Franz, Prince of Bavaria (German: Franz Maria Luitpold Prinz von Bayern) (10 October 1875 – 25 January 1957) was a member of the Bavarian Royal House of Wittelsbach and a Major General in the Bavarian Army.[1]
For his exemplary leadership during these operations he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph on 25 May 1916 and on 28 October 1916 was given command of the entire 4. Bayerische Infanterie-Division. In Spring 1918, Prince Franz was also awarded the Commander's Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph and the prestigious Pour le Mérite, Prussia's highest military decoration, on 16 May 1918. However, during the summer 1918, the 4. Bayerische Infanterie-Division suffered severe loses during the Battle of the Somme and was transferred to Italian Front on border protection duties, where he stayed for the remainder of the war.
On 12 July 1912 Prince Franz married Princess Isabella Antonie of Croÿ, the daughter of Duke Karl Alfred of Croÿ and Princess Ludmilla of Arenberg. The wedding took place at the Schloss Weilburg in Baden near Vienna, Austria-Hungary. The couple had six children:
Prince Rasso Maximilian Rupprecht of Bavaria (1926–2011); married Archduchess Theresa of Austria (b. 1931), they had children:
Maria-Theresia of Bavaria (n. 1956), married Count Tamas Kornis de Goncz-Ruszka.
Franz-Josef Michael Maria Ignatius of Bavaria (1957–2022), was a Benedictine monk, a member of the Roman Catholic Order of Saint Benedict. Until 1996, he lived under the name Pater Florian.
Elizabeth Maria Immaculata Anastasia of Bavaria (n. 1959), married Count Andreas von Kuefstein.
Wolfgang Rupprecht Maria Theodor of Bavaria (n. 1960), married Countess Beatrice of Lodron-Laterano and Castelromano.
Benedikta Maria Gabrielle of Bavaria (n. 1961), married Count Rudolf von Freyberg-Eisenberg.
Christoph Ludwig Maria of Bavaria (n. 1962); married Baroness Gudila von Plettenberg.
