Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria

Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria-Landshut
Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria
Spouse(s)	Amalia of Saxony
Noble family	House of Wittelsbach
Father	Henry XVI, Duke of Bavaria
Mother	Margaret of Austria
Born	23 February 1417 Burghausen
Died	18 January 1479 (aged 61) Landshut

Louis IX (also known as Louis the Rich; 23 February 1417, Burghausen, Bavaria – 18 January 1479, Landshut), (German: Ludwig IX, Herzog von Bayern-Landshut) was Duke of Bavaria-Landshut from 1450. He was a son of Henry XVI the Rich and Margaret of Austria.

Biography

Louis succeeded his father in 1450. He was the second of the three famous rich dukes, who reigned Bavaria-Landshut in the 15th century. Their residence was Trausnitz Castle in Landshut, a fortification which attained enormous dimensions.

Since Louis invaded the imperial free cities of Dinkelsbühl and Donauwörth in 1458 he disputed with Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor, until peace was made in Prague in 1463. In 1462 Louis defeated his enemy Albert III, Margrave of Brandenburg, who tried to extend his influence in Franconia in the battle of Giengen. Louis expelled all Jews who rejected baptism from his duchy.

In 1472 Louis founded the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Ingolstadt, which was moved to Landshut in 1800 and finally to Munich. In 1475 he organized the Landshut Wedding of his son George with the princess Hedwig Jagiellon, a daughter of King Casimir IV of Poland, one of the most splendid festivals of the Middle Age.

Family and children

On 21 March 1452 Louis was married with Princess Amalia of Saxony (4 April 1436 – 19 October 1501), daughter of Frederick II, Elector of Saxony. They had four children:

1. Elisabeth (ca. 1453 – 1457)
2. George, Duke of Bavaria (15 August 1455 – 1 December 1503)
3. Margaret (7 November 1456 – 25 February 1501), married on 21 February 1474 to Philip, Elector Palatine
4. Anna (ca. 1462–1462)

Ancestors

Ancestors of Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria

16. Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor (= 28)               8. Stephen II, Duke of Bavaria                       17. Beatrice of Silesia               4. Frederick, Duke of Bavaria                             18. Frederick III of Sicily               9. Elisabeth of Sicily                       19. Eleanor of Anjou               2. Henry XVI, Duke of Bavaria                                   20. Stefano Visconti               10. Bernabò Visconti                       21. Valentina Doria               5. Maddalena Visconti                             22. Mastino II della Scala               11. Beatrice Regina della Scala                       23. Taddea da Carrara               1. Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria                                         24. Albert II of Austria               12. Albert III, Duke of Austria                       25. Johanna of Pfirt               6. Albert IV, Duke of Austria                             26. Frederick V, Burgrave of Nuremberg               13. Beatrix of Nuremberg                       27. Elisabeth of Meissen               3. Margarete of Austria                                   28. Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor (= 16)               14. Albert I, Duke of Bavaria                       29. Margaret II, Countess of Hainault               7. Joanna Sophia of Bavaria                             30. Louis I of Brzeg               15. Margaret of Brieg                       31. Agnes of Żagań

The wedding of his son George with the Polish princess Hedwig Jagiellon in 1475 was celebrated in Landshut with one of the most splendid festivals of the Middle Age.