Ludwig III, the last King of Bavaria, reigned 1913 – 1918; Credit – Wikipedia
The House of Wittelsbach ruled as Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. Today Bavaria is a landlocked federal state of Germany, occupying its southeastern corner. Maximilian IV Joseph, Prince-Elector of Bavaria allied his electorate with Napoleon and adopted many of the French beliefs of the Enlightenment. It was this loyal service to Napoleon through which Maximilian’s electorate was created the Kingdom of Bavaria with Maximilian at its head. He officially became the Maximilian I Joseph, the first King of Bavaria on January 1, 1806.
As World War I was drawing to a close, the German Revolution broke out in Bavaria. King Ludwig III fled Munich, the capital city, with his family, taking up residence at Anif Palace near Salzburg, Austria, thinking it would just be a temporary move. A week later, on November 13, 1918, King Ludwig III would be the first monarch in the German Empire to be deposed, bringing an end to 738 years of rule by the Wittelsbach dynasty.
The Kingdom of Bavaria (green) within the German Confederation (dark grey) in 1815; Credit – Wikipedia
- Holy Roman Empire, German Confederation, North German Confederation, and the German Empire Explained
- The Constituent States of the German Empire
- Glossary of German Noble and Royal Titles
If it says “Notable Issue” before a name, that means not all of the children for the parent of that person are listed. Also listed below are links to Bavarian Miscellaneous Articles and various Bavarian Content Areas.
House of Wittelsbach – Dukes, Electors, Kings of Bavaria (1180–1918)
Kingdom of Bavaria (1806 – 1918)
Family of Maximilian I Joseph, King of Bavaria
- Maximilian I Joseph, King of Bavaria (Elector of Bavaria 1799 – 1806, King of Bavaria 1806 – 1825)
- Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt, Duchess of Zweibrücken (1st wife of Maximilian Joseph)
- Notable Issue: Ludwig I, King of Bavaria (see below)
- Notable Issue: Caroline Augusta of Bavaria, Empress of Austria
- Caroline of Baden, Queen of Bavaria (2nd wife of Maximilian I Joseph)
- Notable Issue: Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria, Queen of Prussia
- Notable Issue: Amalie Auguste of Bavaria, Queen of Saxony
- Notable Issue: Maria Anna of Bavaria, Queen of Saxony
- Notable Issue: Sophie Friederike of Bavaria, Archduchess of Austria
- Notable Issue: Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria
- Notable Issue: Maximilian of Austria, Emperor of Mexico
- Notable Issue: Maria Anna of Austria, Queen of Saxony
Family of Ludwig I, King of Bavaria
- Ludwig I, King of Bavaria (reigned 1825 – 1848, abdicated)
- Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Queen of Bavaria (wife of Ludwig)
- Notable Issue: Maximilian II, King of Bavaria (see below)
- Notable Issue: Mathilde Karoline of Bavaria, Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine
- Notable Issue: Otto of Bavaria, King of Greece
- Notable Issue: Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria (see below)
- Notable Issue: Adelgunde of Bavaria, Duchess of Modena and Reggio
Family of Maximilian II, King of Bavaria
- Maximilian II, King of Bavaria (reigned 1848 – 1864)
- Marie of Prussia, Queen of Bavaria (wife of Maximilian II)
- Ludwig II, King of Bavaria (see below)
- Otto I, King of Bavaria (see below)
Ludwig II, King of Bavaria
- Ludwig II, King of Bavaria (unmarried, reigned 1864 – 1886)
Otto I, King of Bavaria
- Otto I, King of Bavaria (unmarried, reigned 1886 – 1913, deposed)
Family of Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria
- Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria (Regent from 1886 – 1912)
- Auguste of Austria, Princess of Bavaria (wife of Luitpold)
- Notable Issue: Ludwig III, King of Bavaria (see below)
Family of Ludwig III, King of Bavaria
- Ludwig III, King of Bavaria (Regent 1912 -1913, King of Bavaria 1913 – 1918, monarchy abolished)
- Maria Theresia of Austria-Este, Queen of Bavaria (wife of Ludwig III, had issue)
- Notable Issue: Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria (pretender to the former Bavarian throne and Head of the House of Wittelsbach)
- Notable Issue: Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria (pretender to the former Bavarian throne and Head of the House of Wittelsbach)
- Notable Issue: Franz, Duke of Bavaria (pretender to the former Bavarian throne and Head of the House of Wittelsbach)
- Notable Issue: Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria (pretender to the former Bavarian throne and Head of the House of Wittelsbach)
- Notable Issue: Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria (pretender to the former Bavarian throne and Head of the House of Wittelsbach)
Pretenders to the Throne
- LAST REIGNING: King Ludwig III of Bavaria
- Former: Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria
- Former: Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria
- Current: Franz, Duke of Bavaria
Other Bavarian Royals
- Karl VII, Holy Roman Emperor (1742 – 1745), also Karl I, Prince-Elector of Bavaria (1726 – 1745)
- Elisabeth of Bavaria, Empress of Austria (granddaughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria)
- Maria Sophie of Bavaria, Queen of the Two Sicilies (granddaughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria)
- Elisabeth of Bavaria, Queen of the Belgians (great-granddaughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria)
Bavarian Churches
- Cathedral of Our Lady (Frauenkirche) in Munich, Germany
- St. Michael’s Church in Munich, Germany
- Theatine Church of St. Cajetan in Munich, Germany
Bavarian Miscellaneous Articles
- Kingdom of Bavaria: An Overview
- Lola Montez, Mistress of King Ludwig I of Bavaria
- Oktoberfest’s Bavarian Royal Connection