Defunct
86-521: Defunct The Bavarian monarchy ended with the declaration of a republic after the Anif declaration by King Ludwig III on 12 November 1918 as a consequence of Germany's defeat in the First World War . Monarchism was thereafter particularly strong between 1918 and 1933, when an attempt was made to either make Crown Prince Rupprecht king or general state commissioner in an attempt to forestall
172-658: A clear commitment to the monarchy while Rupprecht only declared that he had stepped into his birthright. In 1932, when it became ever more likely that the National Socialists under Adolf Hitler could take power in Bavaria and Germany, the restoration of the monarchy was seen as the only possible way to avoid this fate. Talks about a possible restoration were held as early as May 1932 between Baron Erwein von Aretin and Bavarian prime minister Heinrich Held . The Bavarian conservative and labour parties supported such
258-704: A guarantee of her continued sovereign and independent status. On 14 October, Bavaria made a formal declaration of war against Napoleonic France. The treaty was passionately backed by Crown Prince Ludwig and by Marshal Karl Philipp von Wrede . With the Battle of Leipzig in October 1813 ended the German Campaign with the Coalition nations as the victors, in a complete failure for the French, although they achieved
344-533: A minor victory when a Bavarian army attempted to block the retreat of the French Grande Armée at Hanau . With the defeat of Napoleon's France in 1814, Bavaria lost the territories it had gained from Austria, but was compensated for some of its losses, receiving new territories such as the Grand Duchy of Würzburg , the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt and parts of the Grand Duchy of Hesse . Finally,
430-671: A move. Fritz Schäffer , leader of the Bavarian People's Party , planned to create the position of Generalstaatskommissar for the crown prince. Wilhelm Hoegner and Erhard Auer , leaders of the Social Democratic Party of Germany , supported the move. However, the Bavarian government under Heinrich Held hesitated to carry out such a step in February 1933, being discouraged to do so by the lack of support from
516-536: A privileged status for the Kingdom of Bavaria within the German Empire ( Reservatrechte ). The Kingdom of Bavaria was even able to retain its own diplomatic body and its own army, which would fall under Prussian command only in times of war. After Bavaria's entry into the empire, Ludwig II became increasingly detached from Bavaria's political affairs and spent vast amounts of money on personal projects, such as
602-539: A relation of Hauptstaat (main state, i.e. Bavaria) and Nebenstaat (alongside state, i.e. the Palatinate). In 1825, Ludwig I ascended the throne of Bavaria. Under Ludwig, the arts flourished in Bavaria, and Ludwig personally ordered and financially assisted the creation of many neoclassical buildings and architecture across Bavaria. Ludwig also increased Bavaria's pace towards industrialization under his reign. In foreign affairs under Ludwig's rule, Bavaria supported
688-739: A republic after the German Revolution , and the kingdom was thus succeeded by the current Free State of Bavaria . On 30 December 1777, the Bavarian line of the Wittelsbachs became extinct, and the Electorate of Bavaria passed to Charles Theodore , the Elector Palatine . After a separation of four and a half centuries, the Electoral Palatinate , to which the duchies of Jülich and Berg had been added,
774-604: A restoration would lead to a "terrible catastrophe". Von Hindenburg was only interested in a restoration of the House of Hohenzollern , not the King of Bavaria. All in all, the chances of restoration were slim in 1933 and slight after 1945. In the March 1933 German federal election the Nazis' support in the three electoral parts of Bavaria ranged from 35 to 50%. Despite some support from
860-587: A youth organisation. With the rise of the Nazis to power, the federation was outlawed and its leading members arrested. Resistance movements by former members were destroyed by the Gestapo between 1935 and 1939 and its leader, Adolf Freiherr von Harnier , died the day after being liberated by US forces through the effects of his incarceration in Straubing . Adolf Hitler 's 1923 " Beer Hall Putsch " in Munich had
946-550: The Anif Declaration on 12 November in which he absolved all government employees, officers, and soldiers of the Bavarian Army of their oath of loyalty to him. The following day, Kurt Eisner proclaimed himself prime minister of Bavaria, and falsely informed the public that the King had abdicated, despite that declaration having made no reference to an abdication. The crown prince , still in military service at
