Duke Albrecht of Bavaria

Born in Munich on 3 May 1905.

Died at Schloss Berg near Lake Starnberg on 8 July 1996.

Duke Albrecht of Bavaria was the first Wittelsbach to head the family without also holding public office. Following his experiences from both world wars and his internment in a concentration camp in 1944, he intentionally abstained from involvement in politics. He only once expressed his views, which was in 1967, when he was troubled by changes to the constitution possibly undermining federalism and thus further restricting Bavaria's independence. Duke Albrecht was a passionate hunter, fisher and gamekeeper. He was interested in classical music, art history and particularly alpine folk music, which he supported not only intellectually but also materially. With his 75th birthday in 1980, Duke Albrecht also celebrated the 800th anniversary of the existence of the Wittelsbach family.

In 1975, Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg was taken over by the Wittelsbacher Ausgleichfonds and thus came under the patronage of the Wittelsbach family again. Their love of the arts had enabled the establishment of the company as well as its rise and survival in the first place. The porcelain manufactured at Nymphenburg has yet again been adorned with the initials of the head of the Wittelsbach family: with an "A" for His Royal Highness, Duke Albrecht of Bavaria, and, since his death, with an "F" for His Royal Highness, Duke Franz of Bavaria.

« Duke Franz · Duke Albrecht · Crown Prince Rupprecht »