Bavaria was a very important country during the early Middle

Ages. Its territory included much of the modern German state

but also reached across the Alps into what are now Austria and

northern Italy. Bavaria thus occupied a strategic position between

the rival kingdoms of the Franks and the Langobards. It was ruled by

powerful dukes who had close political and personal relations with

the Frankish rulers but who also vigorously resisted attempts to limit

their own sovereignty. Bavaria's independence was ended in 788 by

Charlemagne who deposed his cousin, Duke Tassilo. Charlemagne's

son, the Emperor Louis the Pious, then established Bavaria as the

first monarchy east of the river Rhine for his own son, Ludwig the

German. This is the first full study of the entire evolution of Bavarian

rule from the mid-sixth century into the early ninth century It

explores the changing strategies adopted by its dukes and then its

first king to establish their authority and maintain their autonomy

in face of evolving challenges to their rule. An Epilogue continues

the story into the early tenth century.