Duke in Bavaria

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The title of Duke in Bavaria (Herzog in Bayern) was created on 16 February 1799 for the Wilhelm, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld-Gelnhausen and his descendants. The title of Duke in Bavaria was chosen because Bavaria already had a Duke, the Elector Maximilian IV Joseph, Wilhelm's second cousin once removed and brother-in-law. The two cousins and their children were the only remaining male-line members of the great Wittelsbach dynasty.

In 1965 the wife of the head of the family died without having had any children, and the only surviving male members of the family were the widowed Duke Ludwig Wilhelm and his cousin the childless Duke Luitpold. Duke Ludwig Wilhelm then adopted as his heir Prince Max Emanuel of Bavaria, second son of Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria, the Head of the Royal House of Wittelsbach. The present family of Dukes and Duchesses in Bavaria are Max Emanuel's children.

[edit] Ancestors

Wilhelm, the first Duke in Bavaria, was descended from the line of Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld-Gelnhausen. His ancestors were:

Wolfgang, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken (1526 – 1569), m. Anna of Hesse.
Karl I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld (1560 - 1600), fifth son of Wolfgang, m. Dorothea of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Christian I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Bischweiler (1598 - 1654), third son of Karl, m. his cousin Magdalene Katharine of Zweibrücken, a daughter of John II, Count Palatine of Pfalz-Zweibrücken and Cathérine de Rohan.
Johann Karl of Zweibrücken-Gelnhausen (1638 - 1704), second surviving son of Christian, m. Esther Marie von Witzleben. They were parents of several sons.
Johann of Zweibrücken-Gelnhausen (1698 - 1780), second son of Johann Karl, m. Sophie Charlotte of Wild, father of Wilhelm, Duke in Bavaria.

[edit] Dukes in Bavaria

The members of the family used the title Duke or Duchess in Bavaria, with the style of Royal Highness.

Duke Wilhelm in Bavaria (1752-1837), m. 1780 Countess Palatine Maria Anna of Birkenfeld (1753-1824), and had issue:
- Maria Elisabeth Amalie Franziska (1784-1849), m. 1808 Louis Alexandre Berthier, sovereign Prince of Neuchâtel (1753-1815), and had issue.
- Pius August (1786-1837), m. 1807 Princess and Duchess Amalie of Arenberg (1789-1823), and had issue:
  - Maximilian Joseph (1808-1888), m. 1828 Princess Ludovika of Bavaria (1808-1892) and had issue:
    - Ludwig Wilhelm (1831-1920), left morganatic issue.
    - Wilhelm Karl (1832-1833).
    - Caroline Therese Helene (1834-1890), m. 1858 Hereditary Prince Maximilian of Thurn and Taxis (1831-1867) and had issue.
    - Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie (1837-1898), m. 1854 Emperor Franz Josef of Austria (1830-1916) and had issue.
    - Karl Theodor (1839-1909), m. 1865 Princess Sophie of Saxony (1845-1867) and had issue:
      - Amalie Marie (1865-1912, m. 1892 Duke Wilhelm of Urach (1864-1928) and had issue.
    - Duke Karl Theodor m. secondly 1874 Infanta Maria Josefa of Portugal (1857-1943) and had further issue:
      - Sophie (1875-1957), m. 1898 Count Hans Viet of Toerring-Jettenbach (1862-1929) and had issue.
      - Elisabeth (1876-1965), m. 1900 King Albert I of the Belgians (1875-1934) and had issue.
      - Marie Gabrielle (1878-1912), m. 1900 Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria (1869-1955) and had issue.
      - Ludwig Wilhelm (1884-1968), m. 1917 Princess Eleonore of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1880-1965); in 1965 he adopted:
        
        Prince Max-Emanuel of Bavaria (born 1937), who thereby became Duke in Bavaria; he m. 1967 Countess Elizabeth Douglas (born 1940) and has issue:
        
        Sophie (born 1967), m. 1993 Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein (born 1968) and has issue.
        
        Marie Caroline (born 1969), m. 1991 Duke Philipp of Württemberg (born 1964) and has issue.
        
        Helene (born 1972).
        
        Elizabeth (born 1973), m. 2004 Dr. Daniel Terberger (born 1967) and has issue.
        
        Anna (born 1975).
      - Franz Josef (1888-1912).
    - Marie Sophie Amalie (1841-1925), m. 1859 King Francesco II of the Two Sicilies (1836-1894) and had issue.
    - Mathilde Ludovika (1843-1925), m. 1861 Prince Lodovico of the Two Sicilies, Count of Trani (1838-1886) and had issue.
    - Sofie Charlotte Augustine (1847-1897), m. 1868 Prince Ferdinand of Orléans, Duke of Alençon (1844-1910) and had issue.
    - Maximilian Emanuel (1849-1893), m. 1875 Princess Amalie of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1848-1894) and had issue:
      - Siegfried (1876-1952).
      - Christoph (1879-1963), m. 1924 Anna Sibig (1874-1958).
      - Luitpold (1898-1973).