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The House of Wittelsbach () is a German dynasty, with branches that have ruled over territories including Bavaria, the Palatinate, Holland and Zeeland, Sweden (with Finland), Denmark, Norway, Hungary (with Romania), Bohemia, the Electorate of Cologne and other prince-bishoprics, and Greece. Their ancestral lands of the Palatinate and Bavaria 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 Monarchy of the United Kingdom, British monarchy, are descendants of Sophia of Hanover, 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.
The Wittelsbach dynasty ruled the Germany, 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. Napoleon elevated Bavaria to a kingdom in 1806 and in 1815 the Palatinate became incorporated as Rhine Palatinate.
On Duke Otto II Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavaria, Otto II's death in 1253, his sons divided the Wittelsbach possessions between them: Henry XIII, Duke of Bavaria, Henry became Duke of Lower Bavaria, and Louis II, Duke of Bavaria, 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 Empire, Holy Roman Emperors: Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, Louis IV (1314–1347) and Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor, Charles VII (1742–1745), both members of the Bavarian branch of the family, and one King of Germany, German King with Rupert of Germany, 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 (1329), Treaty of Pavia, Emperor Louis IV granted the Palatinate including the Bavarian Upper Palatinate to his brother Duke Rudolf I, Duke of Bavaria, Rudolf's descendants, Rudolf II, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Rudolf II, Rupert I, Elector Palatine, Rupert I and Rupert II, Elector Palatine of the Rhine, 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.
The Wittelsbach Emperor Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, Louis IV acquired Brandenburg (1323), county of Tyrol, Tyrol (1342), Holland, Zeeland and County of Hainaut, 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 County of Hainaut, Hainaut in 1347. The Wittelsbachs lost the Tyrol with the death of duke Meinhard III of Gorizia-Tyrol, Meinhard and the following Peace of Schärding – the Tyrol was finally renounced to the Habsburgs in 1369. In 1373 Otto V, Duke of Bavaria, Otto, the last Wittelsbach regent of Brandenburg, released the country to the House of Luxembourg. On Duke Albert I, Duke of Bavaria, Albert's death in 1404, he was succeeded in the Netherlands by his eldest son, William VI, Count of Holland, William. A younger son, John, Duke of Bavaria-Straubing, 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 leadership, leaders of the German Counter-Reformation. From 1583 to 1761, the Bavarian branch of the dynasty provided the Prince-electors and Archbishop of Cologne, Archbishops of Cologne and many other Bishops of the Holy Roman Empire, namely Roman Catholic Diocese of Liège, Liège (1581–1763). Wittelsbach princes served for example as Bishops of Bishop of Regensburg, Regensburg, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Munich and Freising#Prince-bishops of Freising, Freising, List of bishops and prince-bishops of Liège#Prince-bishops of Liège, 972-1794, Liège, Bishopric of Münster, Münster, Bishopric of Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Bishopric of Paderborn, Paderborn and Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, and as Grand Master (order), Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order.
In 1623 under Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria, Maximilian I the Bavarian dukes were invested with the Prince-elector, electoral dignity and the duchy became the Electorate of Bavaria. His grandson Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria served also as Governors of the Habsburg Netherlands, Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands (1692–1706) and as Duke of Luxembourg (1712–1714). His son Emperor Charles VII, Holy Roman 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.
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 Prince-elector, electoral dignity, their county became the Electorate of the Palatinate. Princes of the Palatinate branch served as Bishops of the Empire and also as Archbishopric of Mainz, Elector-Archbishops of Mainz and Archbishopric of Trier, 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 ''House of Palatinate-Neumarkt, Neumarkt'', ''House of Palatinate-Simmern, Simmern'', ''House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, Zweibrücken'', ''House of Palatinate-Birkenfeld, Birkenfeld'', ''Palatinate-Neuburg, Neuburg'' and ''Palatinate-Sulzbach, Sulzbach''. When the senior branch of the Palatinate branch died out in 1559, the Electorate passed to Frederick III, Elector Palatine, Frederick III of ''Palatinate-Simmern, 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 (state), 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, Count Palatine of Neuburg, 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 Peace of Westphalia, 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.
The house of ''House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, 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, Elector Palatine, Philip William, Count Palatine of ''Palatinate-Neuburg, Neuburg'' inherited the Palatinate (and also Duke of Duchy of Jülich, Jülich and Berg (German region), Berg). During the reign of Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine, 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, Elector of Bavaria, Charles Theodore of Palatinate-Sulzbach and to the Bavarian prince Clement, Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine, Clement. In the imperial election a few days later Charles III Philip voted for his Bavarian cousin Prince-Elector Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor, 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 I Joseph of Bavaria, Maximilian IV Joseph, a member of the branch ''House of Palatinate-Birkenfeld, 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 Duke Wilhelm in Bavaria, 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 of Bavaria, king as Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, 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).
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 of Bavaria, Ludwig III issued the ''Anif declaration'' (German: ''Anifer Erklärung'') at Anif Palace, 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.