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#17327654659611032-609: The Confederation of the Rhine . The Duchy of Berg was ceded to Napoleon only in 1806. The new kingdom faced challenges from the outset of its creation, relying on the support of Napoleonic France . The kingdom was forced to give Napoleon conscripts for the Peninsular War , faced war with Austria in 1809 and from 1810 to 1814 lost territory to Württemberg and Italy . In 1808, all relics of serfdom were abolished. In
1118-546: The House of Wittelsbach as King of Bavaria in 1806. The crown continued to be held by the Wittelsbachs until the kingdom came to an end in 1918. Most of the border of modern Germany's Free State of Bavaria were established after 1814 with the Treaty of Paris , in which the Kingdom of Bavaria ceded Tyrol and Vorarlberg to the Austrian Empire while receiving Aschaffenburg and Würzburg . In 1918, Bavaria became
1204-639: The Munich Residenz with his family due to the outbreak of the German Revolution . He was the first of the monarchs in the German Empire to be deposed; only days later, the Kaiser abdicated the German throne. Ludwig took up residence in Austria for what was intended to be a temporary stay. On 12 November, he issued the Anif declaration , declaring that under the circumstances, he was "in no position to lead
1290-658: The North German Confederation , with the Prussian king leading the state. Bavaria's previous inhibitions towards Prussia changed, along with those of many of the south German states, after French Emperor Napoleon III began speaking of France 's need for "compensation" from its loss in 1814 and included the Bavarian-held Palatinate as part of its territorial claims. Ludwig II joined an alliance with Prussia in 1870 against France, which
1376-619: The Prinzregentenjahre ("The Prince Regent Years"). In 1912, Luitpold died, and his son, Prince Regent Ludwig, took over as regent. By then, it had long been apparent that Otto would never be able to reign, and sentiment grew for Ludwig to become king in his own right. On 6 November, a day after the Landtag passed a law allowing him to do so, Ludwig ended the regency, deposed Otto and declared himself King of Bavaria as Ludwig III . The Prinzregentenzeit ("prince's regent's time"), as
1462-670: The Rhenish Palatinate and Franconia were annexed to Bavaria in 1815. After the founding of the kingdom the state was totally reorganised and, in 1808, divided into 15 administrative government districts ( Regierungsbezirke , singular Regierungsbezirk ) in Bavaria called Kreise (singular Kreis ). They were created in the fashion of the French departements, quite even in size and population, and named after their main rivers: Altmühl-, Eisack-, Etsch-, Iller-, Inn-, Isar-, Lech-, Main-, Naab-, Oberdonau-, Pegnitz-, Regen-, Rezat-, Salzach- and Unterdonaukreis. Because of
1548-467: The Rhenish Palatinate was given to Bavaria by the Treaty of Munich . It was the second largest and second most powerful state south of the Main , behind only Austria. In Germany as a whole, it ranked third behind Prussia and Austria. Between 1799 and 1817, the leading minister Count Montgelas followed a strict policy of modernisation and laid the foundations of administrative structures that survived even
1634-705: The Social Democrats were elected to the parliament. From 1903, university education was also possible for female students . Electoral reforms changed the elections of the parliament from indirect to direct elections in 1906. With the Centre politician Georg von Hertling the Prince Regent appointed a government headed by a representative of the Landtag's majority for the first time in 1912. Luitpold's years as regent were marked by tremendous artistic and cultural activity in Bavaria where they are known as
1720-626: The Zollverein in 1834. In 1835, the first German railway was constructed in Bavaria, between the cities of Fürth and Nuremberg . In 1837, the Roman Catholic-supported clerical movement, the Ultramontanes , came to power in the Bavarian parliament and began a campaign of reform to the constitution, which removed civil rights that had earlier been granted to Protestants, as well as enforcing censorship and forbidding
1806-594: The rise of the Nazis to power in the state. Bavaria, ruled by the House of Wittelsbach from 1180, became a kingdom in 1805. In November 1918, in the face of growing unrest in Germany , the last prime minister of the Kingdom of Bavaria, Otto Ritter von Dandl , attempted to persuade the Bavarian King Ludwig III to relinquish the Bavarian throne. Ludwig was unwilling to do so but instead published
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#17327654659611892-589: The Austrian defeat at Hohenlinden , and Moreau once more occupied Munich. By the Treaty of Lunéville (9 February 1801), Bavaria lost the Palatinate and the duchies of Zweibrücken and Jülich . In view of the scarcely disguised ambitions and intrigues of the Austrian court, Montgelas now believed that the interests of Bavaria lay in a frank alliance with the French Republic; he succeeded in overcoming
