Wolfgang of Bavaria

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Wolfgang von Bayern (born November 1, 1451 in Munich , † May 24, 1514 in Landsberg am Lech ) from the Wittelsbach family was the youngest son of Duke Albrecht III. von Bayern-Munich and his wife Anna von Braunschweig-Grubenhagen .

Life

Wolfgang was born on November 1st, 1451 in Munich . He was intended for the clergy and therefore traveled in 1460 with his brothers John IV and Albrecht IV to Rome , where he was introduced to Pope Pius II , Nicolaus Cusanus and other cardinals .

When Albrecht wanted to participate in the government after Johann's death, Wolfgang supported him. In 1468 he gave Albrecht sole government for twelve years for compensation of initially 2,400, later 3,000 guilders per year. On another trip to Italy - Wolfgang visited his sister Margarete in Mantua , Albrecht traveled on to Rome - the brothers tried unsuccessfully to get a cardinal hat for Wolfgang, although Emperor Friedrich III. and other princes had supported the plan.

Christoph , another son of Albrecht III, wanted, unlike Wolfgang, to be part of the government. In 1471 Albrecht had Christoph arrested. Wolfgang then fled Munich and tried to win supporters for his imprisoned brother through letters to Emperor Friedrich, numerous princes, the city of Munich and the Upper Bavarian countryside . He also campaigned for support for Christoph at a Reichstag in Regensburg , who was finally released after 19 months in prison and also renounced co-government.

In 1477 Albrecht increased Wolfgang's annual support to 4,000 guilders in return for a renewed resignation from the government. Wolfgang was only able to enforce his rights to the Schwabegg rule, which was also awarded to him , after he had the castle of the previous owner occupied by federal mercenaries. 1486 he tried his distant relative Johann von Pfalz-Mosbach the Augsburger secure bishop's chair.

When King Maximilian , the son of Emperor Frederick, was captured by rebel subjects in Bruges in 1488 , Wolfgang and Christoph took part in the campaign for his liberation. Wolfgang was then appointed to the advice of King Maximilian and also entered the emperor's service.

In 1489 the conflict between the ruling Duke Albrecht and his brothers escalated again. Wolfgang and Christoph learned that Albrecht had appointed Georg von Bayern-Landshut as heir in the event that he should die without any sons entitled to inherit, and thereupon they joined the Löwlerbund against Albrecht . The emperor, whose daughter Kunigunde Albrecht had married against his will, supported their renewed demand for co-government and, at Wolfgang's suggestion, appointed Philip of the Palatinate as arbitrator in the dispute between the brothers.

In the Primogenitur Act of 1506, Wolfgang finally renounced the Duchy of Bavaria in favor of Albrecht IV and his descendants . Although he was a member of the Guardianship Council for his nephew Wilhelm IV , he was usually represented at the meetings of the council. Wolfgang died on May 24, 1514 in Landsberg am Lech and, like his father, was buried in Andechs Monastery. He left an illegitimate daughter.

literature

  • Helga Czerny: The death of the Bavarian dukes in the late Middle Ages and in the early modern period 1347–1579. Preparations - dying - funeral ceremonies - burial - memoria (=  series of publications on Bavarian national history . Volume 146 ). CH Beck, Munich 2005, ISBN 3-406-10742-7 , p. 209–210, 264–268 (also dissertation, University of Munich 2004).
  • Sigmund von RiezlerWolfgang, Duke of Baiern . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 44, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1898, pp. 72-75.