Duke of BavariaKing of HungaryHouse of Wittelsbach13th-14th Century

Otto III, Duke of Bavaria

Otto III, Duke of Lower Bavaria and briefly King of Hungary (1305-1307), was a Wittelsbach whose disputed Hungarian reign proved unsuccessful.

1. Overview

Otto III (Otto IIIGerman; February 11, 1261 - November 9, 1312), a prominent member of the Wittelsbach dynasty, held significant dual roles in medieval European politics. He served as the Duke of Lower Bavaria from 1290 until his death in 1312 and, concurrently, as the King of Hungary and Croatia between 1305 and 1307. His claim to the Hungarian throne, where he was also known as OttóHungarian or V. BélaHungarian, was fiercely disputed by Charles Robert of the Angevin dynasty. Otto III's reign in Hungary ultimately proved unsuccessful, leading to his recognition in Hungarian historiography as an "anti-king" during a period of interregnum. His efforts to expand his influence into Hungarian affairs also significantly impacted his position and financial stability in Bavaria.

Otto III, Duke of Bavaria and King of Hungary.
Otto III, Duke of Bavaria and King of Hungary.

2. Family and Ancestry

Otto III was born in Burghausen, a significant town in the Bavarian lands. He was the eldest son of Henry XIII, Duke of Bavaria, and Elizabeth of Hungary. His mother, Elizabeth, was a daughter of Béla IV of Hungary, a connection that provided Otto with a crucial dynastic claim to the Hungarian throne, which would later play a central role in his political career.

Otto III married twice during his lifetime. His first marriage took place in January 1279 to Catherine, a daughter of Rudolf I of Germany and Gertrude of Hohenberg. This union produced twin sons, Henry and Rudolph, who were born in 1280 but tragically died in the same year. Catherine herself passed away on April 4, 1282. Otto remained a widower for twenty-three years following her death.

His second marriage occurred on May 18, 1309, to Agnes of Glogau. Agnes was the daughter of Henry III, Duke of Silesia-Glogau, and Matilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg. From this second marriage, Otto and Agnes had two children: Agnes of Wittelsbach (born 1310, died 1360), who later married Heinrich IV, Count of Ortenburg, and Henry XV, Duke of Bavaria (born August 28, 1312; died June 18, 1333).

3. Duke of Lower Bavaria

Otto III succeeded his father, Henry XIII, Duke of Bavaria, as Duke of Lower Bavaria in 1290. He ruled jointly with his younger brothers, Louis III, Duke of Bavaria and Stephen I, Duke of Bavaria. Both of his brothers predeceased him.

During his tenure as Duke, Otto III actively pursued a policy of opposition against the powerful Habsburg dynasty. A key ambition was to regain Styria, a territory that Bavaria had lost in 1180. In pursuit of this goal, he supported Adolf, King of Germany, against the Habsburgs and fought alongside him in the Battle of Göllheim.

While Otto III was engaged in Hungarian affairs between 1305 and 1308, the administration of Lower Bavaria was entrusted to his brother, Stephen I. Otto's involvement in the complex political landscapes of Austria and Hungary, however, proved to be a drain on his resources and ultimately weakened his position in Bavaria, leading to significant financial difficulties. In 1310, a new conflict against the Habsburgs resulted in the devastation of Burghausen, his birthplace.

4. King of Hungary and Croatia

Otto III's claim to and rule over the kingdoms of Hungary and Croatia were marked by intense political struggles and ultimately ended in his abdication.

4.1. Background of Hungarian Succession

The Hungarian throne became vacant following the extinction of the Árpád dynasty with the death of Andrew III of Hungary in 1301. This created a period of interregnum, drawing multiple claimants to the crown. Otto III, as a grandson of Béla IV of Hungary through his mother Elizabeth, possessed a strong hereditary claim. He was initially offered the Hungarian crown in 1301 but declined the offer at that time.