1978-582: The Bavarian government used as a confirmation of their view that all possessions of the Wittelsbachs belonged to the state. In 1921, the House of Wittelsbach obtained an expert opinion that the parts of the constitution of 1818 in regards to their property were only valid as long as Bavaria remained a monarchy. After negotiations between the government and the Wittelsbachs, the Wittelsbacher Ausgleichsfonds (Wittelsbach compensation fund)
2064-515: The Duchy of Jülich-Berg had passed to the Palatinate branch of the House of Wittelsbach . The order was brought to Bavaria in 1778 when Charles Theodore , Duke of Jülich and Berg and Count-Elector Palatine, succeeded his childless cousin, Maximilian III Joseph as Elector of Bavaria . In 1799, Charles Theodore was succeeded by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria , a member of a different branch of
2150-609: The German Confederation had not agreed on a common strategy in the war. Their separate armies were therefore defeated in succession by Prussia. The Bavarian Army was defeated in Lower Franconia at the Battle of Kissingen (10 July 1866). Prince Karl Theodor of Bavaria took command, but the Bavarians were decisively beaten at Roßbrunn (26 July 1866). Austria was defeated, and the German Confederation
2236-641: The German President Paul von Hindenburg and the Reichswehr . The restoration of the monarchy in 1933 would have required a change of the Bavarian constitution , at that point difficult to achieve. The office of Generalstaatskommissar was more feasible for Rupprecht, but did not appeal to the monarchists, who wanted a King. In any case, Heinrich Held's extensive political demands made the step impossible. Hitler warned Held, on 1 March, that
2322-586: The German invasion of neutral Belgium the United Kingdom declared war on Germany. Initially, in Bavaria and all across Germany, many recruits flocked enthusiastically to the Army. At the outbreak of the war, King Ludwig III sent an official dispatch to Berlin, to express Bavaria's solidarity. Later Ludwig even claimed annexations for Bavaria (Alsace and the city of Antwerp in Belgium , to receive access to
2408-575: The Greeks during the Greek War of Independence with his second son, Otto being elected King of Greece in 1832. As for politics, initial reforms advocated by Ludwig were both liberal and reform-oriented. However, after the Revolutions of 1830 , Ludwig turned to conservative reaction. The Hambacher Fest in 1832 showed the discontent of the population with high taxes and censorship. Bavaria joined
2494-436: The House of Wittelsbach, declaring them property of the state. It also stopped all payments to the royal family. As legal grounds for this decision, the government used the constitution of 1818, which it interpreted as the Wittelsbachs having relinquished their fideicommis in favor of the state. Additionally, in 1834 an act granted the king an annual financial allowance and the right to use the royal palaces ( civil list ), which
2580-480: The Landtag as a House of Representatives and meant therefore indirectly the first step toward full parliamentary government. Today the connection of these two developments is regarded as a main cause for the unspectacular end of the Bavarian kingdom without opposition in the course of the November revolution of 1918. However the course of his 26-year regency Luitpold knew to overcome, by modesty, ability and popularity,
2666-549: The Nazis for the monarchy prior to 1933, all monarchist organisations in the state were banned almost immediately in 1933 and their members prosecuted. Crown Prince Rupprecht survived the war in Italy , while other members of the royal family were arrested in 1944. In 1945, a Bayerische Heimat- und Königspartei was formed. The US occupation authorities outlawed the party in 1946. Reformed in 1950, it never regained any momentum. The Bayerischer Heimat- und Königsbund "In Treue fest"
Monarchism in Bavaria after 1918 - Misplaced Pages Continue
2752-437: The abolition of the monarchy, the former King was laid to rest in front of the royal family, the Bavarian government, military personnel, and an estimated 100,000 spectators, in the style of royal funerals. Prince Rupprecht did not wish to use the occasion of the passing of his father to reestablish the monarchy by force, preferring to do so by legal means. Michael von Faulhaber , Archbishop of Munich , in his funeral speech, made
2838-562: The administration of the Prussian War Ministry. Bavaria however maintained a degree of autonomy in peacetime, with its own two (later three) army corps remaining outside the Prussian order of battle. The Bavarian infantry and cavalry regiments retained their historic light blue and green uniforms, distinctive from the Prussian model adopted throughout most of the army. The individual Bavarian soldier swore an oath of loyalty to King Ludwig, though in wartime this pledge of obedience
