List of minister-presidents of Bavaria

Minister-President of Bavaria
Ministerpräsident des Freistaates Bayern
Coat of arms of Bavaria
Incumbent
Markus Söder
since 16 March 2018
ResidencePrinz-Carl-Palais, Munich (official residence)
Bavarian State Chancellery, Munich (executive office)
AppointerLandtag of Bavaria
Term lengthPending resignation or the election of a successor
Inaugural holderKurt Eisner
Formation8 November 1918 (1918-11-08)
Salaryregulated by legislation
WebsiteOfficial website

Below is a list of the men who have served in the capacity of minister-president or equivalent office in the German state of Bavaria from the 17th century to the present.

Privy Council chancellor

Privy Council chancellors (Geheime Ratskanzler) were:

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Note
Took office Left office Time in office
Johann Adlzreiter von Tettenweis
(1596–1662)
1650 11 May 1662 12 years
Johann Georg Oexle
(1605–1675)
11 May 1662 1667 c. 5 years
Kaspar von Schmid
(1622–1693)
1667 3 September 1693 c. 26 years
Johann Rudolf von Wämpl
(1638–1704)
1695 9 December 1704 c. 9 years
Franz Xaver Josef von Unertl
(1675–1750)
3 March 1726 6 March 1749 23 years, 3 days
Franz Xaver Andreas von Praidlohn
(1689–1757)
7 March 1749 20 September 1758 9 years, 197 days
Wiguläus von Kreittmayr
(1705–1790)
20 September 1758 21 October 1790 32 years, 31 days
Johann Friedrich von Hertling
(1729–1806)
21 October 1790 13 February 1806 15 years, 115 days

Ministers of foreign affairs

Before 1849, Bavaria had no actual head of government, but the minister of foreign affairs was the most senior of the ministers. In 1806, the office was given to the minister of the Royal House and of foreign affairs.

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Note
Took office Left office Time in office
Electorate of Bavaria (until 1805)
Part of the Holy Roman Empire
1 Maximilian Franz Joseph von Berchem
(1702–1777)
1745 18 November 1777 c. 32 years
2 Matthäus von Vieregg
(1719–1802)
18 November 1777 21 February 1799 21 years, 95 days
3 Maximilian Graf von Montgelas
(1759–1838)
21 February 1799 26 December 1805 6 years, 308 days
Kingdom of Bavaria (1805–1918)
3 Maximilian Graf von Montgelas
(1759–1838)
26 December 1805 2 February 1817 11 years, 38 days
4 Heinrich Alois von Reigersberg
(1770–1865)
2 February 1817 1823 c. 5 years
5 Aloys Graf von Rechberg und Rothenlöwen
(1766–1849)
2 Februar 1817 13 Oktober 1825 8 years, 253 days
6 Friedrich Karl von Thürheim
(1763–1832)
1 Januar 1827 28 April 1827 117 days
7 Georg Friedrich von Zentner
(1752–1835)
28 April 1827 1 September 1828 1 year, 132 days
8 Josef Ludwig von Armansperg
(1787–1853)
1 September 1828 31 December 1831 3 years, 121 days
9 Friedrich August von Gise
(1783–1860)
2 January 1832 26 May 1846 14 years, 144 days
10 Count
Otto von Bray-Steinburg
(1807–1899)
26 May 1846 13 February 1847 263 days
11 Georg Ludwig von Maurer
(1790–1872)
1 March 1847 29 November 1847 273 days
12 Ludwig von Oettingen-Wallerstein
(1791–1870)
1 December 1847 12 March 1848 102 days
13 Klemens August Graf von Waldkirch
(1806–1858)
14 March 1848 29 April 1848 46 days
14 Count
Otto von Bray-Steinburg
(1807–1899)
29 April 1848 18 April 1849 354 days

Chairmen of the Council of Ministers

The office of Chairman of the Council of Ministers was established in 1849. With one exception (1880–1890), the chairman was always the foreign minister.