Queen Christina of Sweden abdicated her throne on 5 June 1654 in favour of her cousin Charles X Gustav of Sweden, Charles X Gustavus, a member of the Wittelsbach branch House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, Palatinate-Zweibrücken. It was the second term for the rule of the House of Wittelsbach in Sweden since 1448 when Christopher III of Denmark, Christopher III of the Palatinate branch was king of Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
Sweden reached its largest territorial extent under the rule of Charles X after the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658. Charles's son, Charles XI of Sweden, Charles XI, rebuilt the economy and refitted the army. His legacy to his son, Charles XII of Sweden, Charles XII, was one of the finest arsenals in the world, a large standing army and a great 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 1720 marked the end of Wittelsbach rule in Sweden.
Prince Otto of Greece, Otto of Bavaria was elected king of newly independent Greece in 1832 and was forced to abdicate in 1862. King Otto of Greece, Otto I of the House of Wittelsbach was made the first List of Greek monarchs, King of modern Greece in 1832 under the London Conference of 1832, Convention of London, whereby Greece became a new independent kingdom under the protection of the Great Powers (the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom, July Monarchy, 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. When Greece was blockaded by the (British) Royal Navy in 1850 and again in 1853, to stop Greece from attacking the Ottoman Empire during the Crimean War, Otto's standing amongst Greeks suffered. As a result, there was an assassination attempt on the Queen and finally, in 1862, Otto was deposed while in the countryside. In 1863 the Greek National Assembly elected Prince William of Denmark, aged only 17, ''King of the Hellenes'' under the regal name of George I of Greece, George I.
The law of succession to the throne of Greece was defined by a supplementary article to the convention of 7 May 1832 awarding the Greek Throne to Otto I. It instituted a semi-salic order with an important rule preventing the union of the crown on the same head with any other crown, especially that of Bavaria. The 1844 constitution further made provision for his succession by his two younger brothers (Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria, Luitpold and Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (1828–1875), Prince Adalbert of Bavaria) and their descendants.
Under the terms of the succession law, a Wittelsbach claim to the throne would have passed on Otto's death in 1867 to his younger brother Luitpold, who was regent of Bavaria from 1886 to 1912; and theoritically after him to Ludwig who became king Ludwig III of Bavaria in 1913. At this point, tracing the claim becomes problematic as the same branch of the Wittelsbach became heir to both thrones, and a subsequent monarch or pretender should have issued a renunciation to one of the two thrones, which none did. In the end, neither Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria, Luitpold nor his son Ludwig III of Bavaria, Ludwig actively pursued a claim to the Greek throne inherited from Otto, and the throne of Bavaria itself disappeared in 1918, leaving the future of the claim to be decided by a further arrangement that never occurred.
However, Ludwig's marriage to Maria Theresa of Austria-Este (1849–1919), Maria Theresia of Austria-Este in 1868 came with a caveat. Maria Theresa's uncle, Duke Francis V of Modena, was a staunch Roman Catholic. He required that as part of the marriage agreement Ludwig renounce his rights to the throne of Greece, and so ensure that his children would be raised Roman Catholic. In addition, the 1844 Greek Constitution forbade the Greek sovereign to be simultaneously ruler of another country. Consequently, Ludwig's younger brother Prince Leopold of Bavaria technically succeeded upon their father's death in 1912 to the rights of the deposed Otto of Greece.
The line of succession under Leopold didn't survive for long. Following Leopold's death in 1930, the throne technically passed to his son Prince Georg of Bavaria who died in 1943 (who might renounced the throne anyway because of his status as Catholic priest) without issue. After Prince Georg's death, the throne passed to his younger brother Prince Konrad of Bavaria who died in 1969. Konrad's only child, Prince Eugen of Bavaria died in 1997 without issue. As the line Ludwig III and Leopold's younger brother, Prince Arnulf of Bavaria, ended earlier by the death of his son, Prince Heinrich of Bavaria, in 1916. In 1997 the throne would pass to a descendant of Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (1828–1875), Prince Adalbert of Bavaria
Prince Adalbert had two sons, Prince Ludwig Ferdinand of Bavaria and Prince Alfons of Bavaria. However, Prince Alfons' only son, Prince Joseph Clemens of Bavaria died in 1990 without issue. Thus only a descendant of Prince Ludwig Ferdinand could potentially ascend the throne. Prince Ludwig Ferdinand had two sons, Prince Ferdinand of Bavaria and Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (1886–1970).
