Duchy of Bavaria

The Duchy of Bavaria (German: Herzogtum Bayern) was a region ruled by dukes in the southeastern part of the Merovingian kingdom that existed from about 555–1623.

Duchy of Bavaria Herzogtum Bayern  (German) Ducatus Bavariae  (Latin)
c. 555–1623
The flag or banner variants under the Wittelsbach dynasty Coat of arms of the Dukes of Bavaria (till 1623)
Duchy of Bavaria (red, including the Austrian march) within the Holy Roman Empire circa 1000.
Duchy of Bavaria within the Holy Roman Empire, 1618
Status	Stem duchy and vassal of the Merovingians (the so-called older stem duchy) (c. 555–788) Direct rule under the Carolingians, as Kings of Bavaria (788–843) Stem duchy of East Francia and the Kingdom of Germany (the so-called younger stem duchy) (843–962) State of the Holy Roman Empire (from 962)
Capital	Regensburg (until 1255) Munich (from 1505)
Common languages	Bavarian, Latin
Religion	Roman Catholic
Government	Feudal monarchy
Duke
Historical era	Medieval Europe
• Garibald I as vassal of the Merovingians, first documented duke	c. 555
• Directly ruled part of the Carolingian Empire	788
• Margrave Arnulf assumed ducal title	907
• Carinthia split off	976
• Austria split off	1156
• To House of Wittelsbach	1180
• First partition	1255
• Reunification	1503
• Raised to Electorate	1623
Preceded by Succeeded by East Francia Bavaria-Munich Electorate of Bavaria Margraviate of Austria Prince-Bishopric of Brixen Prince-Bishopric of Regensburg Prince-Archbishopric of Salzburg County of Tyrol Bohemian Palatinate
Today part of	Germany Austria Italy Slovenia