2924-706: The aftermath of the failure of the Frankfurt Parliament, Prussia and Austria continued to debate over which monarchy had the inherent right to rule Germany. A dispute between Austria and the Elector of Hesse-Kassel was used by Austria and its allies (including Bavaria) to promote the isolation of Prussia in German political affairs. This diplomatic insult almost led to war when Austria, Bavaria, and other allies moved troops through Bavaria towards Hesse-Kassel in 1850. However, Prussia backed down to Austria, and accepted its political leadership of Germany. This event
3010-631: The combined German forces, it was Ludwig II who proposed that Prussian King Wilhelm I be proclaimed German Emperor ( Kaiser ) of the new German Empire ( Deutsches Reich ), which occurred in 1871 at the German-occupied Palace of Versailles , France. The territories of the German Empire were declared, which included the states of the North German Confederation and all of the south German states, with
3096-481: The constitution with articles supporting the equality of all religions, despite opposition by supporters of the Roman Catholic Church. The initial constitution almost proved disastrous for the monarchy, with controversies such as the army having to swear allegiance to the new constitution. The monarchy appealed to Prussia and the Austria for advice; the two refused to take action on Bavaria's behalf, but
3182-722: The constitution, including changes to the lower house of the Landtag with equal suffrage for every male who paid a direct tax. Maximilian II responded to the demands of the people for a united German state by attending the Frankfurt Parliament , which intended to create such a state. However, when Maximilian II rejected the Frankfurt Constitution in 1849, there was an uprising in the Bavarian Palatinate under Joseph Martin Reichard , which
3268-529: The construction of a number of fairytale castles and palaces, the most famous being the Wagnerian -style Neuschwanstein Castle . Ludwig used his personal wealth to finance these projects, and not state funds, and the construction projects landed him deeply in debt. These debts caused much concern among Bavaria's political elite, who sought to persuade Ludwig to cease his building; he refused, and relations between
3354-425: The disturbances lessened and the state stabilized with the accession of Ludwig I to the throne following the death of Maximilian in 1825. Within the Kingdom of Bavaria, the Palatinate enjoyed a special legal and administrative position, as the Bavarian government maintained substantial achievements of the French period. The German historian Heiner Haan described the special status of the Palatinate within Bavaria as
3440-472: The eastern bank of the Rhine with the former capital Mannheim and Heidelberg was given to the Grand Duchy of Baden . The western bank was granted to Bavaria as compensation for the loss of Tyrol and Salzburg. After the Austro-Prussian War (1866) in which Bavaria had sided with defeated Austria, it had to cede several Lower Franconian districts to Prussia. The Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
3526-471: The flying of any other flag other than the Bavarian flag on public buildings for the emperor's birthday, but this was swiftly modified afterwards, allowing the German imperial flag to be hung beside the Bavarian flag. The Catholic, conservative Patriotic Party founded in 1868 became the leading party in the Bavarian Landtag (Parliament). In 1887, its name was changed to Bavarian Centre . In 1893,
Monarchism in Bavaria after 1918 - Misplaced Pages Continue
3612-500: The free discussion of internal politics. This regime was short-lived due to the demand by the Ultramontanes of the naturalization of Ludwig I's Irish mistress, Lola Montez , a notorious courtesan and dancer, which was resented by Ludwig, and the Ultramontanes were pushed out. During the Revolutions of 1848 , Ludwig abdicated on 20 March 1848 in favour of his eldest son, Maximilian II . The revolutions also brought amendments to
3698-453: The government's ministers and the crown deteriorated. At last, in 1886, the crisis came to a head. A medical commission appointed by the cabinet declared Ludwig insane and thus incapable of reigning. His uncle, Prince Luitpold , was appointed as regent . A day after Ludwig's deposition, the king died mysteriously after asking the commission's chief psychiatrist to go on a walk with him along Lake Starnberg (then called Lake Würm). Ludwig and
3784-553: The government." Accordingly, he released his soldiers and officials from their oath to him. Although he never formally abdicated, the socialist-led government of Kurt Eisner took Ludwig's declaration as such and declared the House of Wittelsbach deposed. With this, the 700-year rule of the Wittelsbach dynasty came to an end, and the former Kingdom of Bavaria became the People's State of Bavaria . The funeral of Ludwig III in 1921