However, as Prince Ferdinand renounced his rights to the throne of the Kingdom of Bavaria on 29 June 1914, it was likely that Prince Ferdinand would also renounce his rights to the throne of the Kingdom of Greece. This is perhaps due to his marriage in 1905 to Infanta María Teresa of Spain, the second eldest child and daughter of Alfonso XII of Spain, which gave him royal rank in Spain, and his planned second marriage which happened on 1 October 1914 (three months after the World War started). It is worth noting that he renounced his dynastic rights on 29 June 1914, only a day after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, and thus the reasons spelled out here might not come to play. The issue is moot anyway, as of Prince Ferdinand's two sons, Infante Luis Alfonso died unmarried in 1983, and Infante Jose Eugenio's marriage to María de la Asunción Solange de Messía y Lesseps (only made a countess of Odiel a day before their marriage) was considered morganatic. Even if Infante Jose Eugnio's children are considered as the Greek throne has no concept of morganatic marriage, his two sons, Ferdinand of Bavaria and Mesía (1937-1999) only had a daughter, while Luis Alfonso of Bavaria and Mesía (1942-1966) died without issue. Thus the throne would only pass for two short years since 1997 to 1999 from Prince Eugen to Don Ferdinand of Bavaria and Mesía.
Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (1886–1970) had two sons, Prince Konstantin of Bavaria (1920–1969) and Prince Alexander of Bavaria (1923-2001). Prince Konstantin had two sons, Prince Leopold of Bavaria (born 1943) and Prince Adalbert (born 1944). Thus from the long line, the throne would either pass from Prince Eugen in 1997 or 1999 Don Ferdinand of Bavaria and Mesía to Prince Leopold as the current pretender.
Hellenic Parliament from high above.jpg, The Old Royal Palace in Athens, built for King Otto of Greece, Otto I by Friedrich von Gärtner, 1841
Propylaeen Muenchen-1.jpg, Propylaea (Munich), Propylaea in Munich, monument for the secundogeniture of the Wittelsbach in Greece
Franz, Duke of Bavaria, 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.
#Heinrich I, Count of Pegnitz, 1008–1043
#Otto I, Count of Scheyern, 1020–1072
#Eckhard I, Count of Scheyern, 1044-1088
#Otto IV, Count of Wittelsbach, 1083–1156
#Otto I, Duke of Bavaria, 1117–1183
#Louis I, Duke of Bavaria, 1173–1231
#Otto II Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavaria, 1206–1253
#Louis II, Duke of Bavaria, 1229–1294
#Rudolf I, Duke of Bavaria, 1274–1319
#Adolf, Count Palatine of the Rhine, 1300–1327
#Rupert II, Elector Palatine, 1325–1398
#Rupert of Germany, 1352–1410
#Stephen, Count Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken, 1385–1459
#Louis I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1424–1489
#Alexander, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1462–1514
#Louis II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1502–1532
#Wolfgang, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1526–1569
#Charles I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld, 1560–1600
#Christian I, Count Palatine of Birkenfeld-Bischweiler, 1598–1654
#Christian II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1637–1717
#Christian III, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1674–1735
#Count Palatine Frederick Michael of Zweibrücken, 1724–1767
#Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, 1756–1825
#Ludwig I of Bavaria, 1786–1868
#Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria, 1821–1912
#Ludwig III of Bavaria, 1845–1921
#Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria, 1869–1955
#Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria, 1905–1996
#Franz, Duke of Bavaria, b. 1933
Living Legitimate Members of the Wittlesbach
-->
*''Ludwig I of Bavaria (1786-1868)''
**''Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria, 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) Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria (1937)
**** ''Prince Franz of Bavaria (1875-1957)''
***** ''Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (1913–2008)''
****** (3) Prince Luitpold of Bavaria (b. 1951)
******* (4) Prince Ludwig Heinrich (born 14 June 1982)
******* (5) Prince Heinrich Rudolf (born 23 January 1986)
******** (6) Prince Maximilian (born 2021)
******* (7) Prince Karl Rupprecht (born 10 March 1987)
***** ''Prince Rasso Maximilian Rupprecht of Bavaria (1926-2011)''
****** (8) Wolfgang Rupprecht Maria Theodor of Bavaria (born 1960)
******* (9) Prince Tassilo (born 1992)
******* (10) Prince Richard (born 1993)
******* (11) Prince Philip (born 1996)
****** (12) Christoph Ludwig Maria of Bavaria (born 1962)
******* (13) Prince Corbinian (born 1996)
******* (14) Prince Stanislaus (born 1997)
******* (15) Prince Marcello (born 1998)
** ''Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (1828–1875)''
*** ''Prince Ludwig Ferdinand of Bavaria (1859-1949)''
**** ''Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (1886–1970)''
***** ''Prince Konstantin of Bavaria (1920-1969)''
****** (16) Prince Leopold of Bavaria (born 1943), potential Wittlesbach pretender to the throne of Greece due to Ludwig III's renounciation of the Greek throne for him and his descendants.
