Berthold (Duke of Bavaria)

Berthold was the youngest son of the Bavarian margrave Luitpold .

Probably around 926, Berthold took possession of the border Bavarian stamps , while remaining a vassal of his elder brother Arnulf of Bavaria .

In 927, the king of Germany, Heinrich the First, raised Berthold to the title of Duke of Carinthia , possibly seeking to weaken the power of recalcitrant Arnulf.

In 938, the new German King Otto I overthrew Ebhard of Bavaria , the son of Arnulf, and transferred Bavaria to Berthold. Unlike his predecessors, Berthold did not receive the right to appoint bishops and counts in his domain, and was almost completely subordinate to the German king. Nevertheless, throughout the reign of Berthold, he remained loyal to Otto I. There were even negotiations on the marriage of the Bavarian duke with one of the sisters of the German king, but they were not crowned with success.

Berthold led military operations against the Hungarians , who had already committed predatory raids in Germany for half a century. In 943, the Bavarian army defeated the Hungarian troops at Wels and briefly ensured the tranquility of the eastern borders of the duchy.

After the death of Berthold in 947, his son Henry was removed by Otton I from inheritance. Bavaria was transferred to the brother of the German king Henry of Saxony .

Wife: Biltrud . Children:

• Henry I Young (940-989), Duke of Carinthia in 976-978 and 985-989, Duke of Bavaria in 983-985
• Kunigunda ; husband: Ulrich , Count Schweinachgau