Franz, Duke of Bavaria

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Pretender Franz, Duke of Bavaria
Born	July 14, 1933 (1933-07-14) (age 74) Munich
Title(s)	Duke of Bavaria
Throne(s) claimed	Bavaria
Pretend from	July 18, 1996
Monarchy abolished	1918
Last monarch	Ludwig III
Connection with	Great-grandson
Royal House	Wittelsbach
Father	Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria
Mother	Countess Maria Draskovich von Traskotjan
Predecessor	Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria

Franz Bonaventura Adalbert Maria Herzog^[1] von Bayern (born July 14, 1933 as Franz Bonaventura Adalbert Maria Prinz^[2] 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 (English: Prince of Bavaria)^[3]. In 1997, after the death of his father, he changed his surname to Herzog von Bayern (English: Duke of Bavaria).^{[4] [5]}

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.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Wittelsbach Dynasty today 3 Succession rights 4 Titles and styles 5 Ancestry 6 External links 7 Notes 8 References

[edit] Early life

Franz was born in Munich, the son of Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria and of his first wife, Countess Maria Draskovich von Traskotjan.

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.

[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 lives in an apartment in Nymphenburg Palace, the former summer residence of the kings of Bavaria outside Munich.

Franz is the current Grand Master of the Royal Order of Saint George for the Defense of the Immaculate Conception. 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.

[edit] Succession 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 uncle 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] Titles and styles

• 14 July 1933 — 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.

[edit] Ancestry

v • d • e Ancestry of Franz, Duke of Bavaria

16. Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria               8. Ludwig III of Bavaria                       17. Archduchess Augusta of Tuscany               4. Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria                             18. Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este               9. Archduchess Maria Theresia of Austria-Este                       19. Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria               2. Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria                                   20. Maximilian Joseph, Duke in Bavaria               10. Karl-Theodor, Duke in Bavaria                       21. Princess Ludovika of Bavaria               5. Duchess Marie Gabrielle in Bavaria                             22. Miguel of Portugal               11. Infanta Maria Josepha of Portugal                       23. Princess Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg               1. Franz, Duke of Bavaria                                         24. Count Kelroly Draskovich of Trakostyán               12. Count Pál Draskovich of Trakostyán                       25. Countess Erzsébet Batthyány               6. Count Dionys Draskovich of Trakostyán                             26. Count Denes Festetics of Tolna               13. Countess Mária Festetics of Tolna                       27. Karolina Zichy               3. Countess Mária Draskovich of Trakostyán                                   28. Wilhelm Albrecht, Prince of Montenuovo               14. Alfred, Prince of Montenuovo                       29. Countess Juliane Batthyány               7. Princess Juliana of Montenuovo                             30. Count Ferdinand Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau               15. Countess Francesa Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau                       31. Princess Maria 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
• Act repeal could make Franz Herzog von Bayern new King of England and Scotland, Daily Telegraph

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Regarding personal names: Herzog is a title, translated as Duke, not a first or middle name. The female form is Herzogin.
2. ^ Regarding personal names: Prinz is a title, translated as Prince, not a first or middle name. The female form is Prinzessin.
3. ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Band 50, Fürstliche Häuser Band IX. Limburg an der Lahn: C.A. Starke, 1971, page 7.
4. ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Band 141, Fürstliche Häuser Band XVIII. Limburg an der Lahn: C.A. Starke, 2007, page 2.
5. ^ Daniel A. Willis, "Bavaria"

[edit] References

• Die Wittelsbacher. Geschichte unserer Familie. Adalbert, Prinz von Bayern. Prestel Verlag, München, 1979

Franz, Duke of Bavaria House of Wittelsbach Born: 14 July 1933
Titles in pretence
Preceded by Duke Albrecht	— TITULAR — King of Bavaria July 8, 1996 – present Reason for succession failure: Kingdom abolished in 1918	Incumbent Designated heir: Duke Max
	Jacobite succession July 8, 1996 – present

Pretenders to the Bavarian throne since 1918
King Ludwig III (1918-1921) Crown Prince Rupprecht (1921-1955) Duke Albrecht (1955-1996) Duke Franz (1996-)
See also House of Wittelsbach