******* (17) Prince Manuel (born 1972)
******** (18) Prince Leopold (born 2007)
******** (19) Prince Gabriel (born 2010)
******** (20) Prince Joseph (born 2019)
******* (21) Prince Konstantin (born 1986)
******** (22) Prince Alexis (born 2020)
****** (23) Prince Adalbert (born 1944)
******* (24) Prince Hubertus of Bavaria (born 1989)
File:München Alter Hof Burgstock.jpg, Alter Hof, ''The Old Court'' in Munich
File:Wening Residenz München.jpg, Munich Residenz by Michael Wening
File:Exterior del Palacio de Nymphenburg, Múnich, Alemania59.JPG, Nymphenburg Palace in Munich
File:Nuevo Palacio Schleissheim, Oberschleissheim, Alemania, 2013-08-31, DD 28.jpg, Schleissheim Palace in Munich
File:Castillo Trausnitz, Landshut, Alemania, 2012-05-27, DD 20.JPG, Trausnitz Castle in Landshut
File:Neues Schloss Ingolstadt Südwest.jpg, New Castle (Ingolstadt), Ingolstadt Castle
File:Schloss Straubing2.JPG, Straubing Castle
File:P1010270 Burghausen.jpg, Burghausen Castle
File:Hohenschwangau (9436083255).jpg, Hohenschwangau Castle
File:Castelul Linderhof18.jpg, Linderhof Palace
File:Schloss Herrenchiemsee Parkseite Westen.jpg, Herrenchiemsee Palace
File:Neuschwanstein Castle.jpg, Neuschwanstein Castle
File:Heidelberger Schloss von Gerrit Berckheyde 1670.jpg, Heidelberg Castle 1670
File:Ehrenhof des Mannheimer Schlosses.JPG, Mannheim Palace
File:Schwetzingen BW 2014-07-22 16-43-37.jpg, Schwetzingen Castle
File:Schloss Neuburg.jpg, Neuburg Castle (Bavaria)
File:Düsseldorf, handkolorierter Kupferstich nach L.Janscha, 1798.jpg, Düsseldorf Castle
File:Schloss Benrath Jan2012.jpg, Schloss Benrath, Benrath Mansion in Düsseldorf
File:Bensberg Neues Schloss Denkmal 136 2011.jpg, Bensberg Castle
File:Zweibrücken castle front April 2010 darker.jpg, Zweibrücken Castle
File:Birkenfeld-merian.jpg, Birkenfeld Castle 1645
File:2010.08.22.123059 Burg Sulzbach-Rosenberg.jpg, Sulzbach-Rosenberg, Sulzbach Castle
File:Residenz Neumarkt Oberpfalz 001.JPG, Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, Neumarkt Castle
File:Merian_Simmern.JPG, Simmern Castle 1648
File:Universität Bonn.jpg, Electoral Palace, Bonn, Electoral Palace, Bonn
File:Poppelsdorfer Schloss seen from the East.jpg, Poppelsdorf Palace, Bonn
File:Schloss Augustusburg, Hof.JPG, Augustusburg and Falkenlust Palaces, Brühl, Augustusburg Palace, Brühl
* Kings of Germany family tree
* List of rulers of Bavaria
* Electorate of the Palatinate, List of rulers of the Palatinate
* Asteroid 90712 Wittelsbach, Meanings of asteroid names, named in the castle and dynasty's honour
* Wittelsbach Diamond
* Monarchism in Bavaria after 1918
* List of coats of arms with the Palatine Lion
Héraldique Européenne
Haus Bayern
– webpage of the Royal House of Bavaria (in German)
Haus Bayern – Wittelsbacher Ausgleichsfonds
– Wittelsbach foundation (in German)
Die Genealogie der Wittelsbacher
– Genealogy of the Wittelsbach family (in German) * , - , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Wittelsbach, House Of House of Wittelsbach, Duchy of Bavaria Electorate of Bavaria History of the Palatinate (region) Ruling families of the County of Holland Ruling families of the Duchy of Berg
The House of Wittelsbach () is a German dynasty, with branches that have ruled over territories including Bavaria, the Palatinate, Holland and Zeeland, Sweden (with Finland), Denmark, Norway, Hungary (with Romania), Bohemia, the Electorate of Cologne and other prince-bishoprics, and Greece. Their ancestral lands of the Palatinate and Bavaria 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 Monarchy of the United Kingdom, British monarchy, are descendants of Sophia of Hanover, 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 the Wittelsbach Castle, castle of Wittelsbach (near Aichach). The Counts of Scheyern left Scheyern Castle (constructed around 940) in 1119 for Burg Wittelsbach, Wittelsbach Castle and the former was given to monks to establish Scheyern Abbey. The origins of the counts of Scheyern are unclear. Some rather speculative theories link them to margrave Henry of Schweinfurt and his father Berthold of Schweinfurt, Berthold whose background is also disputed; some guess the Schweinfurters may be descendants of the Luitpolding dynasty, the Bavarian dukes of the 10th century. The Wittelsbach Conrad I, Duke of Merania, Conrad of Scheyern-Dachau, a great-grandson of Otto I, Count of Scheyern, became Duchy of Merania, Duke of Merania in 1153 and was succeeded by his son Conrad II, Duke of Merania, 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, Count of Wittelsbach, Otto IV (died 1156), who was the first Count of Wittelsbach and whose son Otto I Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavaria, 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 also the Electorate of the Palatinate in 1214. Throughout history, members of the royal house have reigned as: Duchy of Merania, Dukes of Merania (1153–1180/82), List of rulers of Bavaria, Dukes, Electors and Kings of Bavaria (1180–1918), Electorate of the Palatinate, Counts Palatine of the Rhine (1214–1803 and 1816–1918), List of rulers of Brandenburg, Margraves of Brandenburg (1323–1373), Counts of Holland, County of Hainaut, Hainaut and Zeeland (1345–1433), List of bishops and archbishops of Cologne, Elector-Archbishops of Cologne (1583–1761), Duchy of Jülich, Dukes of Jülich and Berg (German region), Berg (1614–1794/1806), Kings of Sweden (1441–1448 and 1654–1720) and Bremen-Verden, 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 List of rulers of Bohemia, Anti-Kings of Bohemia (1619–20/1742–43), one List of rulers of Hungary, King of Hungary (1305–1308), one King of List of Danish monarchs, Denmark and List of Norwegian monarchs, Norway (1440–1448) and one Kingdom of Greece (Wittelsbach), King of Greece (1832–1862).Bavaria and Palatinate within the Holy Roman Empire
The Wittelsbach dynasty ruled the Germany, 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. Napoleon elevated Bavaria to a kingdom in 1806 and in 1815 the Palatinate became incorporated as Rhine Palatinate.
