Stephen III, Duke of Bavaria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stephen III, Duke of Bavaria
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| Born | c. 1337 |
| Died | 26 September 1413 Niederschönenfeld |
| Noble family | House of Wittelsbach |
| Spouse(s) | Taddea Visconti Elisabeth of Cleves |
| Issue | Louis VII, Duke of Bavaria Isabeau, Queen of France |
| Father | Stephen II, Duke of Bavaria |
| Mother | Elisabeth of Sicily |
Stephen III (born around 1337 – died September 26, 1413) was a powerful ruler known as the Duke of Bavaria-Ingolstadt. People sometimes called him the Magnificent or the Fop. He was the oldest son of Stephen II and Elizabeth of Sicily.
Contents
Stephen's Time as Duke
Stephen III became a duke in 1375. For a while, he ruled the region of Bavaria with his two brothers, Frederick and John II.
Bavaria Splits Up
In 1392, Bavaria was divided into three smaller areas called Duchies. These new Duchies were Bavaria-Landshut, Bavaria-Ingolstadt, and Bavaria-Munich. This split happened because John II did not want to pay for his brothers' expensive plans, especially their activities in Italy.
After the split, Stephen kept Bavaria-Ingolstadt. However, he soon felt that his share was not as good as the other two Duchies.
Conflicts and Challenges
Stephen III was always trying to make his Duchy bigger. From 1395 to 1397, he even shared control of Bavaria-Munich with his brother John II after they had a fight.
After both of his brothers passed away, Stephen tried again to expand his lands. This led to new conflicts, this time with his nephews. He also supported King Rupert against another powerful family, the House of Luxembourg.
In 1402, Stephen's nephew, Ernest, forced him to rule only Bavaria-Ingolstadt. Stephen also supported a rebellion by citizens in Munich in 1403, but it failed. His last attempt to take back Tyrol in 1410 was also unsuccessful. Tyrol was a region his father had given to the Habsburg family.
Stephen III died in Niederschönenfeld in 1413.
Stephen's Family
Stephen III was married two times.
First Marriage
His first marriage was on October 13, 1364, to Taddea Visconti. She was the daughter of Bernabò Visconti.
From this marriage, Stephen had two children:
- Louis VII the Bearded: He became the Duke of Bavaria-Ingolstadt after his father.
- Isabeau of Bavaria: She married Charles VI, who was the King of France.
Second Marriage
Stephen's second marriage was on January 16, 1401, in Cologne. He married Elisabeth of Cleves, who was the daughter of Count Adolf III of Cleves.
