n.
orig. Maximilian Joseph
born May 27, 1756, Mannheim, Palatinate
died Oct. 13, 1825, Munich
First king of Bavaria (180625).
A member of the house of Wittelsbach , in 1799 he inherited its territories as Maximilian IV Joseph, elector of Bavaria. Forced by Austria to enter the war against France, he signed a separate peace in 1801. Distrustful of Austria, he supported the French war effort (180509) through Bavaria's membership in the Confederation of the Rhine . He received territories by which he crowned himself king of Bavaria (1806). After 1813 he allied with Austria to guarantee the integrity of his kingdom and gave up sections of western Austria in return for territories on the western bank of the Rhine. Aided by his chief minister, count von Montgelas (17591838), Maximilian made Bavaria into an efficient, liberal state under a new constitution (1808) and charter (1818) that established a bicameral parliament.