Meinhard III, Count of Gorizia-Tyrol facts for kids

Meinhard III (born February 9, 1344 – died January 13, 1363) was an important figure from the House of Wittelsbach. He was the duke of Upper Bavaria and the count of Tyrol from 1361 until he passed away. Meinhard was the son of Duke Louis V of Bavaria and Countess Margaret of Tyrol. He was also the very last person from the Tyrolean branch of the House of Gorizia family.

Meinhard's Early Life

Meinhard was born in a place called Landshut. This was during the time when his grandfather, Emperor Louis IV, was ruling. His grandfather was a powerful leader who had won against his rival, Frederick the Fair, from the House of Habsburg family.

Meinhard's father, Louis V, was the emperor's oldest son. In 1323, Louis V was given control of the Margraviate of Brandenburg. This happened after the previous rulers, the Ascanian family, had no more heirs. However, Louis V focused more on his family's lands in Bavaria.

A Challenging Marriage

In 1342, Meinhard's parents, Louis V and Margaret of Tyrol, got married. But there was a problem: Margaret was still married to her first husband, John Henry, Margrave of Moravia, from the House of Luxembourg. This meant her first marriage had not officially ended.

Because of this, their marriage made the powerful Luxembourg family very angry. It also led to the excommunication of Meinhard's parents by Pope Clement VI. Excommunication meant they were officially cut off from the Christian church.

When Emperor Louis IV died in 1347, his son Louis V could not become the next emperor. Instead, the Imperial Crown went to Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, from the Luxembourg family.

Growing Up and Marriage

Later, the Wittelsbach and Habsburg families started to get along better. As part of this new friendship, young Meinhard was sent to grow up at the Habsburg court in Vienna.

When Meinhard was old enough, he married Margaret of Austria (born 1346 – died 1366). They got married in June 1358 in Passau. Margaret was the daughter of Albert II, Duke of Austria, who was an ally of Meinhard's father. Because of this marriage, Meinhard's parents were finally forgiven and allowed back into the church.

Becoming a Ruler

In 1361, Meinhard's father, Louis V, died suddenly. Meinhard was only seventeen years old. He then became the ruler of Upper Bavaria and the County of Tyrol. The powerful noble families in Bavaria had a strong influence on him.

Meinhard also had to deal with attacks from his own relatives. His uncle, Duke Stephen II of Bavaria-Landshut, and his cousins from the Electoral Palatinate tried to challenge him. Meinhard had to flee for safety to the court of the Prince-Bishop of Eichstätt. He was even arrested for a short time in Munich.

Eventually, Meinhard went back to his mother's home lands in Tyrol. He might have gotten help from the Habsburg duke Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria.

Meinhard's Final Years

Meinhard III died at Tirol Castle, near Meran, in 1363. He passed away at a young age. After his death, his mother Margaret made a big decision. She decided not to let Count Meinhard VI of Gorizia or the Wittelsbach family inherit Tyrol. Instead, she gave the County of Tyrol to Duke Rudolf IV of Austria.

Because of this, Meinhard's uncle, Stephen II of Bavaria-Landshut, who had taken over in Upper Bavaria, invaded Tyrol. But in 1369, he finally gave up his claim to the county. In return, he received a very large amount of money. This event completed the joining of Tyrol with Austria.