Elector Max IV Joseph

Born in Schwetzingen near Mannheim on 27 May 1756.

Died in Munich on 13 October 1825.

King Max I. Joseph from 1806.

Elector Max IV. Joseph acceded to the throne just before the turn of the century in 1799. At this time, his Palatinate home had already been occupied by the French revolutionary army. His French education, the annexation attempts by the Hapsburgs and the dominance of Napoleon's army resulted in his establishing close ties between Bavaria and France from 1805 to 1813. The Bavarian elector was subsequently appointed king by Napoleon in 1806 – a consequence of his alliance with the French emperor. King Max I. Joseph, the first Bavarian king, along with his minister, Maximilian Count of Monteglas, continued the reform policies that had been commenced in accordance with the principles of The Enlightenment. Thus Bavaria was given its first constitution in 1808, which was fundamentally revised in 1818 and which remained in effect until the abolishment of the monarchy in 1918.

Some of the designs, models and figures produced by Frankenthaler Porzellanmanufaktur had been removed to Mannheim during the French occupation of the Palatinate. This manufactory, which was particularly famed for its figurative work, was affiliated with Nymphenburg and some of the stocks at Mannheim were relocated to Munich following the accession to the throne of Elector Max IV. Joseph.

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