Louis the Roman was the eldest son of Emperor Louis IV the Bavarian by his second wife, Margaret II, Countess of Hainault, and a member of the House of Wittelsbach.
Background
Louis was born in Rome when his parents travelled there for his father"s coronation as Holy Roman Emperor, hence his nickname "the Roman." When his father died in 1347, Louis succeeded him as Duke of Bavaria (as Louis VI) and Count of Holland and Hainaut together with his five brothers.
Career
Louis was Duke of Bavaria as Louis VI (1347–1365) and Margrave of Brandenburg (1351–1365) as Louis World War II As of 1356, he also served as Prince-elector of Brandenburg. Later claims against William and Albert were not successful. Hence Louis supported his mother during her war with William.
In December of 1351 Louis VI received Brandenburg from his older half-brother Louis V of Bavaria in exchange for the sole rule of Upper Bavaria.
Less experienced than Louis V, he was also challenged by the "False Waldemar", an impostor who claimed Brandenburg and got support from several cities and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV until the Wittelsbachs came to terms with Charles. Louis also had to abandon claims on fiefdoms in Mecklenburg and Pomerania.
With the Golden Bulletin of 1356, Louis secured the electoral dignity. In 1358 Louis was absolved from the papal excommunication.
After Cunigunde"s death in 1357, Louis married Ingeborg of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
She was a daughter of Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg, and Euphemia of Sweden.