John II, Duke of Bavaria

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Duke John II of Bavaria-Munich (1341 – 1397), (German: Johann II, Herzog von Bayern-München), since 1375 Duke of Bavaria-Munich. He was the third son of Stephen II and Elizabeth of Sicily.

[edit] Family

His maternal grandparents were Frederick III of Sicily and Eleanor of Anjou. Her parents were Charles II of Naples and Maria Arpad of Hungary.

Maria was a daughter of Stephen V of Hungary and his wife, queen Elisabeth, who was daughter of Zayhan of Kuni, a chief of the Cuman tribe and had been a pagan before her marriage.

Stephen V was a son of Béla IV of Hungary and Maria Laskarina. Maria Laskarina was a daughter of Theodore I Lascaris and Anna Angelina. Anna was daughter of Eastern Roman Emperor Alexius III and Euphrosyne Doukaina Kamaterina.

[edit] Duke of Bavaria

From 1375 to 1392 John ruled in Bavaria-Landshut with his brothers Stephen III and Frederick. In 1392 John initiated a new partition of Bavaria since he refused to finance the Italian adventures of his brothers who were both married with daughters of Bernabò Visconti but also Stephen's expensive holding of court. Bavaria-Landshut then was reduced since Bavaria-Ingolstadt and Bavaria-Munich were created.

John ruled alone in Bavaria-Munich for three years until 1395, but 1395 to 1397 he shared his power again with Stephen III again after an armed conflict between both brothers. John II was succeeded by his sons Ernest and William III who finally managed to enforce their sole rule over Bavaria-Munich against Stephen III. John II is buried in the Frauenkirche in Munich.

[edit] Marriage and children

He married 1372 Katharina of Görz. They children were:

1. Ernest I of Bavaria-Munich (1373–2 July 1438, Munich).
2. William III of Bavaria-Munich (1375, Munich–1435, Munich).
3. Sofia of Bavaria (1376–26 September 1425, Pressburg), married in Prague 2 May 1389 King Wenceslaus.

He also had illegitimate son, Johann Grünwalder (1393–1452), who was Cardinal and Bishop of Freising.

John II, Duke of Bavaria House of Wittelsbach Born: 1341 Died: 1397
Regnal titles
Preceded by Stephen II	Duke of Bavaria-Munich 1375–1397	Succeeded by Ernest