lion or, armed, langued and crowned gules (County palatine of the Rhine), 2 per fess indented gules and argent (the "Franconian Rake") for the northern parts of Bavaria that were part of the stem duchy of Franconia, 3 bendy sinister argent and gules, a pale or (markgraviate of Burgau representing those lands that were part of the stem duchy of Swabia), 4 argent, a lion azure, armed, langued and crowned or (Veldenz) representing the lands on the middle Rhenish Palatinate were this branch of the Wittelsbachs originated. Overall, Bavaria.
	Otto de Wittelsbach (1815 † 1867), king of Greece. Azure, a cross couped argent, inescutcheon Bavaria.
	Dukes in Bavaria after 1834. Paly-bendy azure and argent.
	Prince Ferdinand of Bavaria (1884–1958), Infante of Spain branch of "Wittelsbach-Bourbon» Quarterly, County Palatine of the Rhine, Franconia, de Burgovie, de Veldenz. Inescutcheon, Bavaria. In chief, gules, a cross argent.

Bavarian branch (junior branch), issue of Louis of Bavaria, extinct by 1777

Figure	Name of armiger and blazon
	Dukes of Bavaria from 1180 to 1623. Fusilly in bend azure and argent
	Louis IV (1286 † 1347), king of the Romans in 1314, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 1328. Or, an eagle sable, membered, beaked and langued gules, inescutcheon fusilly in bend azure and argent.
	Dukes of Bavaria and Electors of Brandenburg : Louis V († 1361), Louis VI († 1365) and Otto V († 1379). Per pale fusilly in bend azure and argent, and argent, an eagle gules, armed, beaked and langued or.
	Duke of Bavaria-Straubing, Counts of Hainaut and Holland from 1254 to 1433. Quarterly 1 and 4, fusilly in bend, azure and argent, 2 and 3, grand-quarterly I and IV or, a lion sable, armed and langued gules, II and III, or, a lion gules, armed and langued azure.
	Electors of Bavaria from 1623 to 1777. In 1620, the Elector Palatine Frederick V, a Protestant, was defeated after trying to take the kingdom of Bohemia. He was placed under the ban of the Empire and his lands, titles and electoral dignity were confiscated and given to his Roman Catholic cousin, the Duke of Bavaria, who takes: Quarterly 1 and 4 fusilly in bend, azure and argent, 2 and 3 sable, a lion or, armed, langued and crowned gules, overall gules, an orb crucifer or.
	Charles VII (1697 † 1745), Holy Roman Emperor from 1742 to 1745. Or, an eagle sable, membered, beaked and langued gules; inescutcheon quarterly 1 and 4 fusilly in bend, azure and argent, 2 and 3 sable, a lion or, armed, langued and crowned gules, sur le tout gules, an orb crucifer or.

See also

The Bavarian Crown Jewels (at Munich Residenz)

• Kings of Germany family tree
• List of rulers of Bavaria
• List of rulers of the Palatinate
• Asteroid 90712 Wittelsbach, named in the castle and dynasty's honour
• Wittelsbach Diamond
• Monarchism in Bavaria after 1918
• List of coats of arms with the Palatine Lion

References

• Héraldique Européenne.
• Family tree of the Counts of Scheyern-Wittelsbach-Dachau-Valley, from a lecture by Prof. Schmid: Bayern im Spätmittelalter, winter 1996/97
• Muller-Mertens, Eckhard (1999). "The Ottonians as kings and emperors". In Reuter, Timothy; McKitterick, Rosamond (eds.). The New Cambridge Medieval History: Volume 3, C.900-c.1024. Cambridge University Press.239
• Otto I at genealogie-mittelalter
• Otto II at genealogie-mittelalter (give a different date of death)
• Otto III at genealogie-mittelalter
• Lingelbach, William E. (1913). The History of Nations: Austria-Hungary. New York: P. F. Collier & Son Company. ASIN B000L3E368.
• Marek, Miroslav. "Genealogy of the House of Wittelsbach from Genealogy.eu". genealogy.euweb.cz (Genealogy.EU). Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
• Jeffery, Renée (2018). Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia: The Philosopher Princess. Lexington Books.
• Johannes Rietstap: Rietstap, Johannes Baptist (2003). Armorial general (in French). Vol. 2. Genealogical Publishing Co. ISBN 9780806304427.
• Johannes Rietstap: Rietstap, Johannes Baptist (1861). Armorial général, contenant la description des armoiries des familles nobles et patriciennes de l'Europe: précédé d'un dictionnaire des termes du blason (in French). G.B. van Goor.
• Johannes Rietstap: "On-line Armorial de J.B. RIETSTAP – et ses Compléments" (in French). Archived from the original on 9 December 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
• Johannes Rietstap: Rietstap, Johannes Baptist (1875). Handboek der Wapenkunde (in Dutch). the Netherlands: Theod. Bom. p. 348.
• Maclagan, Michael; Louda, Jiří (1999) [1981]. Line of Succession: Heraldry of the Royal Families of Europe. London: Little, Brown & Co. pp. 188–194. ISBN 1-85605-469-1.

External links

• Haus Bayern – webpage of the Royal House of Bavaria (in German)
• Archived website about the Royal Family of Bavaria
• Haus Bayern – Wittelsbacher Ausgleichsfonds – Wittelsbach foundation (in German)
• Die Genealogie der Wittelsbacher – Genealogy of the Wittelsbach family (in German)