LOUIS IV.

louis iv., or v. (c. 1287-1347), surnamed the bavarian, roman emperor and duke of upper bavaria, was the second son of louis ii., duke of upper bavaria and count palatine of the rhine, and matilda, daughter of the german king rudolph i. having lost his father in 1294 he inherited, jointly with his elder brother rudolph, upper bavaria and the palatinate, but passed his time mainly at the court of the habsburgs in vienna, while his early experiences of warfare were gained in the campaigns of his uncle, the german king albert i. he was soon at variance with his brother over their joint possessions. albert taking the part of louis in this quarrel, rudolph promised in 1301 to admit his brother to a share in the government of bavaria and the palatinate. when albert was murdered in may 1308, louis became a candidate for the german throne; but his claim was not strongly supported. the new king, henry