List of rulers of Bavaria

Coat of arms of Bavaria.

The following is a list of rulers during the history of Bavaria. Bavaria was ruled by several dukes and kings, partitioned and reunited, under several dynasties. Since 1949, Bavaria has been a democratic state in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Dynastic overview

Agilolfing dynasty, 548–788

      Agilolfing dynasty

Around 548 the kings of the Franks placed the border region of Bavaria under the administration of a duke — possibly Frankish or possibly chosen from amongst the local leading families — who was supposed to act as a regional governor for the Frankish king. The first duke we know of, and likely the first, was Gariwald, or Garibald I, a member of the powerful Agilolfing family. This was the beginning of a series of Agilolfing dukes that was to last until 788.

Carolingian dynasty, 788–911

      Carolingian dynasty

The Kings (later Emperors) of the Franks now assumed complete control, placing Bavaria under the rule of non-hereditary governors and civil servants. They were not Dukes but rather Kings of Bavaria. The Emperor Louis the Pious divided control of the Empire among his sons, and the divisions became permanent in the decades following his death in 840. The Frankish rulers controlled Bavaria as part of their possessions.

Luitpolding dynasty, 911–947

      Luitpolding dynasty

Luitpold, founder of the Luitpolding dynasty, was not a Duke of Bavaria but a Margrave of Carinthia under the rule of Louis the Child. Frankish power had waned in the region due to Hungarian attacks, allowing the local rulers greater independence. Luitpold's son, Arnulf, claimed the title of Duke (implying full autonomy) in 911, and was recognized as such by the German King Henry the Fowler in 920.

German kings, 947–1070

      Ottonian dynasty       Salian dynasty

From 947 until the 11th century, the kings of Germany repeatedly transferred Bavaria into different hands (including their own), never allowing any one family to establish itself. Bavaria was ruled by a series of short-lasting, mostly unrelated dynasties.

Houses of Welf and Babenberg, 1070–1180

      Houses of Welf and Babenberg

In 1070, Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor deposed duke Otto, granting the duchy instead to Welf I, Duke of Bavaria, a member of the Italo-Bavarian family of Este. Welf I subsequently quarreled with King Henry and was deprived of his duchy for nineteen years, during which it was directly administered by the German crown. Welf I recovered the duchy in 1096, and was succeeded by his sons Welf II and Henry IX — the latter was succeeded by his son Henry X, who also became Duke of Saxony.

Wittelsbach dynasty, 1180–1918

File:Wappen Deutsches Reich - Königreich Bayern (Grosses).jpg

Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Bavaria

      Wittelsbach dynasty

In 1180, Henry XII the Lion and Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, fell out, and Frederick dispossessed the duke and gave his territory to Otto I Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavaria of the House of Wittelsbach. Bavaria remained in the possession of various branches of the family until the First World War.

First partition, 1253–1340

In 1253, on Otto II's death, Bavaria was divided between his sons. Henry became Duke of Lower Bavaria, and Louis of Upper Bavaria. From this point until the beginning of the 16th century, the territories were frequently divided between brothers, making the Dukes difficult to list.

In Lower Bavaria, Henry XIII was succeeded by his three sons, Otto III, Louis III, and Stephen I ruling jointly. Otto III's successor in the joint dukedom was his son Henry XV. Stephen's successors were his sons Otto IV and Henry XIV. Henry XIV's son was John I.

In Upper Bavaria, Louis II was succeeded by his sons Rudolf I and Louis IV. The latter was elected King of Germany in 1314. After John I's death in 1340, Louis IV unified the Bavarian duchy.

The dukes of Upper Bavaria served also as Counts Palatinate of the Rhine. In 1329 Louis IV released the Palatinate of the Rhine including the Bavarian Upper Palatinate to the sons of Rudolf I. The Upper Palatinate would be reunited with Bavaria in 1623, the Lower Palatinate in 1777.

