Franz, Prince of Bavaria () (10 October 1875 – 25 January 1957) was a member of the Bavarian Royal House of Wittelsbach and a Major General in the Bavarian Army.
Early life and military career
Franz was born at Schloss Leutstetten, Starnberg, Bavaria. He was the third son of King Ludwig III of Bavaria and his wife Archduchess Maria Theresia of Austria-Este. Initially, Franz served as a commander of the 2. Infanterie-Regiments König, but shortly before the outbreak of World War I, he was given command of the 3. bayerische Infanteriebrigade, which was later renamed and became the 4. Infanterie-Brigade. Prince Franz led this brigade through its victories at Fort Douaumont, Passchendaele and Kemmelberg.
For his exemplary leadership during these operations he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph on 25 May 1916 and on 28 October 1916 was given command of the entire 4. Bayerische Infanterie-Division. In Spring 1918, Prince Franz was also awarded the Commander's Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph and the prestigious Pour le Mérite, Prussia's highest military decoration, on 16 May 1918. However, during the summer 1918, the 4. Bayerische Infanterie-Division suffered severe loses during the Battle of the Somme and was transferred to Italian Front on border protection duties, where he stayed for the remainder of the war.
Marriage
On 12 July 1912 Prince Franz married Princess Isabella Antonie of Croÿ, the daughter of Duke Karl Alfred of Croÿ and Princess Ludmilla of Arenberg. The wedding took place at the Schloss Weilburg in Baden near Vienna, Austria-Hungary. The couple had six children:
Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (1913–2008); married Princess Irmingard of Bavaria (1923–2010). Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria (1914–2011); married Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza (1909–1981). Princess Adelgunde Maria of Bavaria (1917–2004); married Baron Zdenko von Hoenning-O'Carroll (1906–1996). Princess Eleonore Marie of Bavaria (1918–2009); married Count Konstantin of Waldburg-Zeil (1909–1972). Princess Dorothea Therese of Bavaria (1920–2015); married Archduke Gottfried of Austria (1902–1984). Prince Rasso Maximilian Rupprecht of Bavaria (1926–2011); married Archduchess Theresa of Austria (b. 1931), they had children: Maria-Theresia of Bavaria (n. 1956), married Count Tamas Kornis de Goncz-Ruszka. Franz-Josef Michael Maria Ignatius of Bavaria (1957–2022), was a Benedictine monk, a member of the Roman Catholic Order of Saint Benedict. Until 1996, he lived under the name Pater Florian. Elizabeth Maria Immaculata Anastasia of Bavaria (n. 1959), married Count Andreas von Kuefstein. Wolfgang Rupprecht Maria Theodor of Bavaria (n. 1960), married Countess Beatrice of Lodron-Laterano and Castelromano. Benedikta Maria Gabrielle of Bavaria (n. 1961), married Count Rudolf von Freyberg-Eisenberg. Christoph Ludwig Maria of Bavaria (n. 1962); married Baroness Gudila von Plettenberg. Gisela Maria Carolina Aldegunde of Bavaria (n. 1964), married Alexander, Prince of Saxony.
Death
Prince Franz of Bavaria died on 25 January 1957 at Schloss Leutstetten in Starnberg, Bavaria and is buried in the Colombarium in the Michaelskirche in Munich, Bavaria.
Decorations and honors
Bavaria
Order of St. Hubertus
Military Order of Max Joseph, Knight's Cross (1916) and Commander's Cross (1918) Military Merit Order, Star to 2nd Class with Swords Military Merit Order, 2nd Class with Swords Military Merit Order, 3rd Class with Crown Jubilee Medal Service Distinction Cross 2nd Class, for 25 years' service
Prussia
Order of the Black Eagle
1914 Iron Cross 1st Class
1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class
1918 Wound Badge in Black
Pour le Mérite
Order of the Crown, 2nd Class with Star with Swords
Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Honor Cross 1st Class with Swords
Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Honor Cross 1st Class
Other German states
Baden: House Order of Fidelity
Brunswick: War Merit Cross, 2nd. Class
Hesse-Darmstadt: Ludewig Order
Lippe-Detmold: War Honor Cross for Heroic Deeds
Saxony: Order of the Rue Crown
Duchies of Saxe-Altenburg, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Saxe-Meiningen: Ducal Saxe-Ernestine House Order, Grand Cross Württemberg: Order of the Württemberg Crown, Grand Cross