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
15/1 Baron
Ludwig von der Pfordten
(1811–1880)
22 December 1849 1 May 1859 9 years, 130 days Non-partisan
16/2 Karl von Schrenck von Notzing
(1806–1884)
1 May 1859 4 October 1864 5 years, 156 days Non-partisan
17/3 Max von Neumayr
(1808–1881)
4 October 1864 4 December 1864 61 days Non-partisan
18/4 Baron
Ludwig von der Pfordten
(1811–1880)
4 December 1864 29 December 1866 2 years, 25 days Non-partisan
19/5 Chlodwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst
(1819–1901)
31 December 1866 7 March 1870 3 years, 66 days Non-partisan
20/6 Count
Otto von Bray-Steinburg
(1807–1899)
8 March 1870 18 January 1871 316 days Non-partisan
Kingdom of Bavaria (1871–1918)
State of the German Reich during the period of the German Empire.
(20/6) Count
Otto von Bray-Steinburg
(1807–1899)
18 January 1871 25 June 1871 158 days Non-partisan
21/7 Friedrich von Hegnenberg-Dux
(1810–1872)
21 August 1871 2 June 1872 286 days Non-partisan
22/8 Adolph von Pfretzschner
(1820–1901)
1 October 1872 4 March 1880 7 years, 155 days Non-partisan
9 Johann von Lutz
(1826–1890)
4 March 1880 1 June 1890 10 years, 89 days Non-partisan
23/10 Friedrich Krafft Graf von Crailsheim
(1841–1926)
1 June 1890 1 March 1903 12 years, 273 days Non-partisan
24/11 Clemens von Podewils-Dürniz
(1850–1922)
1 March 1903 9 February 1912 8 years, 345 days Non-partisan
25/12 Georg von Hertling
(1843–1919)
9 February 1912 10 November 1917 5 years, 274 days Centre Party
26/13 Otto Ritter von Dandl
(1868–1942)
11 November 1917 7 November 1918 361 days Non-partisan

Minister-presidents

Free State of Bavaria (1918–1945)

Minister-President of the Free State of Bavaria

Political party:   USPD   SPD   BVP   NSDAP   None

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
Free State of Bavaria (1918–1933)
State of the German Reich during the period of the Weimar Republic.
1 Kurt Eisner
(1867–1919)
8 November 1918 21 February 1919 † 105 days Independent Social Democratic Party
Martin Segitz
(1853–1927)
Acting
1 March 1919 17 March 1919 16 days Social Democratic Party
2 Johannes Hoffmann
(1867–1930)
17 March 1919 16 March 1920 365 days Social Democratic Party
3 Gustav Ritter von Kahr
(1862–1934)
16 March 1920 21 September 1921 1 year, 189 days Bavarian People's Party
4 Hugo Graf von Lerchenfeld-Köfering
(1871–1944)
21 September 1921 8 November 1922 1 year, 48 days Bavarian People's Party
5 Eugen Ritter von Knilling
(1856–1927)
8 November 1922 1 July 1924 1 year, 236 days Bavarian People's Party
Gustav Ritter von Kahr
(1862–1934)
as Generalstaatskommissar
25 September 1923 17 February 1924 145 days Bavarian People's Party
6 Heinrich Held
(1868–1938)
2 July 1924 30 January 1933 8 years, 212 days Bavarian People's Party
Free State of Bavaria (1933–1945)
State of the German Reich during the period of Nazi Germany.
(6) Heinrich Held
(1868–1938)
30 January 1933 9 March 1933 38 days Bavarian People's Party
7 Franz Ritter von Epp
(1868–1947)
Reichskommissar 31 days Nazi Party
10 March 1933 10 April 1933
Reichsstatthalter 12 years, 19 days
10 April 1933 29 April 1945
8 Ludwig Siebert
(1874–1942)
12 April 1933 1 November 1942 † 9 years, 203 days Nazi Party
9 Paul Giesler
(1895–1945)
2 November 1942 29 April 1945 2 years, 178 days Nazi Party