Second partition 1349–1503

From 1349 until 1503 the second partition of Bavaria took place. In 1349, the six sons of Louis IV partitioned Bavaria into Upper and Lower Bavaria again. In 1353, Lower Bavaria was partitioned into Bavaria-Landshut and Bavaria-Straubing. Upper Bavaria was partitioned between Bavaria-Straubing and Bavaria-Landshut in 1363. After the death of Stephan II in 1392, Bavaria-Landshut was broken into three duchies, John II, Duke of Bavaria gained Bavaria-Munich, Frederick, Duke of Bavaria-Landshut received a smaller Bavaria-Landshut, and in Bavaria-Ingolstadt ruled Stephen III, Duke of Bavaria.

1349–1363

Duchy of Lower Bavaria In 1353, Lower Bavaria was partitioned into Bavaria-Landshut and Bavaria-Straubing.				Duchy of Upper Bavaria In 1363, Upper Bavaria was annexed by Bavaria-Landshut.
Duchy of Bavaria-Landshut		Duchy of Bavaria-Straubing Also Counts of Holland, Zeeland and Hainaut
Duchy of Bavaria-Landshut				Duchy of Bavaria-Straubing

1363–1425/29

Duchy of Bavaria-Landshut In 1392, Bavaria-Landshut was broken into three duchies, Bavaria-Munich, a smaller Bavaria-Landshut, and Bavaria-Ingolstadt.			Duchy of Bavaria-Straubing In 1429, Bavaria-Straubing was partitioned among the other Bavarian duchies.
Duchy of Bavaria-Munich	Duchy of Bavaria-Landshut	Duchy of Bavaria-Ingolstadt
Duchy of Bavaria-Munich		Duchy of Bavaria-Landshut	Duchy of Bavaria-Ingolstadt

1429–1503

Duchy of Bavaria-Munich Bavaria-Munich was partitioned into a smaller Bavaria-Munich and Bavaria-Dachau in 1467.		Duchy of Bavaria-Landshut	Duchy of Bavaria-Ingolstadt Bavaria-Ingolstadt was annexed by Bavaria-Landshut in 1447.
Duchy of Bavaria-Munich	Duchy of Bavaria-Dachau Bavaria-Dachau was reunited with Bavaria-Munich in 1501.	Duchy of Bavaria-Landshut Bavaria-Landshut was annexed by Bavaria-Munich in 1503.
Duchy of Bavaria-Munich

Following the Landshut War (1503–1505), the Duke of Bavaria-Munich Albert IV the Wise became ruler of Bavaria. In 1506 Albert decreed that the duchy should pass according to the rules of primogeniture.

In 1623 Maximilian I was granted the title Prince-elector (German: Kurfürst) of the Rhenish Palatinate in 1623.

Kings of Bavaria, 1806–1918

Main article: King of Bavaria

In 1805 under the Peace of Pressburg between the Napoleonic France and the Holy Roman Empire several duchies were elevated to kingdoms. The Wittelsbach rulers of Bavaria held the title King of Bavaria from 1806 until 1918. The prince-elector of Bavaria, Maximilian IV Joseph formally assumed the title King Maximilian I of Bavaria on 1 January 1806. The well-known so called Märchenkönig (Fairy tale king) Ludwig II constructed Neuschwanstein Castle, Herrenchiemsee, and Linderhof Palace during his reign (1864–1886), bankrupting the country in the process. In 1918 Ludwig III lost his throne in the German Revolution of 1918–1919.

Post-monarchy

Main article: List of Ministers-President of Bavaria

In 1918 — at the end of the First World War in the German Revolution of 1918–1919  Bavaria became a democratic republic in the Weimar Republic; the name for the period of Germany from 1919 to 1933. Since then the rulers of Bavaria are minister presidents.