On Duke Otto II Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavaria, Otto II's death in 1253, his sons divided the Wittelsbach possessions between them: Henry XIII, Duke of Bavaria, Henry became Duke of Lower Bavaria, and Louis II, Duke of Bavaria, 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 Empire, Holy Roman Emperors: Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, Louis IV (1314–1347) and Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor, Charles VII (1742–1745), both members of the Bavarian branch of the family, and one King of Germany, German King with Rupert of Germany, 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 (1329), Treaty of Pavia, Emperor Louis IV granted the Palatinate including the Bavarian Upper Palatinate to his brother Duke Rudolf I, Duke of Bavaria, Rudolf's descendants, Rudolf II, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Rudolf II, Rupert I, Elector Palatine, Rupert I and Rupert II, Elector Palatine of the Rhine, 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.
Bavarian branch
The Bavarian branch kept the duchy of Bavaria until its extinction in 1777.
The Wittelsbach Emperor Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, Louis IV acquired Brandenburg (1323), county of Tyrol, Tyrol (1342), Holland, Zeeland and County of Hainaut, 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 County of Hainaut, Hainaut in 1347. The Wittelsbachs lost the Tyrol with the death of duke Meinhard III of Gorizia-Tyrol, Meinhard and the following Peace of Schärding – the Tyrol was finally renounced to the Habsburgs in 1369. In 1373 Otto V, Duke of Bavaria, Otto, the last Wittelsbach regent of Brandenburg, released the country to the House of Luxembourg. On Duke Albert I, Duke of Bavaria, Albert's death in 1404, he was succeeded in the Netherlands by his eldest son, William VI, Count of Holland, William. A younger son, John, Duke of Bavaria-Straubing, 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 leadership, leaders of the German Counter-Reformation. From 1583 to 1761, the Bavarian branch of the dynasty provided the Prince-electors and Archbishop of Cologne, Archbishops of Cologne and many other Bishops of the Holy Roman Empire, namely Roman Catholic Diocese of Liège, Liège (1581–1763). Wittelsbach princes served for example as Bishops of Bishop of Regensburg, Regensburg, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Munich and Freising#Prince-bishops of Freising, Freising, List of bishops and prince-bishops of Liège#Prince-bishops of Liège, 972-1794, Liège, Bishopric of Münster, Münster, Bishopric of Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Bishopric of Paderborn, Paderborn and Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, and as Grand Master (order), Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order.
In 1623 under Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria, Maximilian I the Bavarian dukes were invested with the Prince-elector, electoral dignity and the duchy became the Electorate of Bavaria. His grandson Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria served also as Governors of the Habsburg Netherlands, Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands (1692–1706) and as Duke of Luxembourg (1712–1714). His son Emperor Charles VII, Holy Roman 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 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 Prince-elector, electoral dignity, their county became the Electorate of the Palatinate. Princes of the Palatinate branch served as Bishops of the Empire and also as Archbishopric of Mainz, Elector-Archbishops of Mainz and Archbishopric of Trier, 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 ''House of Palatinate-Neumarkt, Neumarkt'', ''House of Palatinate-Simmern, Simmern'', ''House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, Zweibrücken'', ''House of Palatinate-Birkenfeld, Birkenfeld'', ''Palatinate-Neuburg, Neuburg'' and ''Palatinate-Sulzbach, Sulzbach''. When the senior branch of the Palatinate branch died out in 1559, the Electorate passed to Frederick III, Elector Palatine, Frederick III of ''Palatinate-Simmern, 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 (state), 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, Count Palatine of Neuburg, 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 Peace of Westphalia, 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.
