Nobility, he succeeded his father Otto I as duke of Bavaria 1183. His mother and uncles Archbishop Konrad and Otto acted as regent until he came of age in 1192. He supported Heinrich VI and joined him in Italy to secure Heinrich the kingdom of Sicily. After his death he supported Philipp of Swabia, Heinrichs younger brother. After Philipps murder he was the first to change sides and supported the Guelph Otto von Braunschweig. In 1210 Otto's power started to wane, first he was excommunicated for invading Sicily, then in September 1211 Friedrich, son of Heinrich VI, was elected king and emperor. When Friedrich crossed the Alps Ludwig returned to being a supporter of the Hohenstaufer. In 1214 he received the Palatinate of the Rhine and changed his residency to Heidelberg. This started the century long reign (until 1918) of the Wittelsbacher family in Bavaria as well as the Palatinate. He married the widowed Ludmilla of Bohemia in 1204, who bore him one child, Otto, who succeeded him. Ludwig was killed by an unknown person while on a bridge in Kehlheim. The murderer was immediately lynched. The chronicler Hans Ebran von Wildenberg later suggested that it was the spontaneous act of someone confused. His son had the bridge razed and build a chapel at the place of the murder.
Nobility, he succeeded his father Otto I as duke of Bavaria 1183. His mother and uncles Archbishop Konrad and Otto acted as regent until he came of age in 1192. He supported Heinrich VI and joined him in Italy to secure Heinrich the kingdom of Sicily. After his death he supported Philipp of Swabia, Heinrichs younger brother. After Philipps murder he was the first to change sides and supported the Guelph Otto von Braunschweig. In 1210 Otto's power started to wane, first he was excommunicated for invading Sicily, then in September 1211 Friedrich, son of Heinrich VI, was elected king and emperor. When Friedrich crossed the Alps Ludwig returned to being a supporter of the Hohenstaufer. In 1214 he received the Palatinate of the Rhine and changed his residency to Heidelberg. This started the century long reign (until 1918) of the Wittelsbacher family in Bavaria as well as the Palatinate. He married the widowed Ludmilla of Bohemia in 1204, who bore him one child, Otto, who succeeded him. Ludwig was killed by an unknown person while on a bridge in Kehlheim. The murderer was immediately lynched. The chronicler Hans Ebran von Wildenberg later suggested that it was the spontaneous act of someone confused. His son had the bridge razed and build a chapel at the place of the murder.
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