Free State of Bavaria (since 1945)

Minister-President of Free State of Bavaria

Political party:   CSU   SPD

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
Free State of Bavaria (since 1945)
American occupation zone in Germany (1945–1949)
State of the Federal Republic of Germany (as of 23 May 1949)
1 Fritz Schäffer
(1888–1967)
28 May 1945 28 September 1945 123 days Christian Social Union
2 Wilhelm Hoegner
(1887–1980)
First term
28 September 1945 16 December 1946 1 year, 79 days Social Democratic Party
3 Hans Ehard
(1887–1980)
First term
21 December 1946 14 December 1954 7 years, 358 days Christian Social Union
4
(2)
Wilhelm Hoegner
(1887–1980)
Second term
14 December 1954 8 October 1957
(resigned)
2 years, 298 days Social Democratic Party
5 Hanns Seidel
(1901–1961)
16 October 1957 22 January 1960
(resigned)
2 years, 98 days Christian Social Union
6
(3)
Hans Ehard
(1887–1980)
Second term
26 January 1960 11 December 1962 2 years, 319 days Christian Social Union
7 Alfons Goppel
(1905–1991)
11 December 1962 6 November 1978 15 years, 330 days Christian Social Union
8 Franz Josef Strauss
(1915–1988)
6 November 1978 3 October 1988 † 9 years, 332 days Christian Social Union
9 Max Streibl
(1932–1998)
19 October 1988 27 May 1993
(resigned)
4 years, 220 days Christian Social Union
10 Edmund Stoiber
(born 1941)
28 May 1993 30 September 2007
(resigned)
14 years, 126 days Christian Social Union
11 Günther Beckstein
(born 1943)
9 October 2007 27 October 2008 1 year, 18 days Christian Social Union
12 Horst Seehofer
(born 1949)
27 October 2008 13 March 2018
(resigned)
9 years, 140 days Christian Social Union
13 Markus Söder
(born 1967)
16 March 2018 Incumbent 8 years, 4 days Christian Social Union

Timelines

since 1918

Timeline

Free State of Bavaria (since 1945)

Longest-serving minister-presidents

The following table lists all minister-presidents of the Free State of Bavaria (since 1945) ranked by their length of tenure, with the incumbent minister-president's tenure automatically updating daily.

Rank Minister-President Length of tenure(s) Timespan(s) Party
1 Alfons Goppel 15 years, 331 days 1962–1978 CSU
2 Edmund Stoiber 14 years, 134 days 1993–2007 CSU
3 Hans Ehard 10 years, 320 days
8 years, 0 days + 2 years, 320 days
1946–1954
1960–1962
CSU
4 Franz Josef Strauß 9 years, 331 days 1978–1988 CSU
5 Horst Seehofer 9 years, 137 days 2008–2018 CSU
6 Markus Söder 8 years, 4 days 2018–present CSU
7 Max Streibl 4 years, 221 days 1988–1993 CSU
8 Wilhelm Hoegner 4 years, 13 days
1 year, 79 days + 2 years, 299 days
1945–1946
1954–1957
SPD
9 Hanns Seidel 2 years, 101 days 1957–1960 CSU
10 Günther Beckstein 1 year, 18 days 2007–2008 CSU
11 Fritz Schäffer 123 days 1945 CSU

Notes:

  • Green indicates the current incumbent minister-president
  • Söder's rank will rise as his tenure continues
  • Hans Ehard and Wilhelm Hoegner each served two non-consecutive terms; combined totals are shown

Minister-presidents by party

The following table summarizes minister-presidents of the Free State of Bavaria (since 1945) grouped by political party.