The house of ''House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, 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, Elector Palatine, Philip William, Count Palatine of ''Palatinate-Neuburg, Neuburg'' inherited the Palatinate (and also Duke of Duchy of Jülich, Jülich and Berg (German region), Berg). During the reign of Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine, 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, Elector of Bavaria, Charles Theodore of Palatinate-Sulzbach and to the Bavarian prince Clement, Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine, Clement. In the imperial election a few days later Charles III Philip voted for his Bavarian cousin Prince-Elector Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor, 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 I Joseph of Bavaria, Maximilian IV Joseph, a member of the branch ''House of Palatinate-Birkenfeld, 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 Duke Wilhelm in Bavaria, 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 of Bavaria, king as Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, 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
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 of Bavaria, Ludwig III issued the ''Anif declaration'' (German: ''Anifer Erklärung'') at Anif Palace, 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 Rupprecht of Bavaria, 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 concentration camp, Dachau.Reign outside the Holy Roman Empire
With Duke Otto III, Duke of Bavaria, 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
Christopher III of Denmark, Christopher III of the House of Palatinate-Neumarkt was king of Denmark, Sweden and Norway in 1440/1442–1448, but he left no descendants. The House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken contributed to the monarchy of Sweden again 1654–1720 under Charles X of Sweden, Charles X, Charles XI of Sweden, Charles XI, Charles XII of Sweden, Charles XII and Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden, Ulrika Eleonora. Sophia of Hanover, Sophia from the House of Palatinate-Simmern was a presumptive Queen of Great Britain, with her eldest son succeeding the throne.United Kingdom
Today, under the Bill of Rights 1689 and the Act of Settlement 1701, the line of succession to the throne stems from the Protestant descendants of Sophia of Hannover (1630–1714). She was heiress presumptive of Great Britain but died before her succession to the British throne. Her eldest son succeeded the throne in her place as George I of Great Britain, a descendant of the Houses of Hanover and Wittelsbach. The line of Jacobitism, Jacobite succession, which recognises the right for a Catholic monarch from the House of Stuart, acknowledges Franz, Duke of Bavaria, Franz, Hereditary Prince of Bavaria to be the rightful heir as "Francis II". However, no claimant since Henry Benedict Stuart has publicly taken up the claim.Kingdom of Sweden
Queen Christina of Sweden abdicated her throne on 5 June 1654 in favour of her cousin Charles X Gustav of Sweden, Charles X Gustavus, a member of the Wittelsbach branch House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, Palatinate-Zweibrücken. It was the second term for the rule of the House of Wittelsbach in Sweden since 1448 when Christopher III of Denmark, Christopher III of the Palatinate branch was king of Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
Sweden reached its largest territorial extent under the rule of Charles X after the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658. Charles's son, Charles XI of Sweden, Charles XI, rebuilt the economy and refitted the army. His legacy to his son, Charles XII of Sweden, Charles XII, was one of the finest arsenals in the world, a large standing army and a great 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 1720 marked the end of Wittelsbach rule in Sweden.
Kingdom of Greece
Prince Otto of Greece, Otto of Bavaria was elected king of newly independent Greece in 1832 and was forced to abdicate in 1862. King Otto of Greece, Otto I of the House of Wittelsbach was made the first List of Greek monarchs, King of modern Greece in 1832 under the London Conference of 1832, Convention of London, whereby Greece became a new independent kingdom under the protection of the Great Powers (the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom, July Monarchy, 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. When Greece was blockaded by the (British) Royal Navy in 1850 and again in 1853, to stop Greece from attacking the Ottoman Empire during the Crimean War, Otto's standing amongst Greeks suffered. As a result, there was an assassination attempt on the Queen and finally, in 1862, Otto was deposed while in the countryside. In 1863 the Greek National Assembly elected Prince William of Denmark, aged only 17, ''King of the Hellenes'' under the regal name of George I of Greece, George I.
The law of succession to the throne of Greece was defined by a supplementary article to the convention of 7 May 1832 awarding the Greek Throne to Otto I. It instituted a semi-salic order with an important rule preventing the union of the crown on the same head with any other crown, especially that of Bavaria. The 1844 constitution further made provision for his succession by his two younger brothers (Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria, Luitpold and Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (1828–1875), Prince Adalbert of Bavaria) and their descendants.
Under the terms of the succession law, a Wittelsbach claim to the throne would have passed on Otto's death in 1867 to his younger brother Luitpold, who was regent of Bavaria from 1886 to 1912; and theoritically after him to Ludwig who became king Ludwig III of Bavaria in 1913. At this point, tracing the claim becomes problematic as the same branch of the Wittelsbach became heir to both thrones, and a subsequent monarch or pretender should have issued a renunciation to one of the two thrones, which none did. In the end, neither Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria, Luitpold nor his son Ludwig III of Bavaria, Ludwig actively pursued a claim to the Greek throne inherited from Otto, and the throne of Bavaria itself disappeared in 1918, leaving the future of the claim to be decided by a further arrangement that never occurred.
