Franz, Duke of Bavaria
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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, Duke of Bavaria 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. He is also the current senior co-heir-general of Charles I, King 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 and Scotland, though he himself does not advance the claim.
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[edit] History
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.
[edit] Education
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.
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[edit] Wittelsbach Dynasty today
The Wittelsbachs continue to be held in high esteem in Bavaria. Under German law their titles are only recognised legally as a part of their surnames. 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, though he himself does not use these titles.
Franz is also, according to the provisions of 1843 Greek Constitution, the heir of the deposed king Otto of Greece, his late great-great-granduncle who died in 1867. Otto had always declined to convert to the Orthodox creed, but it was intended that his successors should be Orthodox. Also, the reign of Franz' great-grandfather Louis III in Bavaria (1913-18), a kingdom other than Greece, may have impeded the theoretical Greek succession, since the Greek Constitution forbade the sovereign to be ruler of another country. Theoretically, it is possible in 1913, that the rights to the throne of Greece would have devolved to Prince Leopold of Bavaria, next brother of King Louis, and son-in-law of the Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) of Austria.
He is current Grand Master of the Royal Order of Saint George for the Defense of the Immaculate Conception.
[edit] Succession rights
Franz has never married and on his death his position as head of the House of Wittelsbach will pass to his brother Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria, (that is Duke "in", not "of", Bavaria). Because Max has no sons, the Bavarian titles will pass after his death to a cousin, Prince Luitpold of Bavaria or Luitpold's son, 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.
[edit] External links
- Francis II (Jacobite)
- Francis II King of Scots (de jure)
- The (Bavarian and Jacobite) Royal Family, the Nazis, and the Second World War
| Preceded by Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria |
Head of the House of Wittelsbach 1996-present |
Incumbent Designated heir: Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria |
| Jacobite succession 1996-present |