Table of rulers

      Agilolfing dynasty       Carolingian dynasty       Luitpolding dynasty       Ottonian dynasty       Salian dynasty       Houses of Welf and Babenberg       Wittelsbach dynasty

Ducal Bavaria

Name	Image	Title	Start term	End term	House	Part	Note
Garibald I		Duke of Bavaria	555 (c.)	591	Agilolfings		Some sources call him "King of the Bavarians".
Tassilo I		Duke of Bavaria	591 (c.)	610	Agilolfings		Named rex (king) at his ascension.
Garibald II		Duke of Bavaria	610 (c.)	630	Agilolfings
Theodo		Duke of Bavaria	680 (c.)	716 (?)	Agilolfings		By the time of Theodo, who died in 716 or 717, the Bavarian duchy had achieved complete independence from the Frankish kings. Theodo's sons divided the duchy, but by 719 the rule had returned to Grimoald.
Theodbert		Duke	702 (c.)	719	Agilolfings	Salzburg	Son of Theodo.
Theobald		Duke	711 (c.)	719	Agilolfings	Parts of Bavaria	Son of Theodo.
Tassilo II		Duke	716 (c.)	719	Agilolfings	Passau	Son of Theodo.
Grimoald		Duke	716 (c.)	725	Agilolfings	Freising	Son of Theodo, later ruling all of Bavaria.
Hugbert		Duke	725	737	Agilolfings		Son of Theudbert. In 725(?), Charles Martel, ruler in fact though not in name of the Frankish realm, reasserted royal supremacy over Bavaria, defeating and killing Grimoald and annexing portions of Bavaria during the rule of Hugbert.
Odilo			737	748	Agilolfings		Son of Gotfrid.
Grifo			748	748	Carolingian		Usurper
Tassilo III		Duke of Bavaria	748	788	Agilolfings		In 757 Tassilo III recognized the suzerainty of the Frankish kings Pippin III and did homage to Charlemagne in 781, and again in 787, while pursued an independent policy. In 788, Charlemagne had Tassilo sentenced to death on a charge of treason. Tassilo, granted pardon, entered a monastery and formally renounced his duchy at Frankfurt am Main in 794.

Carolingian Bavaria and Dominion from the Holy Roman Empire

Name	Image	Title	Start term	End term	House	Part	Note
Charlemagne		Emperor	788	794	Carolingian
Gerold of Vinzgouw		Prefect of Bavaria	794	799	Udalriching		Appointed Baioariæ præfectus by Charlemagne. Died in battle.
Charlemagne		Emperor	794	814	Carolingian
Lothair I		Emperor	814	817	Carolingian
Louis I the Pious		Emperor	817	829	Carolingian		In 817, Louis bestowed Bavaria upon his then-youngest son, Louis the German.
Louis II the German		King of Bavaria	817	865	Carolingian		Louis was to rule as King of Bavaria, subordinate to his father, until the latter's death in 840. From 843, Bavaria was merged in Louis the German's Kingdom of East Francia. In 864, Louis the German gave control of Bavaria to his son Carloman, and died in 876. Louis' two younger sons, Louis and Charles — the latter of whom briefly recovered control of all the Frankish possessions — ruled Bavaria in succession after Carloman.
Carloman		King of Bavaria	864	880	Carolingian		Eldest son of Louis the German.
Louis III the Younger		King of Bavaria	880	882	Carolingian		Son of Louis the German.
Charles the Fat		King of Bavaria	882	887	Carolingian		Youngest son of Louis the German. Carloman's bastard son, Arnulf of Carinthia, rebelled against Charles and took power in eastern Francia shortly before Charles' death.
Arnulf of Carinthia		King of Bavaria	887	899	Carolingian		Son of Carloman.
Louis IV the Child		King of Bavaria	899	911	Carolingian		Son of Arnulf of Carinthia.
Engeldeo		Margrave of Bavaria	890	895			Deprived of his title marchio Baioariorum and replaced by Luitpold.
Luitpold		Margrave of Bavaria	895	907	Luitpolding
Arnulf the Bad		Duke of Bavaria	907	920	Luitpolding		Son of Luitpold. Arnulf the Bad claimed the title of Duke — implying full autonomy — in 911, and was recognized as such by the German King Henry the Fowler, in 920.