However, Ludwig's marriage to Maria Theresa of Austria-Este (1849–1919), Maria Theresia of Austria-Este in 1868 came with a caveat. Maria Theresa's uncle, Duke Francis V of Modena, was a staunch Roman Catholic. He required that as part of the marriage agreement Ludwig renounce his rights to the throne of Greece, and so ensure that his children would be raised Roman Catholic. In addition, the 1844 Greek Constitution forbade the Greek sovereign to be simultaneously ruler of another country. Consequently, Ludwig's younger brother Prince Leopold of Bavaria technically succeeded upon their father's death in 1912 to the rights of the deposed Otto of Greece.
The line of succession under Leopold didn't survive for long. Following Leopold's death in 1930, the throne technically passed to his son Prince Georg of Bavaria who died in 1943 (who might renounced the throne anyway because of his status as Catholic priest) without issue. After Prince Georg's death, the throne passed to his younger brother Prince Konrad of Bavaria who died in 1969. Konrad's only child, Prince Eugen of Bavaria died in 1997 without issue. As the line Ludwig III and Leopold's younger brother, Prince Arnulf of Bavaria, ended earlier by the death of his son, Prince Heinrich of Bavaria, in 1916. In 1997 the throne would pass to a descendant of Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (1828–1875), Prince Adalbert of Bavaria
Prince Adalbert had two sons, Prince Ludwig Ferdinand of Bavaria and Prince Alfons of Bavaria. However, Prince Alfons' only son, Prince Joseph Clemens of Bavaria died in 1990 without issue. Thus only a descendant of Prince Ludwig Ferdinand could potentially ascend the throne. Prince Ludwig Ferdinand had two sons, Prince Ferdinand of Bavaria and Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (1886–1970).
However, as Prince Ferdinand renounced his rights to the throne of the Kingdom of Bavaria on 29 June 1914, it was likely that Prince Ferdinand would also renounce his rights to the throne of the Kingdom of Greece. This is perhaps due to his marriage in 1905 to Infanta María Teresa of Spain, the second eldest child and daughter of Alfonso XII of Spain, which gave him royal rank in Spain, and his planned second marriage which happened on 1 October 1914 (three months after the World War started). It is worth noting that he renounced his dynastic rights on 29 June 1914, only a day after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, and thus the reasons spelled out here might not come to play. The issue is moot anyway, as of Prince Ferdinand's two sons, Infante Luis Alfonso died unmarried in 1983, and Infante Jose Eugenio's marriage to María de la Asunción Solange de Messía y Lesseps (only made a countess of Odiel a day before their marriage) was considered morganatic. Even if Infante Jose Eugnio's children are considered as the Greek throne has no concept of morganatic marriage, his two sons, Ferdinand of Bavaria and Mesía (1937-1999) only had a daughter, while Luis Alfonso of Bavaria and Mesía (1942-1966) died without issue. Thus the throne would only pass for two short years since 1997 to 1999 from Prince Eugen to Don Ferdinand of Bavaria and Mesía.
Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (1886–1970) had two sons, Prince Konstantin of Bavaria (1920–1969) and Prince Alexander of Bavaria (1923-2001). Prince Konstantin had two sons, Prince Leopold of Bavaria (born 1943) and Prince Adalbert (born 1944). Thus from the long line, the throne would either pass from Prince Eugen in 1997 or 1999 Don Ferdinand of Bavaria and Mesía to Prince Leopold as the current pretender.
Bavarian branch
Joseph Ferdinand of Bavaria (1692-1699), 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 War of the Spanish Succession, Spanish Succession uncertain again.Major members of the family
Many women in the family are known as Elisabeth of Bavaria (disambiguation), Elisabeth of Bavaria.Patrilineal descent
Franz, Duke of Bavaria, 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.
