Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria

Maximilian Joseph inherited the Duchy of Zweibr

Upon the death of Charles Theodore, Maximilian Joseph inherited the Electorate of Bavaria and the Palatinate. This succession united the Zweibr

Maximilian Joseph allied Bavaria with Napoleon's French Empire. This alliance brought territorial gains through the Treaty of Pressburg, including the acquisition of Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and other territories, significantly expanding Bavaria.

Maximilian Joseph was elevated from Elector to King of Bavaria by Napoleon, following the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. This elevation made him the first monarch of the Kingdom of Bavaria, a sovereign state within the Confederation of the Rhine.

Maximilian Joseph enacted a constitution for the Kingdom of Bavaria, introducing a bicameral parliament and establishing a modern administrative system. This reform aimed to centralize the state and implement Enlightenment-era principles of governance.

Following Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Leipzig, Maximilian Joseph switched Bavarian allegiance to the Sixth Coalition. This decision preserved his kingdom's sovereignty and allowed Bavaria to participate in the Congress of Vienna as a victor.