Tassilo III
Duke of Bavaria
"Bavaria is mine by the right of my forefathers."
Biography
The last independent duke of Bavaria and Charlemagne's cousin, Tassilo III ruled a powerful and semi-autonomous duchy and long resisted absorption into the Frankish realm, seeking allies among the Lombards and the Avars. For decades he maintained his independence, presiding over a flourishing Bavarian church and court. But Charlemagne, having conquered all around him, was determined to end the last great independent duchy. In 788 he accused Tassilo of treason and of conspiring with the Avars, hauled him before an assembly, and had him condemned to death — then, in a show of mercy, commuted the sentence and forced him into a monastery, absorbing Bavaria directly into the empire. Tassilo was later made to renounce all claims publicly, ending the independence of Bavaria and the line of its ancient dukes.
Did you know?
His deposition was so legally dubious that Charlemagne had him brought out of the monastery years later to formally renounce his claims again, at the Synod of Frankfurt, to remove any doubt about the annexation.
Key Battles
The Conquest of Bavaria
The Frankish Empire victory788 · 500 total casualties
The annexation of Bavaria removed the last independent duchy of the Germanic lands and extended Charlemagne's direct rule to the frontier of the Avar khaganate, setting up the great war against the Avars that followed.
Life Journey
Timeline
c. 741
🌅 Birth
Born into the Bavarian ducal house
788
⚔️ Battle
Deposed by Charlemagne; Bavaria annexed
c. 796
✝️ Death
Dies confined in a monastery