The Rule of Henry V of Bavaria and the Transfer of the Duchy (1009–1026)

Henry V of Luxembourg, Duke of Bavaria, experienced a turbulent relationship with his brother-in-law, Emperor Henry II, who removed and later reinstated him as duke before his death in 1026. His lack of heirs led to a reshuffling of Bavarian authority, ultimately returning the duchy to imperial control.

Henry V’s Removal and Reinstatement as Duke of Bavaria (1009–1017)

• Henry V of Luxembourg, brother of Empress Cunigunde, was originally granted the Duchy of Bavaria by Emperor Henry II.
• However, in 1009, a quarrel between the two rulers led to Henry V’s removal from power.
• For nearly a decade, the Bavarian duchy remained in imperial hands until 1017, when Henry II reinstated Henry V as Duke of Bavaria.
• Despite this return to favor, Henry V never married, leaving his rule without a direct heir.

Succession and the Transfer of Bavaria (1026)

• Upon Henry V’s death in 1026, his county of Luxembourg passed to his nephew Henry, strengthening the Luxembourg dynasty.
• The Duchy of Bavaria, however, reverted to the Holy Roman Empire, as Henry V had no heirs to continue his ducal line.
• By 1027, the new emperor, Conrad II, placed Bavaria under imperial control, preparing it for new governance within the Salian dynasty.

Conrad II’s Grant of Bavaria to His Son (1027)

• In 1027, Emperor Conrad II bestowed the Duchy of Bavaria upon his son, the future Emperor Henry III, securing Salian control over one of the most important duchies of the empire.
• This transition marked Bavaria’s return to direct imperial administration, reinforcing Conrad II’s authority over the German nobility.
• Henry III would later become Holy Roman Emperor, ensuring that Bavaria remained a key imperial power base throughout his reign.

Legacy

• Henry V of Bavaria’s reign demonstrated the precarious nature of ducal appointments in the Holy Roman Empire, where imperial favor could make or break a ruler’s tenure.
• His lack of heirs resulted in the recentralization of Bavaria, allowing Conrad II to consolidate dynastic control over the region.
• The transfer of Bavaria to Henry III strengthened imperial authority, setting the stage for the duchy’s integration into the Salian dynasty’s long-term strategy of governance.

Henry V’s rule and succession crisis exemplified the interplay between dynastic ambition and imperial authority, reinforcing the emperor’s power while shaping the future of Bavaria as a cornerstone of the Holy Roman Empire.