What was the House of Wittelsbach?

The House of Wittelsbach was a prominent German noble family and former Bavarian dynasty that ruled over various European territories for centuries. Members of the dynasty served as monarchs of Bavaria, counts palatine of the Rhine, and Holy Roman emperors and kings. The family's extensive influence also stretched across kingdoms including Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, and Greece before the Bavarian monarchy ended in 1918.

What we know

• The House of Wittelsbach served as monarchs of Bavaria from 1180 to 1918 and counts palatine of the Rhine from 1214 to 1803. [1]
• Branches of the Wittelsbach dynasty ruled over territories such as the Electorate of Bavaria, the Electoral Palatinate, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Hungary, Bohemia, and Greece. [2]
• Three members of the House of Wittelsbach were elected as emperors and kings of the Holy Roman Empire. [2]
• Sophia of Hanover, a Wittelsbach princess born as a Princess of the Palatinate, passed on succession rights that eventually linked the family to the British House of Windsor. [2]

Where to go next

• how we knowHow did Sophia of Hanover connect to the British throne?
• the bigger pictureWhat territories did the Wittelsbachs rule outside Bavaria?
• whenWhen did the Kingdom of Bavaria end?
• a case in pointWho were the Holy Roman Emperors from the Wittelsbach family?
• an unexpected connectionHow did the Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond get its name?

Sources

• [1]House of Wittelsbach (Wikidata Q131621) · CC0 1.0
• [2]House of Wittelsbach · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]SMS Wittelsbach · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]House of Windsor · CC BY-SA 4.0