POPULATION. The population of Bavaria was 5.284,778 in 1SSO; 5,594,982 in 1890; and 6.175,153 in 1900. Over 70 per cent. is Roman Catholic, about 21 per cent. Protestant, less than 1 per cent. Hebrew, and the rest belongs to various Christian denominations, such as Old Catholics, 31ennonites, Reformed Anglican. The capital is 31unich. Other important cities are Nuremberg, Augsburg, Wilrzburg, Furth, Ratis bon. Bamberg, Bayreuth, Erlangen, Speyer, Schweinfurt.
Ilisroay. The Celtic inhabitants of what now constitutes the southern part of Bavaria were conquered by the Romans about B.C. 15. The region was included partly in Vindelicia and partly in Noricum. The Romans founded the colonies of Augusta Vindeli•ormn, 'Augusta of the Yindelici' (now Augsburg), ltegina Castra (Regensburg or Ratishon), and Castra Batava (Passau). At the time of the great migration of nations the Marcomanni, moving westward from their seats in 'Bohemia (Boiohammin, so named from the Celtic Boii, whom the Marco manni had conquered about the beginning of the Christian Era), settled in Bavaria, which took its name :Ann the new occupants. who were known as Boiarii (possessors of the country of the WO. Dukes of the Bavarians appear in his tory as early as the Sixth Century. The bishop Passau, Freising, and Ratisbon were founded in the Eighth Century. Before the close of that century Bavaria had been brought completely under the sway of the Franks. After the extinction of the Carlovingian dynasty. early in the Tenth Century. a new Duchy of Bavaria arose. In 1070 Bavaria passed into the posses sion of the Guelph (Well) family. In 1180, when Henry the Lion was placed under the ban of the Empire by Frederick Barbarossa. his Ba varian territories were transferred to Otho. Count of Wittelsbach, whose descendant now occupies the royal throne. The Rhenish Palat inate was conferred on this family by the Em peror Frederick 111. in 1214. Louis of Bavaria was Emperor of Germany in 1314-47. At this time the Palatinate was separated from Bavaria. (See PALATINATE.) Duke Maximilian. for his services to the Imperial cause in the Thirty Years War (q.v.), was raised to the dignity of Imperial elector in 1623, and in 1628 was in vested with the Upper Palatinate. In the War of the Spanish Succession Bavaria supported France. The Elector Charles Albert was one of the princes who sought to dismember the Aus trian dominions on the accession of Maria The resa. (See AUSTRIAN SUCCESSION. WAR OF Tim.) lie was elected Emperor of Germany in 1742, and died in 1745. In 1777 the Wittelsbach line in the Electorate of Bavaria became extinct, and the Wittelsbach line in the Rhine Palatinate succeeded to the throne. In 1S05 Bavaria was erected into a kingdom by Napoleon I. The King as.sisted Napoleon in his wars, and received large additions of territor. In 1813, however, he cleverly contrived to change sides, and thus man aged to have confirmed to him, by the treaties of 1814-15, an extent of territory nearly as valua ble as the possessions which the treaties of Pressburg and Vienna had given him, and which he had now to restore to Austria.
In 1818 the new Constitution came into exist ence, hot, owing to various causes, it did not secure the measure of popular freedom that had been expected. In 1825 Louis I. ascended the throne. He was a well-meaning and liberal mon arch, but he lavished the wealth of the kingdom on the embellishment of the capital and on works of art, while he neglected works of practical value. The revolutionary wave of 1830 produced some disquiet in the eountry, but no serious dis turbance. The Bavarian Government. however, took alarm, and restricted the freedom of the press; and, though the restrictions were speedily repealed, dissatisfaction was created by the im position of new taxes. The Jesuits obtained great influence with the King, which they to the detriment of popular rights. The people were further aroused by the King's relations with the notorious Lola Montez (q.v.). who was looked upon as an agent of the Ultramontanes. In March. 1848. following the example of till French revolutionists, the people of Munich seized the arsenal. and demanded reform and the expulsion of Lola Montez. The King had to con sent, hut in the same month he abdicated. His son, Slaximilian IL, ascended the throne. died in 1864, and was succeeded by Louis 11., a distinguished patron of Wagner, the great musician. After 1850 Bavaria showed itself hostile to the national movement toward Ger man unity under the leadership of Prussia. In the war of 1866 it sided with Austria against the former power, suffered defeat, and was com pelled to enter into an offensive and defensive alliance with the victor. Without abating in its dislike for Prussia. the country was forced by the power of national sentiment to join in the war against France. Circumstances' there after made its entrance into the new German Empire inevitable. In June, 1886, Louis 11., who had become insane, committed suicide. His brother assumed the title of Otho 1.: but this prince being also mentally incapable of govern ing. the regency was taken over by an uncle. Prince Luitpold (born March 12, 1821).
BratioettArtly. .Thcaria, Landes- tool Folks kende des Iiiinigreichs Bayern ortmia, 1800 OS) ; Geistbeek, Da.s Klinigreich Bayern in geo graphisch-statistiseher Beziehvng (ib., 1878) ; Wenz, Folkskunde von Bayern (Nuremberg, 1879 84) : Beitrdge zur Landeskunde Bayerns (Mu nich, 1884), contains a complete bibliography; Geographisch-historisehrs Handbuch von Bayern (Munich, 1895-98) ; Gilmbel, Geologic von Bayern (Cassel, 1S84-94) ; Die Landwirtschaft in Bayerns (Munich, 1890), a memorial prepared from official sources; Beck, Bayerns Gross industrie and Grossha»del (Nuremberg. 1895) : Piloty. Die Ferfassungskunde des kiinigreichs &w•fs (Gotha. 1878-99) ; Heigel, Die Wittels Lacher (Mnnich, 1895) ; Riezler, 11(.8/.7/kg/to Bayern (Munich, •880) Drechler. DarstcHung der gesehichtliehen Entwickeluny des bayrischen Slaatsgebiets (Berlin, 1890). See GERMANY.