Party Total time in office Number of
minister-presidents
Minister-Presidents
CSU
Christian Social Union
76 years, 256 days
(+ ongoing)
9 Fritz Schäffer, Hans Ehard, Hanns Seidel, Alfons Goppel, Franz Josef Strauß, Max Streibl, Edmund Stoiber, Günther Beckstein, Horst Seehofer, Markus Söder
SPD
Social Democratic Party
4 years, 13 days 1 Wilhelm Hoegner

Notes:

  • Green indicates the party of the current incumbent minister-president
  • Bold name indicates the current incumbent minister-president
  • CSU total time includes the ongoing tenure of Markus Söder
  • Fritz Schäffer was a member of the BVP (Bavarian People's Party) before the war; he co-founded the CSU in 1945

The following table shows age-related data for all minister-presidents of the Free State of Bavaria since 1945, with living minister-presidents' ages automatically updating.

Minister-President Born Age at start
of office
Age at end
of office
Post-office
timespan
Died Lifespan
Fritz Schäffer
(1st term)
12 May 1888 57 years, 16 days
28 May 1945
57 years, 139 days
28 September 1945
21 years, 182 days 29 March 1967 78 years, 321 days
Wilhelm Hoegner
(1st term)
23 September 1887 58 years, 5 days
28 September 1945
59 years, 84 days
16 December 1946
7 years, 363 days 5 March 1980 92 years, 164 days
Hans Ehard
(1st term)
10 November 1887 59 years, 36 days
16 December 1946
67 years, 34 days
14 December 1954
5 years, 43 days 18 October 1980 92 years, 343 days
Wilhelm Hoegner
(2nd term)
23 September 1887 67 years, 82 days
14 December 1954
70 years, 15 days
8 October 1957
22 years, 149 days 5 March 1980 92 years, 164 days
Hanns Seidel 12 October 1901 56 years, 4 days
16 October 1957
58 years, 105 days
25 January 1960
5 August 1961 59 years, 297 days
Hans Ehard
(2nd term)
10 November 1887 72 years, 77 days
26 January 1960
75 years, 31 days
11 December 1962
17 years, 312 days 18 October 1980 92 years, 343 days
Alfons Goppel 1 October 1905 57 years, 71 days
11 December 1962
73 years, 37 days
7 November 1978
13 years, 47 days 24 December 1991 86 years, 84 days
Franz Josef Strauß 6 September 1915 63 years, 62 days
7 November 1978
73 years, 27 days
3 October 1988
3 October 1988 73 years, 27 days
Max Streibl 6 January 1932 56 years, 287 days
19 October 1988
61 years, 142 days
28 May 1993
5 years, 197 days 11 December 1998 66 years, 339 days
Edmund Stoiber 28 September 1941 51 years, 242 days
28 May 1993
66 years, 11 days
9 October 2007
18 years, 162 days 84 years, 173 days
Günther Beckstein 23 November 1943 63 years, 320 days
9 October 2007
64 years, 339 days
27 October 2008
17 years, 144 days 82 years, 117 days
Horst Seehofer 4 July 1949 59 years, 115 days
27 October 2008
68 years, 252 days
13 March 2018
8 years, 7 days 76 years, 259 days
Markus Söder 5 January 1967 51 years, 70 days
16 March 2018
Incumbent 59 years, 74 days

Notes:

  • Light green indicates living former minister-presidents
  • Green indicates the current incumbent minister-president
  • Hans Ehard and Wilhelm Hoegner each served two non-consecutive terms; both are shown separately
  • Hanns Seidel and Franz Josef Strauß died in office, hence "—" for post-office timespan
  • Living minister-presidents' post-office timespan and lifespan automatically update daily

Graphical representation

This is a graphical lifespan timeline of the minister-presidents of Bavaria since 1945. They are listed in order of first assuming office.

The following chart shows minister-presidents by their age (living minister-presidents in green), with the years of their time in office in color.

See also

  • "Die Bayerischen Ministerpräsidenten seit 1945 (in German)". Bavarian government. Archived from the original on 2008-05-07. Retrieved 2008-05-10.