Ducal Bavaria

Name	Image	Title	Start term	End term	House	Part	Note
Arnulf the Bad		Duke of Bavaria	920	937	Luitpolding		Son of Luitpold. Arnulf the Bad claimed the title of Duke — implying full autonomy — in 911, and was recognized as such by the German King Henry the Fowler, in 920.
Eberhard		Duke of Bavaria	937	938	Luitpolding
Berthold		Duke of Bavaria	938	947	Luitpolding		Younger son of Luitpold. The German King Otto I reasserted central authority, banishing Arnulf's son Eberhard and re-granting the title to Berthold, a younger son of Luitpold.
Henry I		Duke of Bavaria	947	955	Ottonian		Son of Henry the Fowler. On Berthold's death, Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, gave the duchy to his own brother Henry (I), who was also Arnulf the Bad's son-in-law.
Henry II the Quarrelsome		Duke of Bavaria	955	976	Ottonian		Henry II made war upon his cousin, Emperor Otto II, and was deprived of his duchy in 976 in favor of his cousin Otto, Duke of Swabia (who now acquired two dukedoms).
Otto I		Duke of Bavaria	976	982	Ottonian
Henry III the Younger		Duke of Bavaria	983	985	Luitpolding		Bavaria was given to Berthold's son Henry III, briefly restoring the Luitpolding dynasty. Henry III exchanged Bavaria for Carinthia, and Henry II received Bavaria again.
Henry II the Quarrelsome		Duke of Bavaria	985	995	Ottonian		Restored
Henry IV		Duke of Bavaria	995	1004	Ottonian		Son of Henry II the Quarrelsome. Henry IV was elected as Holy Roman Emperor Henry II, who gave Bavaria to his brother-in-law Henry V, Count of Luxemburg in 1004.
Henry V		Duke of Bavaria	1004	1009	Luxemburg		Son of Siegfried of Luxembourg.
Henry IV		Duke of Bavaria	1009	1017	Ottonian		Henry IV reasserted direct control.
Henry V		Duke of Bavaria	1017	1026	Luxemburg		Son of Siegfried of Luxembourg. Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Germany, gave Bavaria to his son Henry VI after the death of Henry V in 1026.
Henry VI the Black		Duke of Bavaria	1026	1042	Salian		Son of Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor. Later Henry was elected as Holy Roman Emperor Henry III, and became King of Germany in 1039.
Henry VII		Duke of Bavaria	1042	1047	Luxemburg		Son of Frederick of Luxembourg. In 1042, Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor, granted the duchy to Henry VII, Count of Luxemburg, nephew of Henry V.
Conrad I (Kuno)		Duke of Bavaria	1049	1053	Ezzonen		Son of Liudolf of Lotharingia. After Henry VII's death, the dukedom was vacant for a couple of years. Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor, then gave the duchy to Kuno, Count of Zütphen, in 1049. Kuno was deposed in 1053.
Henry VIII		Duke of Bavaria	1053	1054	Salian		Son of Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor. During his reign in Bavaria Henry VIII was a minor (born 1050). In 1056 he became King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor as Henry IV in 1084.
Conrad II		Duke of Bavaria	1054	1055	Salian		(minor, born 1052, died 1055) Son of Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VIII		Duke of Bavaria	1055	1061	Salian		(minor: born 1050) Son of Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor. Henry VIII became King of Germany (1056) and Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor in 1084.
Otto II		Duke of Bavaria	1061	1070	Northeim		In 1061 Empress Agnes — the 11-year-old King Henry IV's mother and regent — entrusted the duchy to Otto of Nordheim.
Welf I		Duke of Bavaria	1070	1077	Welf		Welf I subsequently quarreled with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor and was deprived of his duchy for nineteen years, during which it was directly administered by the German crown.
Henry VIII		Duke of Bavaria	1077	1096	Salian		(minor: born 1050) Son of Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor. Henry VIII became King of Germany (1056) and Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor in 1084.
Welf I		Duke of Bavaria	1096	1101	Welf		Welf I recovered the duchy in 1096.
Welf II		Duke of Bavaria	1101	1120	Welf		Son of Welf I
Henry IX the Black		Duke of Bavaria	1120	1126	Welf		Son of Welf I. Abdicated.
