Elisabeth of Bavaria

Who was Elisabeth of Bavaria?

Elisabeth of Bavaria was a Princess of Bavaria-Landshut by birth and by marriage a Countess Palatine of the Rhine. After her father's death, she was also Duchess of Bavaria-Landshut.

She was the daughter of Duke George the Rich and his wife Hedwig Jagiellonica. After the death of her brother Louis in 1496, the Duchy of Bavaria-Landshut was without a male heir. The Wittelsbach House Treaties of 1392 and 1450 prescribed that the territory of Bavaria-Landshut should be divided among the other Bavarian duchies, if the line should die out in the male line. Duke George ignored these treaties and left his territory to his daughter in a last will and testament dated 19 September 1496.

In 1499 Elisabeth married Ruprecht of the Palatinate. She had twins, Rupert and George; they both died in 1504. Her other sons, Philip, Duke of Palatinate-Neuburg and Otto Henry, Elector Palatine survived into adulthood.

In 1503 George appointed Ruprecht as governor of Lower Bavaria. George died on 1 December 1503 and she disbanded the Regency Council of the Estates. Her resolute approach contributed to the oubreak of the Landshut War of Succession.