3870-549: The hands of Prince Luitpold, who continued to serve as regent for Otto. During the regency of Prince-Regent Luitpold, from 1886 to 1912, relations between Bavaria and Prussia remained cold, with Bavarians remembering the anti-Catholic agenda of Bismarck's Kulturkampf , as well as Prussia's strategic dominance over the empire. Bavaria protested Prussian dominance over Germany and snubbed the Prussian-born German Emperor, Wilhelm II , in 1900, by forbidding
3956-470: The house of Wittelsbach, who became the first king of Bavaria . The motto is the title of two military marches , one by Carl Teike (1903, English title "Steadfast and True") and another by August Högn (1905). It is invoked in the final verse of the Argonnerwaldlied (1914). From 1909, the motto was embossed on the belt buckles of Bavarian troops . During the First World War , the motto
4042-417: The idea of a monarchy. "Monarchism", in a Bavarian context, was not the belief that a King should have direct power, but rather the belief that a monarch should be part of a traditional constitutional system of checks and balances, the very thing that Adolf Hitler both opposed and passionately hated. The funeral of Ludwig III on 5 November 1921 was feared or hoped to spark a restoration of the monarchy. Despite
4128-604: The immediate likelihood of war, tried to keep Bavaria neutral. Ludwig II refused Bismarck's offers and continued Bavaria's alliance with Austria. In 1866, the Austro-Prussian War began. Bavaria and most of the south German states allied with Austria, but contributed far less to the war against Prussia. Prussia quickly defeated the Kingdom of Hanover , then won the Battle of Königgrätz (3 July 1866) against Austria, which sued for peace shortly afterward. The states of
4214-406: The initial uneasiness of his subjects. These prince regent's years were transfigured, finally—above all in the retrospect – to a golden age of Bavaria, even if one mourned the "fairy tale king" Ludwig II, which happens in a folkloric-nostalgic manner till this day. With the establishment of the German Empire, a series of conventions brought the bulk of the various state military forces directly under
4300-459: The king changed his royal titles to Ludwig, King of Bavaria, Duke of Franconia, Duke in Swabia and Count Palatine of the Rhine and these were retained by his successors. The Palatinate which Bavaria had acquired was mainly the western part of the former Electoral Palatinate . Ludwig's plan to acquire also the former eastern part could not be realized. The electorate, a former dominion of the Bavarian Wittelsbach dynasty, had been split up in 1815,
4386-424: The loose German Confederation were opposed by Bavaria and Austria, with Bavaria taking part in its own discussions with Austria and other allies in 1863, in Frankfurt, without Prussia attending. In 1864, Maximilian II died early, and his eighteen-year-old son, Ludwig II , became King of Bavaria as tensions between Austria and Prussia escalated steadily. Prussian Minister-President Otto von Bismarck , recognizing
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#17327654659614472-510: The major exception of Austria. The empire also annexed the formerly French territory of Alsace-Lorraine , due in large part to Ludwig's desire to move the French frontier away from the Palatinate. Bavaria's entry into the German Empire changed from jubilation over France's defeat to dismay shortly afterward because of the direction Germany took under the new German Chancellor and Prussian Prime Minister, Otto von Bismarck . The Bavarian delegation under Count Otto von Bray-Steinburg had secured
4558-437: The members of which signed a convention with Moreau, by which he granted an armistice in return for a heavy contribution (7 September 1796). Between the French and the Austrians , Bavaria was now in a bad situation. Before the death of Charles Theodore (16 February 1799), the Austrians had again occupied the country, in preparation for renewing the war with France. Maximilian IV Joseph (of Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Zweibrücken ),
4644-408: The monarchy and are (in their core) valid until today. On 1 February 1817, Montgelas was dismissed and Bavaria entered a new era of constitutional reform. On 26 May 1818, Bavaria's second constitution was proclaimed. The constitution established a bicameral Parliament ( Landtag ). The upper house ( Kammer der Reichsräte , meaning "House of Councillors") comprised the aristocracy and noblemen, including
