Albert III the Pious of Bavaria-Munich, since 1438 Duke of Bavaria-Munich.
Background
He was born in Munich to Ernest, Duke of Bavaria and Elisabetta Visconti, daughter of Bernabò Visconti. He was first engaged in 1429, to Elisabeth, the daughter of Eberhard III, Count of Württemberg, but she eloped and married a Count of Werdenberg, who had been a page at her father"s court. In 1432, while he was administrator on behalf of his father, Duke Ernest, in the former duchy of Bavaria-Straubing he secretly married Agnes Bernauer, a maid from Augsburg.
His father was against this marriage.
Career
In 1435, when she lived in Straubing, Ernest ordered the murder of Agnes Bernauer. After her death, Albert took himself to Duke Louis at Ingolstadt, but he reconciled with his father that November. After reconciliation with his father Albert married princess Anna of Brunswick-Grubenhagen-Einbeck and had ten children with her.
In 1438 he succeeded his father as duke of Bavaria-Munich.
In 1440 he refused the offered Bohemian crown. In 1444 and 1445 he initiated two campaigns against the Robber barons.
In 1455 Albert founded the Benedictine monastery in Andechs. He died in Munich in 1460 and is buried in Andechs.
Agnes Bernauer in art