Henry X the Proud		Duke of Bavaria	1126	1138	Welf		Son of Henry IX the Black. In a power struggle with King Conrad III of Germany, Henry X lost his duchy to the King, who granted it to his follower Leopold Margrave of Austria.
Leopold I		Duke of Bavaria	1139	1141	Babenberg		When Leopold died, Conrad III of Germany resumed the duchy and granted it to Leopold's brother Henry XI.
Henry XI Jasomirgott		Duke of Bavaria	1143	1156	Babenberg		Brother of Leopold.
Henry XII the Lion		Duke of Bavaria	1156	1180	Welf		When Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, became king of Germany, he restored Bavaria to the Welf line in the person of Henry X's son, Henry XII the Lion, Duke of Saxony.
Otto III		Duke of Bavaria	1180	1183	Wittelsbach		In 1180 Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor gave Bavaria to Otto I Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavaria of the House of Wittelsbach.
Agnes of Loon (regent)		Regent of Bavaria	1183	1191	Wittelsbach		Regent on behalf of her son, Louis I. She managed to secure the inheritance of her son.
Louis I		Duke of Bavaria	1183	1231	Wittelsbach		Son of Otto I. Louis obtained the Palatinate of the Rhine in 1214. So Louis I served also as Count Palatine of the Rhine. He was assassinated 1231.
Otto IV		Duke of Bavaria	1231	1253	Wittelsbach		Otto II served also as Count Palatine of the Rhine. On Otto II's death, Bavaria was divided between his sons. Henry became duke of Lower Bavaria, and Louis of Upper Bavaria. From this point until the beginning of the 16th century, the territories were frequently divided between brothers.
Henry XIII		Duke of Bavaria	1253	1290	Wittelsbach	Lower Bavaria	Son of Otto II (co-ruler)
Louis II		Duke of Bavaria	1253	1294	Wittelsbach	Upper Bavaria	Son of Otto II (co-ruler)
Louis III		Duke of Bavaria	1290	1296	Wittelsbach	Lower Bavaria	Son of Henry XIII (co-ruler)
Stephen I		Duke of Bavaria	1290	1309	Wittelsbach	Lower Bavaria	Son of Henry XIII (co-ruler)
Otto V		Duke of Bavaria	1290	1312	Wittelsbach	Lower Bavaria	Son of Henry XIII (co-ruler). King of Hungary 1306–08
Matilda of Habsburg (regent)		Regent of Bavaria	1294	1296	Wittelsbach		Regent on behalf of her son, Rudolf.
Rudolf I		Duke of Bavaria	1294	1317	Wittelsbach	Upper Bavaria	Son of Louis II (co-ruler)
Louis IV		Duke of Bavaria	1294	1347	Wittelsbach	Lower Bavaria (as regent) Upper Bavaria Bavaria (1340–1347)	Son of Louis II. Co-ruled with his brother Rudolf I until 1317 — then alone. Louis IV was elected King of Germany in 1314. In the Treaty of Pavia (1329) Louis IV released the Palatinate of the Rhine including the Bavarian Upper Palatinate to the sons of Rudolf I. After John I the Child's death in 1340, Louis IV unified the Bavarian duchy.
Otto VI		Duke of Bavaria	1309	1334	Wittelsbach	Lower Bavaria	Son of Stephen I (co-ruler)
Henry XIV the Elder		Duke of Bavaria	1309	1339	Wittelsbach	Lower Bavaria	Son of Stephen I (co-ruler)
Henry XV the Natterberger		Duke of Bavaria	1312	1333	Wittelsbach	Lower Bavaria	Son of Otto III (co-ruler)
John I the Child		Duke of Bavaria	1339	1340	Wittelsbach	Lower Bavaria	Son of Henry XIV the Elder (co-ruler). After John I's death in 1340, Louis IV unified the Bavarian duchy (1340–1349).
Louis V the Brandenburger		Duke of Bavaria	1347	1361	Wittelsbach	Bavaria and 2nd partition	Son of Louis IV. United Bavaria (1340–1349): Co-ruler with Stephan II, Louis VI the Roman, William I, Albert I, Otto V Upper Bavaria (1349–1361): Co-ruler with Louis VI the Roman and Otto V
Stephan II		Duke of Bavaria	1347	1375	Wittelsbach	Bavaria and 2nd partition	Son of Louis IV. United Bavaria (1340–1349): Co-ruler with Louis V the Brandenburger, Louis VI the Roman, William I, Albert I, Otto V Lower Bavaria (1349–1353): Co-ruler with Albert I and William I Bavaria-Landshut (1353–1375)
Louis VI the Roman		Duke of Bavaria	1347	1351	Wittelsbach	Bavaria and 2nd partition	Son of Louis IV. United Bavaria (1340–1349): Co-ruler with Louis V the Brandenburger, Stephan II, William I, Albert I, Otto V Upper Bavaria (1349–1351): Co-ruler with Louis V the Brandenburger and Otto V
William I		Duke of Bavaria	1347	1388	Wittelsbach	Bavaria and 2nd partition	Son of Louis IV. United Bavaria (1340–1349): Co-ruler with Louis V the Brandenburger, Stephan II, Louis VI the Roman, Albert I, Otto V Lower Bavaria (1349–1353): Co-ruler with Albert I and Stephan II Bavaria-Straubing (1353–1388): Co-ruler with Albert I and Albert II
