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| Louis III | |
|---|---|
 Painting in the collegiate church ofNeustadt an der Weinstraße | |
| Elector Palatine | |
| Reign | 18 May 1410 – 30 December 1436 |
| Predecessor | Rupert III |
| Successor | Louis IV |
| Born | 23 January 1378 |
| Died | 30 December 1436(1436-12-30) (aged 58) Heidelberg |
| Spouse | Blanche of Lancaster Matilda of Savoy |
| Issue | Mathilde Louis IV, Elector Palatine Frederick I, Elector Palatine Rupprecht |
| House | Wittelsbach |
| Father | Rupert of Germany |
| Mother | Elisabeth of Nuremberg |
Louis III (German:Ludwig III. der Ältere or der Bärtige) (23 January 1378 – 30 December 1436), was anElector Palatine of the Rhine from thehouse of Wittelsbach in 1410–1436.
Louis III was the third son of KingRupert of Germany[1] and his wifeElisabeth of Nuremberg.[2] During his father's campaign in Italy 1401-1402 Louis served as imperial vicar. He succeeded his father in 1410 as Elector of the Palatinate but did not run for the German crown. The Palatinate was divided among the four of Rupert's surviving sons. As oldest surviving son and newPrince-Elector Louis III received the main part,John receivedPalatinate-Neumarkt,Stephen receivedPalatinate-Simmern andOtto receivedPalatinate-Mosbach.
Louis III was a member of theParakeet Society and of theLeague of Constance. Highly cultured and religious he was a patron of theHeidelberg University. Louis III acted as vicar forSigismund, Holy Roman Emperor and was his bearer during theCouncil of Constance. As such Louis later also executed the sentences againstJan Hus andJerome of Prague. He also arrestedAntipope John XXIII in 1415.
Louis III returned very sick from a pilgrimage in 1427 into theHoly Land which he had organized after the death of his son Ruprecht. From 1430 onwards he was almost blind and in 1435 deprived of power by his wife and her advisors. In the following year he died, inHeidelberg, and was succeeded by his sonLouis IV.
Louis III was married twice.
Firstly, he married on 6 July 1402Blanche of Lancaster (1392 – 22 May 1409), eldest daughter of KingHenry IV of England andMary de Bohun.[1] This marriage brought thePalatine Crown into the hands of the Wittelsbach.[3] They had one son:
Secondly, he married on 30 November 1417Matilda of Savoy,[4] daughter ofAmadeo, Prince of Achaea. They had five children:
Louis III, Elector Palatine Born: 1378 Died: 1436 | ||
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| Preceded by | Elector Palatine 1410–1436 | Succeeded by |
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