Maximilian III

Maximilian III was King of Bavaria from 1842 to 1869 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1852 to 1869.

Childhood and Early Life
Maximilian Emmanuel Josef Franz Karl von Wittelsbach was born in Munich on Jaunary 9th, 1802, the son of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and his wife Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. As he grew up he was educated by Dominican monks, who instilled in him a great love for the Catholic Faith and a sense of responsibility.

King
Maximilian took the throne of Bavaria following the death of his father in 1842. He began a policy of expansion, annexing Swabia and purchasing Venetia from Austria. King Maximilian and the Austrian Emperor Frederick then declared the Holy Roman Empire restored, and held the first Imperial Election in over sixty years. Maximilian was subsequently elected as Kaiser Maximilian III.

Emperor
Almost immediately after the election, Frederick von Habsburg died without male heirs. As specified in Frederick's will, Maximilian inherited Frederick's Austrian titles, with the Hungarian titles given to the House of Karadjordjevic. Maximilian then arranged the betrothal of his son Ferdinand to the only child of Emperor Frederick, Countess Amelia von Habsburg. Emperor Maximilian ruled well until his death in 1869.

Family
Empress Marie von Hohenzollern - Wife. Born October 15, 1814. Died November 29th, 1878.

Emperor Ferdinand IV - Son. Born September 22nd, 1854.

Princess Louisa von Wittelsbach - Daughter. Born May 17th, 1858.

From 1842 - 1852
His Royal Majesty,

Maximilian II, of the House of Wittelsbach, by the grace of God, King of Bavaria and of Württemberg, Princely Count of Swabia, Count-Elector of the Rhenish Palatine,   Warden of the Alpine March, and Defender of the Faith.

From 1852
His Imperial and Royal Majesty,

Maximilian III, of the House of Wittelsbach, by the grace of God, Holy Roman Emperor, forever August, King of the Romans, King of Germany, King of Bavaria, of Jerusalem, of Württemberg and of Bohemia, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, of Lorraine, of Salzburg, of Styria, of Carinthia, of Carniola, of Moravia, of Lothier, of Brabant, and of Baden, Landgrave of Alsace, Princely Count of Tyrol, of Swabia and of Kyburg, Prince of Trent and of Brixen, Count-Elector of the Rhenish Palatine, Count of Flanders, of Charolais, Margrave of Upper and Lower Lusatia, Count of Hohenems, of Feldkirch, of Bregenz, and of Sonnenberg, Warden of the Alpine and Windic Marches, and Defender of the Faith.