Luitpold was born in Würzburg, the third son of King Ludwig I of Bavaria and of his wife Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. He was the younger brother of King Maximilian II of Bavaria and of King Otto of Greece. In addition to being in line to the throne of Bavaria, Luitpold was also heir presumptive to the throne of Greece since his brother Otto had no children. However, the Greek law of succession required that Otto's heir convert to the Eastern Orthodox Church in order to become king; Luitpold was not willing to do this. Otto was deposed in 1862 and replaced by a Danish prince who became King George I of Greece. Otto died in 1867, leaving Luitpold and his descendants as representatives of Otto's claim; however, Luitpold never pursued this.
On June 10, 1886, Luitpold's nephew King Ludwig II was declared mentally incompetent and Luitpold was named Regent. Following Ludwig II's mysterious death a few days later, Luitpold continued to serve as regent for the new king, Otto, Ludwig's insane brother. First Luitpold was even accused by some people to be the murderer of his nephew, but later the decent and affable prince became one of Bavaria's most popular rulers. One of his first actions (on August 1, 1886) was to open several of the palaces of Ludwig II to the public.
Luitpold continued to serve as regent until his death of bronchitis in 1912 in Munich, when he was succeeded by his eldest son, Ludwig. He is buried in the crypt of the Theatinerkirche in Munich.
Luitpold was born in Würzburg, the third son of King Ludwig I of Bavaria and of his wife Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. He was the younger brother of King Maximilian II of Bavaria and of King Otto of Greece. In addition to being in line to the throne of Bavaria, Luitpold was also heir presumptive to the throne of Greece since his brother Otto had no children. However, the Greek law of succession required that Otto's heir convert to the Eastern Orthodox Church in order to become king; Luitpold was not willing to do this. Otto was deposed in 1862 and replaced by a Danish prince who became King George I of Greece. Otto died in 1867, leaving Luitpold and his descendants as representatives of Otto's claim; however, Luitpold never pursued this.
On June 10, 1886, Luitpold's nephew King Ludwig II was declared mentally incompetent and Luitpold was named Regent. Following Ludwig II's mysterious death a few days later, Luitpold continued to serve as regent for the new king, Otto, Ludwig's insane brother. First Luitpold was even accused by some people to be the murderer of his nephew, but later the decent and affable prince became one of Bavaria's most popular rulers. One of his first actions (on August 1, 1886) was to open several of the palaces of Ludwig II to the public.
Luitpold continued to serve as regent until his death of bronchitis in 1912 in Munich, when he was succeeded by his eldest son, Ludwig. He is buried in the crypt of the Theatinerkirche in Munich.
Family Members
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Maximilian Joseph von Bayern
1811–1864
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Maximilian Joseph von Bayern II
1811–1864
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Mathilde Karoline von Bayern
1813–1862
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Otto of Bavaria
1815–1867
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Theodolinde Charlotte Louise von Bayern
1816–1817
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Adelgunde Auguste Charlotte Caroline Elisabeth Amalie Marie von Bayern
1823–1914
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Hildegard Luise Charlotte von Bayern
1825–1864
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Alexandra Amalia von Bayern
1826–1875
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Adalbert Wilhelm von Bayern
1828–1875
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