4730-544: The monarchy by force, preferring to do so by legal means. Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber , Archbishop of Munich , in his funeral speech, made a clear commitment to the monarchy while Rupprecht only declared that he had stepped into his birthright. When Napoleon established the Confederation of the Rhine , and Bavaria became a kingdom in 1806, its land area doubled. Tyrol (1806–1814) and Salzburg (1810–1816) were temporarily united with Bavaria but then returned (Tyrol) or ceded (Salzburg) to Habsburg/Austrian rule. In return
4816-417: The mutual loyalty between Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1909 as Nibelungentreue in his Reichstag speech of 29 March 1909. After the First World War it became the motto of German monarchists and of veteran associations also outside of Bavaria. Thus, IN TREUE FEST is inscribed on the war memorial in Sörhausen, Syke , Lower Saxony . In 1921, the Bavarian nationalist and royalist league In Treue fest
4902-413: The new Prime Minister of Bavaria. Accused of showing blind loyalty to Prussia, Ludwig III became increasingly unpopular during the war. In 1918, the kingdom attempted to negotiate a separate peace with the allies but failed. By 1918, civil unrest was spreading across Bavaria and Germany, Bavarian defiance to Prussian hegemony and Bavarian separatism being key motivators. On 7 November 1918, Ludwig fled from
4988-400: The new elector, succeeded to a difficult inheritance. Though his own sympathies, and those of his all-powerful minister, Maximilian von Montgelas , were, if anything, French rather than Austrian, the state of the Bavarian finances, and the fact that the Bavarian Army was scattered and disorganized, left him helpless in the hands of Austria; on 2 December 1800, the Bavarian Army was involved in
5074-658: The numerous territorial changes in 1810 and 1815, the divisions needed to be adjusted and the number of Kreise was reduced to 8: Isar-, Unterdonau-, Oberdonau-, Regen-, Rezat-, Untermain-, Obermain- and Rheinkreis. As of 1838, at the instigation of King Ludwig I, the Kreise were renamed after the former historical tribes and territories of the respective area in: Upper Bavaria , Lower Bavaria , Swabia and Neuburg , Upper Palatinate and Regensburg , Middle Franconia , Lower Franconia and Aschaffenburg , Upper Franconia and Palatinate . The town names of Neuburg, Regensburg and Aschaffenburg were later dropped. Accordingly,
5160-425: The office of a President of Bavaria, but those remained unsuccessful. In a survey in 1954, 70 of 193 conservative members of the Bavarian parliament still declared themselves to be royalists. However, with the passage of time, a stronger emphasis has been set on supporting Bavaria's identity rather than on a restoration of the monarchy, a step encouraged by the former royal family. Rupprecht died on 2 August 1955 and
5246-530: The psychiatrist were found dead, floating in the lake. The official autopsy listed cause of death as suicide by drowning, but some sources claim that no water was found in Ludwig's lungs. While these claims could be explained by dry drowning , they have also led to conspiracy theories of political assassination. The crown passed to Ludwig's brother Otto . However, Otto had a long history of mental illness and had been placed under medical supervision three years earlier. The duties of head of state actually rested in
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#17327654659615332-400: The public by the crown prince. A number of monarchist organisation were formed after the monarchy was abolished. The Bayerische Königspartei (English: Bavarian Royal Party ) was formed in November 1919. It had the declared aim of restoring the monarchy and the safeguarding of the Bavarian identity, fearing a reduction of Bavaria to a Prussian province. The party did not have the support of
5418-456: The regency of Luitpold is often called, was an era of the gradual transfer of Bavarian interests behind those of the German Empire. In connection with the unhappy end of the preceding rule of King Ludwig II this break in the Bavarian monarchy looked even stronger. Finally, the constitutional amendment of 1913 brought the determining break in the continuity of the king's rule in the opinion of historians, particularly as this change had been granted by
5504-421: The reluctance of Maximilian Joseph; and, on 24 August, a separate treaty of peace and alliance with France was signed at Paris. The 1805 Peace of Pressburg allowed Maximilian to raise Bavaria to the status of a kingdom. Accordingly, Maximilian proclaimed himself king on 1 January 1806 as Maximilian I. The king still served as an elector until Bavaria seceded from the Holy Roman Empire on 1 August 1806, joining
5590-413: The restoration of the monarchy as its pretext. However, it was carried out without the crown prince's knowledge and support, and collapsed. Rupprecht again did not want to take the crown by illegal means and thereby assured himself of Hitler's lasting enmity. Adolf Hitler made it clear at the time (and at his trial) that he believed in a Republic (in the strict sense of a land ruled by the people) and opposed
