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From Dachau to Duke: The Incredible Life of Franz of Bavaria, Britain's 'Other' King
Meet Franz of Bavaria, the 90-year-old Jacobite heir to the British throne. A survivor of Nazi concentration camps at age 11, he became a celebrated art connoisseur and has been in a same-sex partnership for over 40 years. His life is a remarkable story of resilience and dignity.
In the grand theater of European royalty, history is filled with 'what ifs' and forgotten lineages. But none are quite as compelling as the story of the man who, to a dedicated few, is King Francis II of England, Scotland, and Ireland. His name is Franz, Duke of Bavaria, and his life story is a staggering journey through the darkest and most cultured corners of the 20th and 21st centuries.
The Reluctant Claimant
So, how can a German Duke be the 'rightful' British king? The claim traces back to the Glorious Revolution of 1688, when the Catholic King James II was deposed in favor of his Protestant daughter, Mary. His descendants, and their supporters known as Jacobites, maintained a claim to the throne. This claim passed through generations and various European noble houses, eventually landing with the House of Wittelsbach, Bavaria's former ruling family. As the current head of the house, the 90-year-old Franz is the heir. However, he has never pursued this claim. His office has previously stated it is nothing more than a historical curiosity.
It’s a very friendly curiosity, but it’s a curiosity. It’s not a matter that concerns him.
A Childhood Shattered by Tyranny
Long before any royal succession debates, Franz's life was defined by survival. Born in 1933, the same year the Nazi Party came to power, his family was openly opposed to the regime. His grandfather, Crown Prince Rupprecht, was an avowed enemy of Hitler. This opposition came at a terrible cost. After fleeing to Hungary, the family was captured in 1944. At just 11 years old, Franz, along with his father, mother, and sisters, was sent to a series of concentration camps, including Sachsenhausen, Flossenbürg, and finally Dachau. They were liberated by the American army in April 1945, but the experience left an indelible mark on the young prince.
A Renaissance Man of Art
Instead of being consumed by the past, Franz dedicated his adult life to the future of culture. After studying business administration, he developed a deep and abiding passion for modern art. His personal collection became renowned, and his expertise earned him a place on the boards of the world's most prestigious museums. Most notably, he became the first German elected to the International Council of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York, a testament to his influence and discerning eye. He has spent his life not on a throne, but as a celebrated patron of the arts, living quietly at Nymphenburg Palace in Munich.
A Private Life, Quietly Shared
For decades, Franz’s personal life remained just that—personal. However, in his recent memoirs and at his 90th birthday celebration in 2023, he publicly acknowledged his partner of over forty years, Dr. Thomas Greinwald. By formally introducing Dr. Greinwald, the Duke made a quiet but powerful statement. It was a modern chapter in a life that has spanned monarchies, dictatorships, and democracies—a life of quiet dignity, profound resilience, and a dedication to beauty in a world that once showed him its absolute worst.