Kingdom of Bavaria

The Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that started in 1806 and lasted until 1918. It began when Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became King of Bavaria. The Wittelsbach family ruled the kingdom until it ended in 1918.

After Germany united into the German Empire in 1871, Bavaria became one of its federated states. It was the second largest, most powerful, and wealthiest state after the leading state, the Kingdom of Prussia.

Most of the borders of today’s Free State of Bavaria were set after 1814 with the Treaty of Paris. In this treaty, Bavaria gave Tyrol and Vorarlberg to the Austrian Empire but gained Aschaffenburg and Würzburg.

In 1918, after the German Revolution, Bavaria became a republic. The kingdom ended, and it was succeeded by the current Free State of Bavaria.

History

Foundation and expansion under Maximilian I

The Kingdom of Bavaria started in 1806 when Elector Maximilian IV Joseph became King Maximilian I. Before this, Bavaria was part of the Holy Roman Empire. After wars and treaties, Bavaria grew in size and importance. By 1871, when Germany united into the German Empire, Bavaria became a key state, second only to Prussia in power and wealth.

Constitution

In 1818, Bavaria created its second constitution, establishing a parliament with two houses. This constitution protected the rights of all religions and allowed representatives from different groups to participate in government.

Ludwig I, Maximilian II and the Revolutions

King Ludwig I, who ruled from 1825, supported the arts and began industrializing Bavaria. Later, political changes led to tensions, and Ludwig eventually stepped down in 1848 during widespread revolutions across Europe. His son, Maximilian II, took over and faced challenges in uniting Germany.

Austro-Prussian War

In 1866, Bavaria supported Austria in a war against Prussia. Prussia won, and Bavaria lost some territory. This shifted Bavaria closer to Prussia’s influence.

Ludwig II and the German Empire

When Prussia defeated France in 1870-71, Bavaria joined the new German Empire. Bavaria kept some special rights, like its own army and diplomatic body. King Ludwig II spent heavily on grand buildings, leading to financial problems.

Regency and institutional reform

After Ludwig II’s death in 1886, his uncle Luitpold became regent. During his time, Bavaria saw cultural growth and political changes, including allowing women to attend university and changing how elections were held.

Military autonomy

Even after joining the German Empire, Bavaria kept its own army units and uniforms. Soldiers swore loyalty to the Bavarian king but followed Prussian command during wartime.

World War I and the end of the kingdom

When World War I began in 1914, Bavaria supported Germany. As the war dragged on, support faded. In 1918, during revolutions across Germany, King Ludwig III left Bavaria. He later said he could no longer rule, leading to the end of the Bavarian kingdom and the beginning of a new government.

Geography, administrative regions and population

When Napoleon created the Confederation of the Rhine, Bavaria became a kingdom in 1806, and its land area grew to double its size. Areas like Tyrol and Salzburg were briefly part of Bavaria but later returned or given to Austria. In return, Bavaria gained areas such as the Rhenish Palatinate and Franconia in 1815.

The kingdom was reorganized in 1808 and split into 15 areas, called Kreise, each named after a main river. Later, because of changes in borders, the number of areas was reduced to 8. In 1838, King Ludwig I renamed these areas based on old tribes and lands, creating regions such as Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, and Swabia and Neuburg.

The kingdom had an area of 75,865 km² by 1900, and its population grew from about 3.7 million in 1818 to over 6.5 million by 1910. Over time, the areas were adjusted and renamed several times. By 1838, the eight main government districts included Upper Bavaria, Upper Franconia, Swabia, Upper Palatinate, Middle Franconia, Lower Bavaria, Lower Franconia, and the Palatinate.