Franz, Duke of Bavaria

Franz Bonaventura Adalbert Maria Herzog von Bayern (* July 14, 1933 in Munich) is since 1996 the head of the Wittelsbach family, the former ruling family of the Kingdom of Bavaria. Until 1996 it was known under the name Franz Prinz von Bayern and called since Franz Duke of Bavaria in the succession, as his father had already called.

Life

Franz of Bavaria is the eldest son Albrecht of Bavaria (1905-1996) and his first wife, Mary, Countess Draskovic Trakošćan ( 1904-1969 ). He is the great grandson of the last King of Bavaria, Ludwig III. Together with his sisters, the twins Marie Gabriele, and Marie Charlotte ( * 1931), and his younger brother Max Emanuel ( born 1937 ), he grew up in Munich, Croatia and Hungary. In October 1944 his father was arrested by the Gestapo and imprisoned along with the then only eleven years old Franz and other family members in concentration camps Sachsenhausen and Dachau Flossenbiirg. After the war, he attended high school in the Humanistic Benedictine monastery Ettal (1952) and studied business administration at the Universities of Munich and Zurich. Then he made ​​a business education in a hardware store in Hamburg.

Since the death of his father in 1996, Franz is the head of the family of Wittelsbach. As head of the Wittelsbach him dropping too many ceremonial duties. His special interest is in addition to the science of art. He is Chairman of the Association for the Promotion of the Alte Pinakothek, vice chairman of Galerieverein Munich, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the sculpture gallery and antique collections Munich, honorary president of the Friends of the Egyptian Collection in Munich, Board of Trustees of the Ludwig- Maximilians- University of Munich, the Board of Trustees of the School of Philosophy and the Board of Trustees of the Institute of Bavarian history, honorary Chairman of the Trustees of the Eugen Biser Foundation, and the Wittelsbach Compensation Fund, which manages the possessions of the dynasty, Franz sitting also available. Because of his extraordinary understanding of art, he was Chairman of the International Council of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. He is also a patron of the Nymphenburg talks, a platform for intercultural and interreligious dialogue. The childless bachelor lives away in a tract of Nymphenburg Palace, in which he is born.

As head of the house he is Grand Master of the Wittelsbach House Order ( George Medal ). He is an honorary member of the 1610 founded the Marian Congregation of Men Annunciation at the community hall in Munich.

Succession of the Jacobites

Franz of Bavaria is a descendant of the Stuarts. He is therefore considered by the Jacobites since the death of his father Albrecht as a pretender to the British throne and referred to them as " Francis II, King of England, Scotland, Ireland and France." However, he has never claimed this title publicly.

Traditional names and predicates

The title " Duke of Bavaria, Franconia and in Swabia, Count Palatine of the Rhine " is still used traditionally, but not corresponding to the official name. The name prefix title " Royal Highness (KH ) " or " His Royal Highness ( HRH ) " is also still used in the social environment, but is also a mere polite way without legal relevance.

Drive up

Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria (1821-1912) ∞ 1844 Auguste Ferdinands of Austria (1825-1864)

Archduke Karl Ferdinand of Austria -Este (1821-1849) ∞ 1847 Elisabeth Franziska Maria of Austria (1831-1903)

Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria (1808-1888) ∞ 1828 Ludovica Wilhelmine von Bayern (1808-1892)

King Michael of Portugal (1802-1866) ∞ 1851 Adelaide of Löwenstein -Wertheim -Rosenberg (1831-1909)

Count Karl Draskovich of Trakostjan (1807-1855) ∞ 1841 Elisabeth Batthyány Strattmann of Németújvár (1820-1882)

Count Dionys Festetics of Tolna (1813-1891) ∞ 1842 Karolina Zichy of Zich and Vásonykeö (1820-1906)

Prince Wilhelm Albrecht of Monte Nuovo (1821-1895) ∞ 1850 Juliane Batthyány Strattmann of Németújvár (1827-1871)

Prince Ferdinand Bonaventura Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau (1834-1904) ∞ 1856 Maria of Liechtenstein (1835-1905)

King Ludwig III. (1845-1921) ∞ 1868 Marie Therese of Austria -Este (1849-1919)

Duke Carl Theodor in Bavaria (1839-1909) ∞ 1874 Maria Josepha of Portugal (1857-1943)

Count Paul Draskovich of Trakostjan (1846-1889) ∞ 1874 Maria Festetics of Tolna (1850-1946)

Prince Alfred of Monte Nuovo (1854-1927) ∞ 1879 Franziska Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau (1861-1935)

Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria (1869-1955) ∞ 1900 Marie Gabriele in Bavaria (1878-1912)

Count Dionys Draskovich of Trakostjan (1875-1909) ∞ 1903 Juliana of Montenouvo (1880-1961)

Albrecht Duke of Bavaria (1905-1996) ∞ 1930 Maria Draskovic Trakošćan (1904-1969)

Franz Duke of Bavaria ( b. 1933 )

Honors and Awards

  • Grand Master of the Order Hubertus
  • Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of Saint George
  • Grand Master of the Order of Theresa
  • 1999 Honorary Member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences
  • 2003 Honorary Senator of the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich
  • 2004 Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy grave in Jerusalem
  • 2008 honorary doctorate from the Ludwig- Maximilians- University of Munich
  • 2008 Grand Cross of the Order of Merit Pro Merito Melitensi of the Sovereign Order of Malta.
Ludwig III of Bavaria Dynastic order of knighthood Royal Order of Saint George for the Defense of the Immaculate Conception House of Stuart Monarchy of the United Kingdom Princess Ludovika of Bavaria Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria Infanta Maria Josepha of Portugal Alfred, 2nd Prince of Montenuovo Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria Order of Saint Hubert Order pro merito Melitensi Bayerischer Rundfunk Integrated Authority File
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