Albert I		Duke of Bavaria	1347	1404	Wittelsbach	Bavaria and 2nd partition	Son of Louis IV. United Bavaria (1340–1349): Co-ruler with Louis V the Brandenburger, Stephan II, Louis VI the Roman, William I, Otto V Lower Bavaria (1349–1353): Co-ruler with Stephan II and William I Bavaria-Straubing (1353–1404): Co-ruler with William I and Albert II (Since 1397 alone)
Otto VII the Lazy		Duke of Bavaria	1347	1351	Wittelsbach	Bavaria and 2nd partition	Son of Louis IV. United Bavaria (1340–1349): Co-ruler with Louis V the Brandenburger, Stephan II, Louis VI the Roman, William I, Albert I Upper Bavaria (1349–1351): Co-ruler with Louis VI the Roman and Louis V the Brandenburger Bavaria-Landshut (1375–1379): Co-ruler with John II, Frederick the Wise and Stephen III the Magnificent
Meinhard			1361	1363	Wittelsbach	Upper Bavaria	Son of Louis V the Brandenburger. Margrave of Tyrol. After his death in 1363, Upper Bavaria was partitioned between Bavaria-Straubing and Bavaria-Landshut.
John II		Duke of Bavaria	1375	1397	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Landshut Bavaria-Munich	Son of Stephan II Bavaria-Landshut (1375–1392): Co-ruler with Otto VII, Frederick, Stephen III Bavaria-Munich (1392–1397)
Frederick the Wise		Duke of Bavaria-Landshut	1375	1393	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Landshut	Son of Stephan II Bavaria-Landshut (1375–1392): Co-ruler with Otto VII, John II, Stephen III 1392–1392 alone
Stephen III the Magnificent			1375	1413	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Landshut Bavaria-Ingolstadt	Son of Stephan II Bavaria-Landshut (1375–1392): Co-ruler with Otto VII, John II, Frederick Bavaria-Ingolstadt (1392–1413)
Albert II		Duke of Bavaria-Straubing	1389	1397	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Straubing	Son of Albert I. Co-ruler with Albert I.
Henry XVI the Rich		Duke of Bavaria-Landshut	1392	1450	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Landshut	Son of Frederick, annexed Bavaria-Ingolstadt in 1447.
William III		Duke of Bavaria-Munich	1397	1435	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Munich	Son of John II. Co-ruler with Ernest
Ernest		Duke of Bavaria-Munich	1397	1438	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Munich	Son of John II. Co-ruler with William III (Alone from 1435)
William II		Duke of Bavaria-Straubing	1404	1417	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Straubing	Son of Albert I
Louis VII the Bearded		Duke of Bavaria-Ingolstadt	1413	1443	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Ingolstadt	Son of Stephen III
Jacqueline		Duchess of Bavaria-Straubing	1417	1432	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Straubing	Daughter of William II, Duke of Bavaria-Straubing. Until 1425 contested by John III the Pitiless. In 1432 Bavaria-Straubing was partitioned among the other Bavarian duchies.
John III the Pitiless		Duke of Bavaria-Straubing	1418	1425	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Straubing	Son of Albert I. Contested Jacqueline until his death 1425.
Albert III		Duke of Bavaria-Munich	1438	1460	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Munich	Son of Ernest
Louis VIII the Younger		Duke of Bavaria-Ingolstadt	1443	1445	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Ingolstadt	Son Louis VII the Bearded. Bavaria-Ingolstadt was annexed by Bavaria-Landshut in 1447.
Louis IX the Rich		Duke of Bavaria-Landshut	1450	1479	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Landshut	Son of Henry XVI the Rich
John IV		Duke of Bavaria	1460	1463	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Munich	Son of Albert III. Co-ruler with Sigismund and Albert IV the Wise
Sigismund			1460	1501	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Munich Bavaria-Dachau	Son of Albert III Bavaria-Munich (1460–1467): Co-ruler with John IV and Albert IV the Wise Bavaria-Dachau (1467–1501) Bavaria-Dachau was reunited with Bavaria-Munich in 1501.
George the Rich		Duke of Bavaria-Landshut	1479	1503	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Landshut	Son of Louis IX the Rich. Bavaria-Landshut was annexed by Bavaria-Munich.

