Franz, Duke of Bavaria
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Franz Bonaventura Adalbert Maria Herzog von Bayern (born July 14 1933), styled as the Duke of Bavaria, is head of the Wittelsbach family, the former ruling family of the Kingdom of Bavaria. He was born in Munich, the son of Albrecht Herzog von Bayern and of his first wife, Countess Maria Draskovich von Traskotjan. He is a great-grandson of the last King of Bavaria, Ludwig III, who was deposed in 1918.
The Wittelsbachs were opposed to the Nazi regime in Germany, and in 1940 Albrecht took his family to his estate at Sárvár in Hungary. In October 1944, when Germany occupied Hungary, the Wittelsbachs were arrested and imprisoned in the concentration camp at Oranienburg. In April 1945 they were moved to Dachau, where they were liberated by the United States Army. Franz studied business management at the University of Munich and in Zurich.
The Wittelsbachs continue to be held in high esteem in Bavaria, and are treated in many respects as though they were still a royal dynasty, although none of their titles are recognised under German law. Franz is a Senator of the University of Munich and an Honorary Member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and holds many honorary positions in civic and religious organisations in Bavaria.
Franz is the heir-general of the Royal House of Stuart and thus is regarded by Jacobites as the rightful King of England and Scotland. Jacobites refer to him as King Francis II of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, but he does not use these titles.
Franz has never married and on his death his position as head of the House of Wittelsbach will pass to his brother Max Emanuel Herzog in Bayern, (that is Duke "in", not "of", Bavaria). Since Max Emanuel has no son the Bavarian titles will pass after his death to a cousin, Ludwig Prinz von Bayern, and his descendants, while the position of heir of the House of Stuart will pass to Max's daughter Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein.
External links
- Francis II (Jacobite) (http://www.jacobite.ca/kings/francis2.htm)
- Francis II King of Scots (de jure) (http://www.DefendersOfScotland.org/monarch.htm)