5676-580: The royal family who avoided any association and did not take part in any elections, instead concentrating on trying to force a referendum on the form of government in Bavaria. When it became known that high-ranking members of the party had had contacts to separatists of the Rhenish Republic and to France , it lost most of its members and was dissolved in 1926, with most members joining the Bayerischer Heimat- und Königsbund "In Treue fest" . The Bayerischer Heimat- und Königsbund "In Treue fest" (English: Bavarian Homeland and Royal Federation "Firm in Fidelity" )
5762-507: The royal princes, holders of the crown offices , archbishops, members of the Mediatized Houses in Bavaria and hereditary and lifelong nominees of the crown. The lower house ( Kammer der Abgeordneten , meaning "House of Representatives"), would include representatives of landowners, the three universities, clergy (Catholic and Protestant), the towns and the peasants. Without the consent of both houses, no law could be passed and no tax could be levied. The rights of Protestants were safeguarded in
5848-430: The same year, Maximilian promulgated Bavaria's first written constitution. Over the next five years, it was amended numerous times in accordance with Paris' wishes. During the French invasion of Russia in 1812 about 30,000 Bavarian soldiers were killed in action. With the Treaty of Ried of 8 October 1813 Bavaria left the Confederation of the Rhine and agreed to join the Sixth Coalition against Napoleon in exchange for
5934-405: The sea). His hidden agenda was to maintain the balance of power between Prussia and Bavaria within the German Empire after a victory. Over time, with a stalemated and bloody war on the western front, Bavarians, like many Germans, grew weary of the conflict. In 1917, the Bavarian Prime Minister Georg von Hertling became German Chancellor and Prime Minister of Prussia; Otto Ritter von Dandl became
6020-586: The time, made it clear that he had no intention of relinquishing his rights to the Bavarian throne and instead demanded that a freely elected Bavarian national assembly decide the future system of government. The Bavarian monarch was one of only five of the 22 German potentates not to relinquish his rights to the throne, the others being King Friedrich August III of Saxony , Duke Karl Eduard of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha , Prince Friedrich of Waldeck and Pyrmont and Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig of Hesse . The Bavarian government initially confiscated all property and possessions of
6106-425: Was a German state that succeeded the former Electorate of Bavaria in 1806 and continued to exist until 1918. With the unification of Germany into the German Empire in 1871, the kingdom became a federated state of the new empire and was second in size, power, and wealth only to the leading state, the Kingdom of Prussia . The polity 's foundation dates back to the ascension of Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of
6192-545: Was also reformed after the Second World War . In 1967, upon the suggestion of Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria , it was renamed Bayernbund , to focus more on safeguarding the Bavarian identity rather than on restoring the monarchy. Some hope was held that the monarchy could be reestablished after 1945, especially in the face of the monarchists' active participation in the German resistance . Attempts were made to establish
6278-432: Was dissolved, ending Austria's influence over the lesser German states. Bavaria lost Gersfeld , Bad Orb and Kaulsdorf to Prussia; former two became part of the new Province of Hesse-Nassau whereas the latter became part of Province of Saxony . From this time, Bavaria steadily progressed into Prussia's sphere of influence. With Austria's defeat in the Austro-Prussian War, the northern German states quickly unified into
6364-400: Was established in 1923. In this settlement, the former royal family was permitted to retain a number of palaces, large forest holdings, living rights in a number of other palaces, art collections and their secret house archives. A financial compensation was also awarded but the inflation of 1923 made the latter almost worthless. Most of the palaces and the art collection were made accessible to
6450-464: Was extended to Kaiser Wilhelm as supreme commander. In July 1914, the Bavarian Army numbered 92,400 or 11 percent of the total Imperial German Army . In 1914, a clash of alliances occurred over Austria-Hungary 's invasion of Serbia following the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Bosnian Serb militant. Germany went to the side of its former rival-turned-ally, Austria-Hungary, and declared war on France and Russia . Following
