Franz, Duke of Bavaria

Franz Bonaventura Adalbert Maria Herzog von Bayern (born July 14 1933), styled as His Royal Highness The Duke of Bavaria, is head of the Wittelsbach family, the former ruling family of the Kingdom of Bavaria. He was born in Munich, the son of Albrecht Herzog von Bayern and of his first wife, Countess Maria Draskovich von Traskotjan. He is a great-grandson of the last King of Bavaria, Ludwig III, who was deposed in 1918.

Related Topics:
July 14 - 1933 - Duke of Bavaria - Wittelsbach - Kingdom of Bavaria - Munich - Albrecht - King of Bavaria - Ludwig III - 1918

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 Germany occupied Hungary, and the following October the entire family including Franz, now aged 11, were arrested by the Nazis. They were sent to a series of concentration camps including Oranienburg and Dachau. At the end of April 1945 they were liberated by the United States Third Army.

Related Topics:
Nazi - 1939 - Hungary - Budapest - 1943 - 1944 - Nazis - Concentration camp - Oranienburg - Dachau - 1945

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After the war Franz did 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.

Related Topics:
Ettal - University of Munich - Zurich - Munich

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Wittelsbachs continue to be held in high esteem in Bavaria, and are treated in many respects as though they were still a royal dynasty, although none of their titles are recognised under German law. Franz is a Senator of the University of Munich and an Honorary Member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and 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, but he does not use these titles.

Related Topics:
Royal House of Stuart - Jacobites - England - Scotland - France - Ireland

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Franz has never married and on his death his position as head of the House of Wittelsbach will pass to his brother Max Herzog in Bayern, (that is Duke "in", not "of", Bavaria). Since Max has no son the Bavarian titles will pass after his death to a cousin, Ludwig Prinz von Bayern, and his descendants, while the position of heir of the House of Stuart will pass to Max's daughter Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~