Stephen I. (March 14, 1271 – December 10, 1310) was the duke of

Lower Bavaria Lower Bavaria (, ; ) is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of the state. It consists of nine districts and 258 municipalities (including three cities). Geography Lower Bavaria is subdivided into two ...

from 1290 until 1310 as co-regnant of his older brothers

Otto III Otto III (June/July 980 – 23 January 1002) was the Holy Roman emperor and King of Italy from 996 until his death in 1002. A member of the Ottonian dynasty, Otto III was the only son of Emperor Otto II and his wife Theophanu. Otto III was c ...

(† 1312) and

Louis III Louis III may refer to: * Louis the Younger, sometimes III of Germany (835–882) * Louis III of France (865–882) * Louis the Blind, Louis III, Holy Roman Emperor, (c. 880–928) * Louis the Child, sometimes III of Germany (893–911) * Louis III ...

(† 1296).

Biography

Stephen was born in

Landshut Landshut (; ) is a town in Bavaria, Germany, on the banks of the Isar, River Isar. Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free state (government), Free State of Bavaria, and the seat of the surrou ...

, the son of Henry XIII, Duke of Bavaria and

Elizabeth of Hungary Elizabeth of Hungary (, , ; 7 July 120717 November 1231), also known as Elisabeth of Thuringia, was a princess of the Kingdom of Hungary and the landgravine of Thuringia. Elizabeth was married at the age of 14, and widowed at 20. After her hus ...

. His maternal grandparents were

Béla IV of Hungary Béla IV (1206 – 3 May 1270) was King of Hungary and King of Croatia, Croatia between 1235 and 1270, and Duke of Styria from 1254 to 1258. As the oldest son of Andrew II of Hungary, King Andrew II, he was crowned upon the initiative of a group ...

and Maria Laskarina. His mother introduced the name Stephen onto the

Wittelsbach The House of Wittelsbach () is a former Bavarian dynasty, with branches that have ruled over territories including the Electorate of Bavaria, the Electoral Palatinate, the Electorate of Cologne, County of Holland, Holland, County of Zeeland, ...

dynasty with her youngest son. She was a sister of

Stephen V of Hungary Stephen V (, , ; before 18 October 1239 – 6 August 1272) was King of Hungary and King of Croatia, Croatia between 1270 and 1272, and Duke of Styria from 1258 to 1260. He was the oldest son of King Béla IV and Maria Laskarina. King Béla ...

, and may have named her son after him. To reduce the influence of the Wittelsbach,

Pope Nicholas IV Pope Nicholas IV (; born Girolamo Masci; 30 September 1227 – 4 April 1292) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 22 February 1288 to his death, on 4 April 1292. He was the first Franciscan to be elected pope.McBrie ...

refused his spiritual career in

Salzburg Salzburg is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020 its population was 156,852. The city lies on the Salzach, Salzach River, near the border with Germany and at the foot of the Austrian Alps, Alps moun ...

and Stephen became a co-regnant of his brothers. During the absence of Otto III in Hungary 1305-1308, Stephen was the only governing duke of Lower Bavaria. Stephen was an enemy of the

Habsburg The House of Habsburg (; ), also known as the House of Austria, was one of the most powerful dynasties in the history of Europe and Western civilization. They were best known for their inbreeding and for ruling vast realms throughout Europe d ...

s and died in 1310 during a war against Frederick I of Austria.

Marriage and children

In 1299, Stephen married Jutta of Schweidnitz. She was a daughter of

Bolko I, Duke of Jawor and Świdnica Bolko is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Bolko I of Opole (1258–1313), Duke of Opole from 1282, Niemodlin and Strzelce Opolskie until his death *Bolko I the Strict Bolko (Bolesław) I the Strict, also known as Bolko (Boles� ...

and Beatrix of Brandenburg. Her maternal grandparents were Otto V, Margrave of Brandenburg-Salzwedel and Jutta of Hennenberg. They had eight children: *Agnes of Wittelsbach (1301 - 7 December 1316). Joined the

Cistercian The Cistercians (), officially the Order of Cistercians (, abbreviated as OCist or SOCist), are a Catholic religious order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines and follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, as well as the contri ...

Monastery at Seligenthal as a nun. *Beatrix of Wittelsbach (1302 - 29 April 1360). Married Henry III of Gorizia. Regent for their son John Henry IV of Gorizia. *Friedrich of Wittelsbach (c. 1303). Considered to have died young. *Judith of Wittelsbach (c. 1304). Considered to have died young. * Henry XIV, Duke of Bavaria (29 September 1305 - 1 September 1339). * Elizabeth of Wittelsbach (1306 - 25 March 1330). Married Otto, Duke of Austria. *

Otto IV, Duke of Lower Bavaria Otto IV (January 3, 1307 – December 14, 1334 in Munich) was a Duke of Lower Bavaria. Family He was a son of Stephen I, Duke of Bavaria and Jutta of Świdnica, Schweidnitz. His maternal grandparents were Bolko I, Duke of Jawor and Świdnica an ...

(3 January 1307 - 14 December 1334). *Ludwig of Wittelsbach (c. 1308). Considered to have died young.

References

Sources

External links

* {{Authority control 1271 births 1310 deaths 13th-century dukes of Bavaria 14th-century dukes of Bavaria House of Wittelsbach