Editing History of Bavaria (section)

===Under the Welfs===
In 1070 AD, King Henry IV deposed duke Otto, granting the duchy to Count [[Welf I, Duke of Bavaria|Welf]], a member of an influential Bavarian family with roots in northern Italy.

In consequence of his support of [[Pope Gregory VII]] in his quarrel with Henry, Welf lost but subsequently regained Bavaria; two of his sons followed him in succession: [[Welf II, Duke of Bavaria|Welf II]] from 1101 AD and [[Henry IX, Duke of Bavaria|Henry IX]] from 1120 AD. Both exercised considerable influence among the German princes.

Henry IX's son [[Henry X, Duke of Bavaria|Henry X]], called the Proud, succeeded in 1126 AD and also obtained the [[Duchy of Saxony]] in 1137 AD. Alarmed at his power, King [[Conrad III of Germany|Conrad III]] refused to allow two duchies to remain in the same hands and declared Henry deposed. He bestowed Bavaria upon [[Leopold IV of Austria (Babenberg)|Leopold IV]], Margrave of [[Margraviate of Austria|Austria]]. When Leopold died in 1141, the king retained the duchy himself; but it continued to be the scene of considerable disorder, and in 1143 AD he entrusted it to [[Henry II of Austria|Henry]], surnamed Jasomirgott, Margrave of Austria.

The struggle for its possession continued until 1156 AD, when [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Frederick I]], in his desire to restore peace to Germany, persuaded Henry to give up Bavaria to [[Henry the Lion]], duke of [[Duchy of Saxony|Saxony]] and son of Henry the Proud. In return, Austria was elevated from a margraviate to an independent duchy in the [[Privilegium Minus]]. It was Henry the Lion who founded [[Munich]].