However, the political landscape shifted, and in August 1305, his rival, Wenceslaus III of Bohemia, who had inherited the Bohemian throne from his father, formally renounced his claim to Hungary in favor of Otto III. Despite this, Otto faced significant obstacles on his journey to Hungary, as the Habsburg Albert I of Germany blocked the traditional routes through Austria. To circumvent this impediment, Otto resorted to disguising himself as a merchant and successfully reached Buda in November 1305.

4.2. Accession and Rule

Upon his arrival in Hungary, Otto III was crowned with the sacred Holy Crown of Hungary in Székesfehérvár on December 6, 1305. The coronation ceremony was officiated by Benedict Rád, the Bishop of Veszprém, and Anthony, Bishop of Csanád.

Despite achieving the symbolic legitimacy of coronation, Otto found himself unable to effectively consolidate and strengthen his rule over the kingdom. His authority was continuously challenged by his primary rival, Charles of Anjou (also known as Károly RóbertHungarian). Throughout 1306, Charles systematically occupied key fortresses, including Esztergom, Szepes Castle, and Zólyom, along with other strategic strongholds in the northern regions of the kingdom. By the following year, Charles's forces had also captured Buda, further eroding Otto's control.

Coat of arms of the King of Hungary (14th century).
Coat of arms of the King of Hungary (14th century).

4.3. End of Rule

The culmination of Otto III's struggles in Hungary came in June 1307 when he sought support from the powerful Voivode of Transylvania, Ladislaus Kán. However, instead of offering assistance, Ladislaus Kán unexpectedly imprisoned Otto.

While Otto was in captivity, a significant political development occurred on October 10, 1307. An assembly of Hungarian magnates convened in Rákos and formally proclaimed Charles I of Hungary as king. Nevertheless, the most influential aristocrats, including Matthew III Csák, Amade Aba, and Ladislaus Kán himself, continued to disregard Charles's claim and refused to acknowledge his authority. Towards the end of 1307, Ladislaus Kán released Otto, who then departed from Hungary. Crucially, Ladislaus Kán maintained possession of the Holy Crown of Hungary and refused to hand it over to Charles, thereby casting doubt on Charles's legitimacy as king without the traditional coronation using the sacred crown.

Otto formally abdicated the Hungarian throne in 1308. His extensive involvement in the tumultuous political affairs of Hungary, coupled with his earlier engagements in Austria, severely weakened his financial stability and political standing in Bavaria. This overextension of his ambitions ultimately led to the failure of his Hungarian aspirations and contributed to his later financial difficulties.

5. Death

Otto III died on November 9, 1312, in Landshut. Following his death, the Duchy of Lower Bavaria was succeeded by his son, Henry XV, Duke of Bavaria. Henry XV shared power with his cousins, Henry XIV, Duke of Bavaria and Otto IV, Duke of Lower Bavaria, both of whom were sons of Otto III's brother, Stephen I. The ducal line of Lower Bavaria eventually concluded with John I, Duke of Bavaria, a son of Henry XIV. The territory was subsequently inherited by Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, who reunited the duchy in 1340.

6. Assessment and Legacy

Otto III's reign is largely characterized by his ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to secure the Hungarian throne, which significantly overshadowed his long tenure as Duke of Lower Bavaria. In Hungarian historiography, he is predominantly remembered as an "anti-king" during the tumultuous interregnum period that spanned from 1301 to 1310. His inability to establish firm control in Hungary, despite being crowned with the Holy Crown, underscores the deep political divisions and the strength of rival claimants like Charles I of Hungary.

His involvement in the complex and costly affairs of Hungary and Austria severely weakened his standing and financial resources in his native Bavaria. This overextension of his dynastic ambitions led to significant financial problems, contributing to the overall perception of his reign as a period of political and economic strain for his Bavarian duchy. Otto III's legacy is thus primarily defined by his failed Hungarian venture and the subsequent consolidation of Angevin power in Hungary under Charles I, rather than by any lasting achievements in Bavaria. His life serves as a notable example of the intricate dynastic politics and territorial struggles that shaped medieval Central Europe.