Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria

Not to be confused with King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria (1756–1825), prince-elector of Bavaria (as Maximilian IV Joseph).
Maximilian I
Duke of Bavaria
Reign 15 October 1597 – 25 February 1623
Predecessor William V
Elector Palatine
Reign 23 February 1623 – 24 October 1648
Predecessor Frederick V
Successor Charles I Louis
Elector of Bavaria
Reign 25 February 1623 – 27 September 1651
Successor Ferdinand Maria
Born (1573-04-17)17 April 1573
Munich
Died 27 September 1651(1651-09-27) (aged 78)
Ingolstadt
Burial St. Michael's Church, Munich
Spouses Elisabeth of Lorraine
(m. 1595; wid. 1635)
Maria Anna of Austria
(m. 1635; his death 1651)
Issue Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria
Duke Maximilian Philipp Hieronymus
House Wittelsbach
Father William V, Duke of Bavaria
Mother Renata of Lorraine
Religion Roman Catholicism

Maximilian I, Duke/Elector of Bavaria (17 April 1573 – 27 September 1651), called "the Great", was a Wittelsbach ruler of Bavaria and a prince-elector (Kurfürst) of the Holy Roman Empire. His reign was marked by the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648).

Background

He was born in Munich, the eldest son of William V, Duke of Bavaria and Renata of Lorraine to survive infancy. He was educated by the Jesuits, and upon his father's abdication, began to take part in the government in 1591. In 1595 he married his cousin, Elisabeth Renata (also known as Elizabeth of Lorraine), daughter of Charles III, Duke of Lorraine, and became Duke of Bavaria upon his father's abdication in 1597. His first marriage to Elisabeth Renata was childless. Only a few months after the death of Elisabeth Renata, Maximilian married, on 15 July 1635 in Vienna, his 25-year-old niece Maria Anna of Austria (1610-1665), the daughter of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor and Maximillian's sister, Maria Anna of Bavaria (1574-1616). The main motivation for this swift remarriage was not so much political grounds as the hope of producing a prince to inherit. In contrast to the Elector's first wife, Maria Anna was very interested in politics and well instructed about developments. She was not bound to the Habsburgs, but rather completely advocated the Bavarian standpoint. Additionally, she conducted lively exchanges of opinion with high officials of the Munich court and took part in meetings of the cabinet. By her he left two sons, Ferdinand Maria, who succeeded him, and Maximilian Philip.

As the ablest prince of his age he sought to prevent Germany from becoming the battleground of Europe, and although a rigid adherent of the Catholic faith, was not always subservient to the church. Weak in health and feeble in frame, Maximilian had high ambitions both for himself and his duchy, and was tenacious and resourceful in prosecuting his designs.[1]

German politics and the Thirty Years' War

Maximilian I, Duke of Bavaria and his wife Elisabeth of Lorraine

Maximilian refrained from any interference in German politics until 1607, when he was entrusted with the duty of executing the imperial ban against the free city of Donauwörth, a Protestant stronghold. In December 1607 his troops occupied the city, and vigorous steps were taken to restore the supremacy of Catholicism. Some Protestant princes, alarmed at this action, formed the Protestant Union to defend their interests, which was answered in 1609 by the establishment of the Catholic League (German), in the formation of which Maximilian took an important part. Under his leadership an army was set on foot, but his policy was strictly defensive and he refused to allow the League to become a tool in the hands of the House of Habsburg. Dissensions among his colleagues led the duke to resign his office in 1616, but the approach of trouble brought about his return to the League about two years later.[1]

The Arms of Maximilian, Duke of Bavaria, Arch-Steward and Prince-Elector

Having refused to become a candidate for the imperial throne in 1619, Maximilian was faced with the complications arising from the outbreak of war in Bohemia. After some delay he made a treaty with Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor in October 1619, and in return for large concessions placed the forces of the League at the emperor's service. Anxious to curtail the area of the struggle, he made a treaty of neutrality with the Protestant Union, and occupied Upper Austria as security for the expenses of the campaign. On 8 November 1620 his troops under Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly defeated the forces of Frederick, King of Bohemia and Count Palatine of the Rhine, at the Battle of White Mountain near Prague.[1] Subsequently Ferdinand II released Upper Austria as a pawn for Maximilian until 1628.

