Arnulf, Duke of Bavaria

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Arnulf (died 14 July 937), called the Bad (German: der Schlimme) or the Evil (der Böse), was the duke of Bavaria from 907 until his death. He was a member of the Luitpolding dynasty.

Arnulf was the son of Margrave Luitpold of Bavaria and Cunigunda, daughter of Berthold I, Count Palatine of Swabia.

Besieged by frequent raids by the Hungarians and desperate to raise funds to finance a defence, Arnulf strengthened his power through confiscation of church lands and property, which earned him the nickname "the Bad". He re-established the duchy of Bavaria and eventually negotiated a truce with the Hungarians who thereafter largely passed through Bavaria on their raids into other German territories.

Arnulf vigorously resisted King Conrad I (and the second husband of Arnulf's mother Cunigunda) and later Conrad's successor, Henry the Fowler of Saxony. According to the Annales Iuvavenses, in 920, Baiuarii sponte se reddiderunt Arnolfo duci et regnare ei fecerunt in regno teutonicorum: the Bavarians, with some other East Franks, elected Arnulf king in opposition to Henry (actually in 919). Arnulf's "reign" was short-lived. Henry defeated him in two campaigns in 921, confirmed his sovereignty over Bavaria in return for Arnulf's renunciation of his royal claim.

Arnulf was married to Judith of Friuli, daughter of Count Eberhard of Friuli and Gisela of Verona. Arnulf's daughter Judith married Henry I of Bavaria, brother of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor.

Arnulf died in Regensburg in 937 and was buried in St. Emmeram.

[edit] References

This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.

[edit] Notes

Preceded by Luitpold	Duke of Bavaria 907 – 937	Succeeded by Eberhard
Titles in pretence
Preceded by None	— TITULAR — King of Germany during reign of Henry I: Elected in opposition by Bavarians 919 – 921	Succeeded by None; eventually Rudolf of Rheinfeld