#Heinrich I, Count of Pegnitz, 1008–1043
#Otto I, Count of Scheyern, 1020–1072
#Eckhard I, Count of Scheyern, 1044-1088
#Otto IV, Count of Wittelsbach, 1083–1156
#Otto I, Duke of Bavaria, 1117–1183
#Louis I, Duke of Bavaria, 1173–1231
#Otto II Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavaria, 1206–1253
#Louis II, Duke of Bavaria, 1229–1294
#Rudolf I, Duke of Bavaria, 1274–1319
#Adolf, Count Palatine of the Rhine, 1300–1327
#Rupert II, Elector Palatine, 1325–1398
#Rupert of Germany, 1352–1410
#Stephen, Count Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken, 1385–1459
#Louis I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1424–1489
#Alexander, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1462–1514
#Louis II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1502–1532
#Wolfgang, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1526–1569
#Charles I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld, 1560–1600
#Christian I, Count Palatine of Birkenfeld-Bischweiler, 1598–1654
#Christian II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1637–1717
#Christian III, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, 1674–1735
#Count Palatine Frederick Michael of Zweibrücken, 1724–1767
#Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, 1756–1825
#Ludwig I of Bavaria, 1786–1868
#Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria, 1821–1912
#Ludwig III of Bavaria, 1845–1921
#Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria, 1869–1955
#Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria, 1905–1996
#Franz, Duke of Bavaria, b. 1933
Bavarian branch
*Louis V, Duke of Bavaria, Louis V, Margrave of Brandenburg, Duke of Bavaria and Count of Tyrol (1323–1361) *Albert I, Duke of Bavaria, 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, 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, Duke of Bavaria, 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 of Bavaria (1660–1690), Maria Anna, Dauphine of France (1660–1690) *Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria (1662–1726) *Duchess Violante Beatrice of Bavaria (1673–1731), Grand Duke of Tuscany, Hereditary Princess of Tuscany and Siena, Governess of Siena, *Clemens August of Bavaria (1700–1761) *Duchess Maria Antonia of Bavaria, 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, Elector Palatine, Frederick V, List of heirs to the British throne, 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 :wikt:scion, scion of the House of Medici *Ludwig I of Bavaria, King Ludwig I of Bavaria (1825–1848) *Princess Sophie of Bavaria (1805–1872), Archduchess of Austria *Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Elisabeth in Bavaria (1837–1898) ("Sisi"), Empress of Austria *Ludwig II of Bavaria (1864–1886) *Maria Sophie of Bavaria, Marie Sophie (1841–1925), last queen of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies *Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, Elisabeth of Bavaria (1876–1965), queen-consort of Albert I of Belgium *Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein, b. 1967Scandinavian kings
*Christopher of Bavaria, Christopher of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, reigned 1440–1448 *Charles X Gustav of Sweden, reigned 1654–1660 *Charles XI of Sweden, reigned 1660–1697 *Charles XII of Sweden, reigned 1697–1718 *Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden, Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden, reigned 1718–1720Family tree
Living Legitimate Members of the Wittlesbach
-->
*''Ludwig I of Bavaria (1786-1868)''
**''Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria, 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) Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria (1937)
**** ''Prince Franz of Bavaria (1875-1957)''
***** ''Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (1913–2008)''
****** (3) Prince Luitpold of Bavaria (b. 1951)
******* (4) Prince Ludwig Heinrich (born 14 June 1982)
******* (5) Prince Heinrich Rudolf (born 23 January 1986)
******** (6) Prince Maximilian (born 2021)
******* (7) Prince Karl Rupprecht (born 10 March 1987)
***** ''Prince Rasso Maximilian Rupprecht of Bavaria (1926-2011)''
****** (8) Wolfgang Rupprecht Maria Theodor of Bavaria (born 1960)
******* (9) Prince Tassilo (born 1992)
******* (10) Prince Richard (born 1993)
******* (11) Prince Philip (born 1996)
****** (12) Christoph Ludwig Maria of Bavaria (born 1962)
******* (13) Prince Corbinian (born 1996)
******* (14) Prince Stanislaus (born 1997)
******* (15) Prince Marcello (born 1998)
** ''Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (1828–1875)''
*** ''Prince Ludwig Ferdinand of Bavaria (1859-1949)''
**** ''Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (1886–1970)''
***** ''Prince Konstantin of Bavaria (1920-1969)''
****** (16) Prince Leopold of Bavaria (born 1943), potential Wittlesbach pretender to the throne of Greece due to Ludwig III's renounciation of the Greek throne for him and his descendants.
******* (17) Prince Manuel (born 1972)
******** (18) Prince Leopold (born 2007)
******** (19) Prince Gabriel (born 2010)
******** (20) Prince Joseph (born 2019)
******* (21) Prince Konstantin (born 1986)
******** (22) Prince Alexis (born 2020)
****** (23) Prince Adalbert (born 1944)
******* (24) Prince Hubertus of Bavaria (born 1989)
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:Palatinate branch
Some of the most important castles and palaces of the Palatinate Wittelsbach were: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).Coats of arms
A full armorial of the Wittelsbach family can be found on the French-language Wikipedia at :fr:Armorial de la famille de Wittelsbach, Armorial of the House of Wittelsbach.Palatinate branch (senior line), issue of Rudolph I of the Palatine and Bavaria
Bavarian branch (junior branch), issue of Louis of Bavaria, extinct by 1777
See also
* Kings of Germany family tree
* List of rulers of Bavaria
* Electorate of the Palatinate, List of rulers of the Palatinate
* Asteroid 90712 Wittelsbach, Meanings of asteroid names, named in the castle and dynasty's honour
* Wittelsbach Diamond
* Monarchism in Bavaria after 1918
* List of coats of arms with the Palatine Lion
Notes
References
Héraldique Européenne
External links
Haus Bayern
– webpage of the Royal House of Bavaria (in German)
– Wittelsbach foundation (in German)
Die Genealogie der Wittelsbacher
– Genealogy of the Wittelsbach family (in German) * , - , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Wittelsbach, House Of House of Wittelsbach, Duchy of Bavaria Electorate of Bavaria History of the Palatinate (region) Ruling families of the County of Holland Ruling families of the Duchy of Berg