6536-410: Was feared or hoped to spark a restoration of the monarchy . Despite the abolition of the monarchy, the former king was laid to rest in front of the former royal family, the Bavarian government, military personnel, and an estimated 100,000 spectators, in the style of royal funerals. Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria did not wish to use the occasion of the passing of his father to attempt to re-establish
6622-418: Was formed in 1921. Its motto, " In Treue fest ", was the motto of the Bavarian Army and the Bavarian order of St. Hubertus . This organisation, too, was not supported by the crown prince, who felt that the Bavarian monarchy should not be associated with a political party or organisation. By 1932, it had a membership of 70,000 and was organised statewide, held special royal days and operated a social service and
6708-621: Was founded at the Sterneckerbräu . It was banned by the Nazis on 2 February 1933, and later re-established in 1952. Because of its association with monarchism, the motto unlike other German military slogans (notably the term Nibelungentreue ) remained unassociated with Nazi ideology and is still in use by a number of German associations, including Tambourcorps "In Treue fest" ( Anstel , founded 1919/20), Neusser Tambourkorps "In Treue fest" ( Neuss , founded 1968). Bavarian Studentenverbindung KBStV Rhaetia München (founded 1881) uses
6794-541: Was frequently reproduced on postcards and other memorabilia, often with the portraits of emperors Wilhelm II and Franz Joseph I . The "fidelity" invoked in the motto was now interpreted as referring to the loyalty of the German Empire and Austria-Hungary to their alliance of 1879 in view of the increasing political isolation of the Central Powers on the eve of the Great War . Bernhard von Bülow invoked
6880-472: Was known as the Punctation of Olmütz but also known as the "Humiliation of Olmütz" by Prussia. This event solidified the Bavarian kingdom's alliance with Austria against Prussia. When the project to unite the German middle-sized powers under Bavarian leadership against Prussia and Austria (the so-called Trias ) failed, Minister-President von der Pfordten resigned in 1859. Attempts by Prussia to reorganize
6966-528: Was never part of the Kingdom of Bavaria since it was annexed to Bavaria only in 1920. Ostheim was added to Bavaria in 1945. In the first half of the 20th. century, the initial terminology of Kreis and Bezirk gave way to Regierungsbezirk and Landkreis . Source: 48°08′00″N 11°34′00″E / 48.1333°N 11.5667°E / 48.1333; 11.5667 In Treue fest Defunct Defunct In Treue fest ( German for " steadfast in loyalty ; firm in fidelity")
7052-560: Was put down with the support of Prussian forces. However Maximilian II stood alongside Bavaria's ally, the Austrian Empire, in opposition to Austria's enemy, Prussia. This position was resented by many Bavarian citizens, who wanted a united Germany. In the end Prussia declined the crown offered by the Frankfurt Parliament as the proposed constitution of a German state was perceived to be too liberal and not in Prussia's interests. In
7138-629: Was seen by Germans as the greatest enemy to a united Germany. At the same time, Bavaria increased its political, legal, and trade ties with the North German Confederation. In 1870, war erupted between France and Prussia in the Franco-Prussian War . The Bavarian Army was sent under the command of the Prussian Crown Prince Frederick against the French Army . With France's defeat and humiliation against
7224-704: Was succeeded by his son Albrecht as the head of the House of Wittelsbach. Albrecht adopted the title Duke of Bavaria and was himself succeeded upon his death in 1996 by his son Franz . Franz Josef Strauss , the Minister-President of Bavaria from 1978 to 1988, was a strong supporter of the Bavarian monarchy. The pretenders to the throne of Bavaria since the end of the monarchy in 1918 have been: Kingdom of Bavaria The Kingdom of Bavaria ( German : Königreich Bayern [ˈkøːnɪkʁaɪç ˈbaɪɐn] ; Bavarian : Kinereich Bayern [ˈkɪnəraɪ̯x ˈb̥ajɛɐ̯n] ; spelled Baiern until 1825)
7310-517: Was the motto of the Kingdom of Bavaria (1805–1918) and of its Wittelsbach rulers, after the end of World War I used by Bavarian monarchists . The motto originates as that of the Order of Saint Hubert of the Dukes of Jülich and Berg , rendered in 15th-century Lower Franconian as in traw vast . The order was defunct during the 17th century, and revived in 1708 under Johann Wilhelm , by which time
7396-530: Was thus reunited with Bavaria. In 1793, the French Revolutionary Army overran the Palatinate; in 1795, the French , under Moreau , invaded Bavaria itself, advanced to Munich —where they were received with joy by the long-suppressed Liberals—and laid siege to Ingolstadt . Charles Theodore, who had done nothing to prevent the war or to resist the invasion, fled to Saxony , leaving a regency,
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