The ducal line became extinct in 1973. Max Emanuel, Duke in Bavaria (and also heir to the headship of the House of Wittelsbach), is a member of the main royal line and holds his title by adoption. As he has five daughters (one of whom is Sophie, married to the heir to Liechtenstein), the new ducal line will also become extinct on his death. It remains to be seen if Prince Luitpold, the next in line, recreates the title for one of his younger sons.
It's doubtful, since if there was to be any recreation, it would have already been done by now. Max Emanuel presumably has long resigned himself to never having a son: the royal succession, of course, will automatically pass to his cousin Luitpold (assuming that he survives him), without the need for adoption. The latter having three sons, Max could easily have designated any of them as his ducal heir; but he hasn't.
Of course, any action he takes regarding the succession would be subject to the approval of his still-living older brother, Franz, the present-day head of the house of Wittelsbach. But the said brother hasn't acted on the matter, either, even though he did make a major change to the house laws by de-morganatizing the marriages of his cousins -- chiefly, recognizing as dynastic the unions of Luitpold and Leopold, both of whom married commoners.
Message Thread
« Back to index