Louis IV, known as Louis the Bavarian, was born on 1 April 1282 in Munich. He was the son of Louis II, Duke of Upper Bavaria, and Matilda, daughter of King Rudolph I. Louis became Duke of Upper Bavaria in 1294, co-regent with his brother Rudolf I, and later held various titles including Margrave of Brandenburg and Count Palatine of the Rhine. His early reign was marked by conflicts with the Habsburgs, particularly over territorial disputes in Lower Bavaria, leading to a civil war that concluded in 1313.In 1314, following the death of Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII, Louis was elected King of the Romans amid a contentious election process that saw his cousin Frederick the Fair also elected by a different group of electors. Louis was supported by the pro-Luxembourg faction, while Frederick was backed by the Habsburgs. The conflict escalated into military confrontations, culminating in Louis' victory over Frederick at the Battle of Mühldorf in 1322, where Frederick was captured. Despite this, Louis faced excommunication from Pope John XXII, leading him to attempt to depose the pope and install an anti-pope.Louis was crowned King of Italy in Milan in 1327 and later crowned Holy Roman Emperor in Rome in January 1328. His reign was characterized by efforts to assert imperial authority against the papacy, including the deposition of Pope John XXII. Louis sought to expand his influence in Italy and counter French power, forming alliances with various rulers, including King Edward III of England. However, his relations with the papacy remained strained, leading to a declaration by six electors in 1338 that election by the majority of electors conferred royal authority without papal confirmation.Throughout his reign, Louis focused on economic development within the empire, granting privileges to cities and supporting the Teutonic Knights. He engaged in dynastic politics, securing territories for his family, including Brandenburg for his son Louis V and later acquiring Lower Bavaria and Tyrol. His aggressive territorial policies and alliances earned him numerous enemies, particularly among the German princes.In 1346, Charles IV of Luxembourg was elected as a rival king with papal support, leading to further conflict. Louis maintained support from the Imperial Free Cities and the Habsburgs, but his sudden death on 11 October 1347 during a bear hunt near Fürstenfeldbruck curtailed the civil strife. He was buried in the Frauenkirche in Munich. Following his death, his sons initially supported Günther von Schwarzburg as a rival king but eventually aligned with the Luxembourg faction after Günther's death in 1349.Louis IV married twice, first to Beatrice of Silesia, with whom he had several children, including Louis V and Stephen II. His second marriage to Margaret II of Hainaut produced additional heirs, including Louis VI and William V. Louis IV's legacy continued through his descendants, who played significant roles in the politics of the Holy Roman Empire.

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Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor