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Albrecht IVDuke of Bavaria-Munich from 1463 to 1467
Date of Birth: 15.12.1447
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Early Life and Accession
- Reign as Sole Duke of Bavaria-Munich
- Unification of Bavaria
- Law of Primogeniture
- Family and Legacy
- Sidonia
Early Life and Accession
Albrecht IV was born into the Wittelsbach dynasty as the youngest of four surviving sons to Albrecht III, Duke of Bavaria-Munich, and Anna of Brunswick-Grubenhagen-Einbeck. After his elder brother Johann IV passed away, Albrecht abandoned his ecclesiastical career in Pavia and returned to Munich. In 1463, he became the co-ruler to his elder brother Sigmund.
Reign as Sole Duke of Bavaria-Munich
In 1467, Albrecht became the sole Duke of Bavaria-Munich, while Sigmund received the newly created Duchy of Bavaria-Dachau. Sigmund's demise in 1501 led to the reunification of the two duchies. Fearing conflict with the Habsburgs and the Swabian League, Albrecht returned territorial possessions in Swabia in 1492 under pressure from his father-in-law, Emperor Frederick III.
Unification of Bavaria
Following the death of George, the last Duke of Bavaria-Landshut, in 1503, Albrecht succeeded in unifying the Bavarian territories in a war against George's heirs from the Palatinate-Wittelsbach line. However, he had to cede Kufstein and Kufstein to Emperor Maximilian I as compensation for his support. A new Duchy of Palatinate-Neuburg was established for the Palatinate line.
Law of Primogeniture
To avoid future divisions of Bavaria, Albrecht introduced the Law of Primogeniture in 1506. Nevertheless, his eldest son and successor, Wilhelm IV, ruled jointly with his younger brother Ludwig X from 1516. Ludwig's death in 1545 finally established the law, which remained in force until the abolition of the Bavarian monarchy in 1918.
Family and Legacy
Albrecht IV married Kunigunde of Austria, the daughter of Emperor Frederick III, on 3 January 1487. Together, they had the following children:
Sidonia
SibyllaSabina
Wilhelm IV
Ludwig X
Ernst
Susanna
Albrecht IV passed away in 1508 and was buried in the Frauenkirche in Munich. His unification of Bavaria played a significant role in shaping the future of the region and the Wittelsbach dynasty.
