William IV, Duke of Bavaria
| William IV | |
|---|---|
Portrait by Hans Wertinger
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| Duke of Bavaria | |
| Reign | 18 March 1508 – 7 March 1550 co-regent Louis X |
| Predecessor | Albert IV |
| Successor | Albert V |
| Born |
13 November 1493 Munich |
| Died | 7 March 1550 Munich |
| Spouse | Jakobaea of Baden |
| Issue |
Albert V, Duke of Bavaria Mechthild of Bavaria |
| House | House of Wittelsbach |
| Father | Albert IV, Duke of Bavaria |
| Mother | Kunigunde of Austria |
William IV (German: Wilhelm IV; 13 November 1493 – 7 March 1550) was Duke of Bavaria from 1508 to 1550, until 1545 together with his younger brother Louis X, Duke of Bavaria. He was born in Munich to Albert IV and Kunigunde of Austria, a daughter of Emperor Frederick III.
Though his father had determined the everlasting succession of the firstborn prince in 1506, his younger brother Louis refused a spiritual career with the argument that he was born before the edict became valid. With support of his mother and the States-General, Louis forced William to accept him as co-regent in 1516. Louis then ruled the districts of Landshut and Straubing, in general in concord with his brother.
William initially sympathized with the Reformation but changed his mind as it grew more popular in Bavaria. In 1522 William issued the first Bavarian religion mandate, banning the promulgation of Martin Luther's works. After an agreement with Pope Clement VII in 1524 William became a political leader of the German Counter reformation, although he remained in opposition to the Habsburgs since his brother Louis X claimed the Bohemian crown. Both dukes also suppressed the peasant uprising in South Germany in an alliance with the archbishop of Salzburg in 1525.
The conflict with Habsburg ended in 1534 when both dukes reached an agreement with Ferdinand I in Linz. William then supported Charles V in his war against the Schmalkaldic League in 1546, but however did not succeed in preserving the Palatine electoral dignity. William's chancellor for 35 years was the forceful Leonhard von Eck.
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Wikipedia