Bayern

Bayern (Bavaria), with Saxony (see Sachsen) the only Freistaat of the Federal Republik (see Bundesrepublik Deutschland) and the largest state in area, is predominantly Catholic. Bavaria was one of the early German duchies and Regensburg was its capital until 1255. The Wittelsbach family, though often divided, ruled from 1180 to 1918. The Duke of Bavaria became an Elector (Kurfürst) in 1623, in succession to the Elector of the Palatinate, Friedrich V, who was deprived of his electoral privilege after defeat in the Thirty Years War (see Dreissigjähriger Krieg). The new Elector also received the Palatinate (see Pfalz, Die), which continued under Bavarian rule until 1945. During the 18th c. Bavaria sought unsuccessfully to rival Austria as the leading state in Germany. In 1805 Napoleon conferred on the Elector the title of king (see Maximilian I). The electoral title lapsed in the following year with the extinction of the Holy Roman Empire. In the 19th c. Bavaria became a centre of the arts, especially painting and sculpture, which were greatly encouraged by King Ludwig I. The Revolution (see Revolutionen 1848-9) provoked his abdication, and he was succeeded by Maximilian II, who reigned in a more liberal style and encouraged literature and the arts. Munich (see München) became the home of many men of letters, and a school of poets bears its name (see Münchner Dichterkreis). Maximilian was succeeded by Ludwig II, who is well known for his patronage of R. Wagner, his three new extravagant residences, his eccentricity, and his mysterious death. He consented in 1871 to the inclusion of Bavaria in the new German Empire. After hard bargaining Bavaria retained certain privileges, including its own railways, post, diplomatic representation, and, with limitations, its own army. Ludwig's successor Otto was mentally incapable of ruling, though he lived until 1916. From 1886 to 1912 the Prince Regent Luitpold ruled shrewdly and unobtrusively. Otto remained nominally king until 1913, when Ludwig III succeeded him, only to flee abroad in 1918 without abdicating. The Freistaat Bayern was for a short time in 1918 a socialist republic under the Communist K. Eisner, whose assassination in February 1919 led to the proclamation of a Soviet-type republic (Räterepublik). This was abolished by Prussian and Württemberg military intervention.