Engraving of Maximilian I

In spite of the arrangement with the Union, Tilly then devastated the Rhenish Palatinate, and in February 1623 Maximilian was formally invested with the electoral dignity and the attendant office of imperial steward, which had been enjoyed since 1356 by the Counts Palatine of the Rhine. After receiving the Upper Palatinate and restoring Upper Austria to Ferdinand, Maximilian became leader of the party which sought to bring about Albrecht von Wallenstein's dismissal from the imperial service. At the Diet of Regensburg (1630) Ferdinand was compelled to assent to this demand, but the sequel was disastrous both for Bavaria and its ruler.[1] Attempting to remain neutral during the war, Maximilian signed the secret Treaty of Fontainebleau (1631) with the Kingdom of France, but this proved worthless.

Early in 1632 the Swedish Empire marched into the duchy and occupied Munich, and Maximilian could only obtain the assistance of the imperialists by placing himself under the orders of Wallenstein, now restored to the command of the emperor's forces. The ravages of the Swedes and their French allies induced the elector to enter into negotiations for peace with King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and Cardinal Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu of France. He also proposed to disarm the Protestants by modifying the Edict of Restitution of 1629, but these efforts were abortive.[1]

In September 1638 Baron Franz von Mercy was made master-general of ordnance in the army of Bavaria, then the second largest army in the Holy Roman Empire. Mercy and Johann von Werth as lieutenant field-marshal fought with varying success France and Sweden.

In March 1647 Maximilian concluded the Truce of Ulm (1647) with France and Sweden, but the entreaties of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor led him to disregard his undertaking. Bavaria was again ravaged, and the elector's forces were defeated in May 1648 at the Battle of Zusmarshausen. The Peace of Westphalia soon put an end to the struggle. By this treaty it was agreed that Maximilian should retain the electoral dignity, which was made hereditary in his family; and the Upper Palatinate was incorporated with Bavaria.[1]

Administrative and cultural activities

Kaiserhof, part of Maximilian's Residenz in Munich

Maximilian rehabilitated the Bavarian state finances, he reorganised the Bavarian administration and army, he introduced mercantilist measures as well as a new corpus juris, the Codex Maximilianeus. In 1610 Maximilian ordered to enlarge the Munich Residenz and to upgrade the Hofgarten. The original buildings of Schleissheim Palace were extended between 1617 and 1623 by Heinrich Schön and Hans Krumpper to the so-called Old Palace. Maximilian acquired numerous paintings of Albrecht Dürer, Peter Paul Rubens and additional artists for the Wittelsbach collection.

The Duke died at Ingolstadt on 27 September 1651. He is buried in St. Michael's Church, Munich. In 1839 a statue was erected to his memory at Munich by King Ludwig I of Bavaria.[1]

Family and children

Maximilian I, Elector and Duke of Bavaria and his second wife, Maria Anna of Austria

Maximilian married 6 February 1595 in Nancy princess Elisabeth (1574–1635), daughter of Charles III, Duke of Lorraine and Claudia of France, daughter of Henry II of France but had no issue with her.

On 15 July 1635 Maximilian married in Vienna his niece Maria Anna of Austria (1610-1665), daughter of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Anna of Bavaria (1574-1616). They had two sons:

Ancestors

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Maximilian I., duke of Bavaria". Encyclopædia Britannica 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 920–921.
Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria
Born: 17 April 1573 Died: 27 September 1651
Regnal titles
Preceded by
William V		 Duke later Elector of Bavaria
1597–1651 		Succeeded by
Ferdinand Maria
Preceded by
Frederick V		 Elector Palatine
1623–1648 		Succeeded by
Charles I Louis
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