Duchy of Bavaria

Further information: Duchy of Bavaria

Name	Image	Title	Start term	End term	House	Part	Note
Albert IV Albrecht IV		Duke of Bavaria	1463	18 March 1508	Wittelsbach	Bavaria-Munich	Son of Albert III, he became ruler of the greater part of Bavaria following the Landshut War (1503–1505). In 1506 Albert decreed that the duchy should pass according to the rules of primogeniture. Called "the Wise." Bavaria-Munich (1463–1467): Co-ruler with Sigismund and John IV. Bavaria-Munich was partitioned into a smaller Bavaria-Munich and Bavaria-Dachau in 1467.
William IV Wilhelm IV		Duke of Bavaria	18 March 1508	6 March 1550	Wittelsbach		Son of Albert IV the Wise. Co-ruler with Louis X
Louis X Ludwig X		Duke of Bavaria	1516	22 April 1545	Wittelsbach		Son of Albert IV the Wise. Co-ruler with William IV
Albert V Albrecht V		Duke of Bavaria	6 March 1550	24 October 1579	Wittelsbach		Son of William IV
William V Wilhelm V		Duke of Bavaria	24 October 1579	15 October 1597	Wittelsbach		Son of Albert V, abdicated, died 1626.
Maximilian I		Prince-elector of Bavaria	23 December 1597	25 February 1623	Wittelsbach		Son of William V. Maximilian I, was an ally of Emperor Ferdinand II in the Thirty Years' War. When the Elector of the Palatinate, Frederick V, head of a senior branch of the Wittelsbachs, became involved in the war against the Emperor, he was stripped of his Imperial offices and the Prince-elector title. Maximilian I was granted the Electorate of the Palatinate in 1623.

