Berthold, Duke of Bavaria

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Berthold (c.900 – 23 November 947), of the Luitpolding dynasty, was the younger son of the margrave Luitpold and Cunigunda and successor of the duke Eberhard as Duke of Bavaria in 938.

It is known that Berthold was the count of Carinthia in 926 and in 927, King Henry the Fowler made him duke. In 938, Eberhard was removed in Bavaria by Otto the Great, who appointed Berthold in his place. Unlike the powerful late duke Arnulf the Bad, his elder brother, Berthold was not given the right to appoint bishops or administer royal property, but he remained loyal to the Ottonians. Berthold planned to marry Gerberga, sister of Otto, and then Hedwige, another sister, but these plans fell through. Instead he married Biltrude, a Bavarian noblewoman.

In 943, he dealt defeat to the Magyars and staved off their attacks for a while, as Arnulf had done before him. He united Carinthia to Bavaria, but it was separated on his death, when his son Henry received it as compensation for losing the duchy of Bavaria, which was given to another Henry, the brother of Otto.

Berthold, Duke of Bavaria Luitpolding Died: 947
Preceded by none	Duke of Carinthia 927 – 938	Succeeded by Henry I
Preceded by Eberhard	Duke of Bavaria 938 – 947	Succeeded by Henry I