Franz, Duke of Bavaria

Infobox_pretender
English name = Franz, Duke of Bavaria


birth_date = Birth date and age|1933|07|14|mf=y
birthplace = Munich
death_date =
deathplace =
regnal =
title = Duke of Bavaria
throne = Bavaria, England, Scotland, Ireland
pretend from = July 18, 1996
year = 1918
king = Ludwig III
relationship = Great-grandson
house = Wittelsbach
father = Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria
mother = Countess Maria Draskovich von Traskotjan
spouse =
children =
predecessor = Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria
successor =
footnotes =

Franz Bonaventura Adalbert Maria Herzog von Bayern [German title|Herzog] (born July 14, 1933, as "Franz Bonaventura Adalbert Maria Prinz [German title|Prinz] von Bayern"), styled as "His Royal Highness The Duke of Bavaria", is head of the Wittelsbach family, the former ruling family of the Kingdom of Bavaria. His surname at birth was "Prinz von Bayern" ( _en. Prince of Bavaria). ["Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels", Band 50, Fürstliche Häuser Band IX. Limburg an der Lahn: C. A. Starke, 1971, page 7.] In 1997, after the death of his father, he changed his surname to "Herzog von Bayern" ( _en. Duke of Bavaria). ["Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels", Band 141, Fürstliche Häuser Band XVIII. Limburg an der Lahn: C. A. Starke, 2007, page 2.] [ [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.talk.royalty/msg/434b52162f67b487 Daniel A. Willis, "Bavaria"] ]

Franz is a great-grandson of the last King of Bavaria, Ludwig III, who was deposed in 1918. He is also the current senior co-heir-general of King Charles I of England and Scotland, and thus is considered by Jacobites to be the heir of the House of Stuart and the rightful ruler of England, Scotland and Ireland, though he himself does not advance the claim.

Early life

Franz was born in Munich, the morganatic son of Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria and his first wife, Countess Maria Draskovich von Traskotjan. In 1945 his parents' marriage was recognised as dynastic.

The Wittelsbachs were opposed to the Nazi regime in Germany, and in 1939 Franz's father Albrecht took his family to Hungary. They lived in Budapest for four years before moving to Somlovar Castle in late 1943. In March 1944, Nazi Germany occupied Hungary. On October 6, 1944, the entire family including Franz, then aged 11, were arrested. They were sent to a series of Nazi concentration camps including Oranienburg and Dachau. At the end of April 1945 they were liberated by the United States Third Army.

After the war Franz received his high-school education at the Benedictine Abbey of Ettal. He then studied business management at the University of Munich and in Zurich. Franz developed a passion for collecting modern art; today many items from his private collection are on permanent loan to the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich.

Wittelsbach Dynasty today

Under German law royal titles are not recognised legally, but can be used as a part of a surname. Franz lives in an apartment in Nymphenburg Palace, the former summer residence of the kings of Bavaria, in Munich.

Franz is the current Grand Master of the Royal Order of Saint George for the Defense of the Immaculate Conception.ICOC Dynastic orders 2006 register] He is also Grand Master of the Order of Saint Hubert and the Order of Saint Theresa (for Ladies). He is a Senator of the University of Munich and an Honorary Member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities. He holds many honorary positions in civic and religious organisations in Bavaria.

Franz is the heir-general of the Royal House of Stuart and thus is regarded by Jacobites as the rightful King of England and Scotland. Jacobites refer to him as King Francis II of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, though he himself does not use these titles.

uccession rights

Franz has never married. On his death his position as head of the House of Wittelsbach will pass to his brother Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria. Because Max has no sons, the Bavarian titles will pass after his death to his first cousin, once removed, Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and his descendants, while the position of heir of the House of Stuart will pass to Max's daughter Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein.

Titles and styles

*14 July 1933 — 1945: Franz Prinz von Bayern
*1945 — 18 July 1996: "His Royal Highness" Prince Franz of Bavaria
*18 July 1996 — present: "His Royal Highness" The Duke of Bavaria

The Duke's full title is "His Royal Highness Franz, Duke of Bavaria, of Fraconia and in Swabia; Count Palatine of the Rhine". In accordance with precedent Franz has not assumed the higher title of king.

ee also

*English claims to the French throne

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Die Wittelsbacher. Geschichte unserer Familie. Adalbert, Prinz von Bayern. Prestel Verlag, München, 1979
* International Commission for Orders of Chivalry. [http://www.icocregister.org/2006dynastic.htm 2006 register - DYNASTIC ORDERS]

External links

*
*
*
*

ahnentafel-compact5
style=font-size: 90%; line-height: 110%;
border=1
boxstyle=padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;
boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;
boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;
boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe;
1= 1. Franz, Duke of Bavaria
2= 2. Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria
3= 3. Countess Mária Draskovich of Trakostyán
4= 4. Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria
5= 5. Duchess Marie Gabrielle in Bavaria
6= 6. Count Dionys Draskovich of Trakostyán
7= 7. Princess Juliana of Montenuovo
8= 8. Ludwig III of Bavaria
9= 9. Archduchess Maria Theresia of Austria-Este
10= 10. Karl-Theodor, Duke in Bavaria
11= 11. Infanta Maria Josepha of Portugal
12= 12. Count Pál Draskovich of Trakostyán
13= 13. Countess Mária Festetics of Tolna
14= 14. Alfred, Prince of Montenuovo
15= 15. Countess Francesa Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau
16= 16. Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria
17= 17. Archduchess Augusta of Tuscany
18= 18. Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este
19= 19. Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria
20= 20. Maximilian Joseph, Duke in Bavaria
21= 21. Princess Ludovika of Bavaria
22= 22. Miguel of Portugal
23= 23. Princess Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg
24= 24. Count Kelroly Draskovich of Trakostyán
25= 25. Countess Erzsébet Batthyány
26= 26. Count Denes Festetics of Tolna
27= 27. Karolina Zichy
28= 28. Wilhelm Albrecht, Prince of Montenuovo
29= 29. Countess Juliane Batthyány
30= 30. Count Ferdinand Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau
31= 31. Princess Maria of Liechtenstein