Louis III, Count Palatine of the Rhine , was an Elector Palatine of the Rhine from the house of Wittelsbach in 1410–1436.
Background
Louis III was the third son of King Rupert of Germany and his wife Elisabeth of Nuremberg. During his father"s campaign in Italy 1401-1402 Louis served as imperial vicar. He succeeded his father in 1410 as Elector of the Palatinate but did not run for the German crown.
Career
The Palatinate was divided between the four of Rupert"s surviving sons. As oldest surviving son and new Prince-Elector Louis III received the main part, John received Palatinate-Neumarkt, Stephen received Palatinate-Simmern and Otto received Palatinate-Mosbach. Highly cultured and religious he was a patron of the Heidelberg University.
Louis III acted as vicar for Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor and was his bearer during the Council of Constance.
As such Louis later also executed the sentences against January Hus and Jerome of Prague. He also arrested Antipope John XXIII in 1415.
He was played by Thomas Morris in the 2010 German television movie The Whore.
Membership
Louis III was a member of the Parakeet Society and of the League of Constance.