Duchy of Bavaria

The Duchy of Bavaria was a duchy of the Holy Roman Empire, founded in 907 CE and dissolved in 1805 CE. It originated as a frontier region in the southeastern Merovingian kingdom, settled by Bavarian tribes and ruled by dukes under Frankish overlordship. A new duchy was created in the late ninth century during the decline of the Carolingian Empire, becoming one of the stem duchies of the East Frankish realm. Its territory was diminished in 976 with the separation of the Duchy of Carinthia. The House of Wittelsbach ruled Bavaria from 1180 until 1918, with its dukes becoming prince-electors in 1623 and kings in 1806.