Franz von Bayern

Franz Bonaventura Adalbert Maria Herzog von Bayern, born on July 14, 1933, in Munich, is a prominent figure known as the Duke of Bavaria and the head of the House of Wittelsbach, the former ruling family of Bavaria. His lineage traces back to King Ludwig III, the last monarch of Bavaria, who was deposed in 1918.

During the tumultuous years of the Second World War, the Wittelsbach family stood against the Nazi regime. Initially fleeing to Hungary, they were ultimately arrested in 1944 during Operation Panzerfaust. At just eleven years old, Franz endured the harrowing experience of several concentration camps, including Sachsenhausen, Flossenbürg, and Dachau.

After the war, Franz pursued his education at the University of Munich, where he developed a passion for modern art, becoming a notable collector. In 1996, he succeeded his father as the head of the House of Wittelsbach and the pretender to the Bavarian throne. Today, he resides in the historic Nymphenburg Palace in Munich and Berg Palace.

In addition to his Bavarian heritage, Franz is linked to the Jacobite succession, making him an heir to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland, a claim he does not actively pursue. Interestingly, he is also an eleventh cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, further intertwining his legacy with European royalty.