Electorate of Bavaria

Further information: Electorate of Bavaria

Name	Image	Title	Start term	End term	House	Note
Maximilian I		Prince-elector of Bavaria	25 February 1623	27 September 1651	Wittelsbach	In 1648, Frederick of the Palatinate's heir was restored to his Rhenish territory — but not to the Oberpfalz ceded to Bavaria — together with a new Electorate; Maximilian retained the Electorate granted him in 1623.
Ferdinand Maria		Prince-elector of Bavaria	27 September 1651	26 May 1679	Wittelsbach	Son of Maximilian I. 1651-1654 under regency of his uncle Albert VI of Bavaria.
Maximilian II Emanuel		Prince-elector of Bavaria	26 May 1679	26 February 1726	Wittelsbach	Son of Ferdinand Maria and Princess Henriette Adelaide of Savoy. Maximilian II took part in the War of the Spanish Succession on the side of France, against the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I. He was accordingly forced to flee Bavaria following the Battle of Blenheim and deprived of his Electorate on 29 April 1706. He regained his Electorate in 1714 by the Peace of Baden and ruled until 1726.
Charles Albert Karl Albrecht		Prince-elector of Bavaria	26 February 1726	20 January 1745	Wittelsbach	Son of Maximilian II Emanuel. Charles Albert once again took on the House of Habsburg in the War of the Austrian Succession, again in combination with France, succeeding so far as to be elected Holy Roman Emperor in 1742 (as Charles VII). However, the Austrians occupied Bavaria (1742–1744), and the Emperor died shortly after returning to Munich.
Maximilian III Joseph		Prince-elector of Bavaria	20 January 1745	30 December 1777	Wittelsbach	Son of Charles Albert. Maximilian III, who had no children, was the last of the direct Bavarian Wittelsbach line descended from Louis IV. He was succeeded by the Elector of the Palatinate, Charles Theodore, who thereby regained their old titles for the senior Wittelsbach line — descended from Louis IV's older brother Rudolf I.
Charles Theodore Karl Theodor		Elector of the Palatinate	30 December 1777	16 February 1799	Wittelsbach	Son of John Christian, Count of Palatinate-Sulzbach and Marie Anne Henriëtte Leopoldine de La Tour d'Auvergne. Distant cousin of Maximilian III; Elector Palatine from 1743. Charles Theodore was also childless, and was succeeded by a distant cousin, the Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, Maximilian IV Joseph — later King Maximilian I.
Maximilian IV Joseph		Elector of the Palatinate	16 February 1799	6 August 1806	Wittelsbach	Son of Count Palatine Frederick Michael of Zweibrücken. Distant cousin of Charles Theodore; Count Palatine of Zweibrücken from 1795. In the chaos of the wars of the French Revolution, the old order of the Holy Roman Empire collapsed. In the course of these events, Bavaria became once again the ally of France, and Maximilian IV Joseph became King Maximilian I of Bavaria — whilst remaining Prince-Elector and Arch-steward of the Holy Roman Empire until 6 August 1806, when the Holy Roman Empire was abolished.

Kingdom of Bavaria

Further information: Kingdom of Bavaria

Name	Image	Title	Start term	End term	House	Note
Maximilian I		King of Bavaria	1 January 1806	13 October 1825	Wittelsbach	see above
Ludwig I		King of Bavaria	13 October 1825	20 March 1848	Wittelsbach	Son of Maximilian I Joseph. Abdicated in the Revolutions of 1848
Maximilian II		King of Bavaria	20 March 1848	10 March 1864	Wittelsbach	Son of Ludwig I
Ludwig II		King of Bavaria	10 March 1864	13 June 1886	Wittelsbach	Son of Maximilian II Ludwig II was called the Märchenkönig (Fairy tale king). He acceded to Bavaria becoming a component of the German Empire in 1871, he was declared insane in 1886.
Otto		King of Bavaria	13 June 1886	5 November 1913	Wittelsbach	Son of Maximilian II. Otto was mentally ill throughout his reign, and his functions were carried out by the following princes regent: Prince Luitpold of Bavaria 10 June 1886 – 12 December 1912 Prince Ludwig of Bavaria 12 December 1912 – 5 November 1913
Ludwig III		King of Bavaria	5 November 1913	13 November 1918	Wittelsbach	Son of Prince Luitpold. Prince regent from 1912 until 1913, Then King of Bavaria, he lost his throne in the German Revolution of 1918–1919 at the end of World War I.

For later rulers, see List of Ministers-President of Bavaria.

External links

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• Media related to at Wikimedia Commons