considerable chances of success, died suddenly at a bear-hunt near Munich on the 11th of October 1347. He was buried in the Frauenkirche at Munich, where a statue was erected to his memory in 1622 by Maximilian I., elector of Bavaria, and where a second was unveiled in 1905. He had seven sons, three of whom were subsequently electors of Brandenburg, and ten daughters. Various estimates have been formed of the character of Louis. As a soldier he possessed skill as well as bravery, but he lacked perseverance and decision in his political relations. At one time haughtily defying the pope, at another abjectly craving his pardon, he seems a very inglorious figure; and the fact that he remained almost undisturbed in the possession of Germany in spite of the utmost efforts of the popes, is due rather to the political and intellectual tendencies of the time than to his own good qualities. Nevertheless he ruled Bavaria with considerable success. He befriended the towns, encouraged trade and commerce and gave a new system of laws to the duchy. German took the place of Latin in the imperial charters, and although not a scholar, the emperor was a patron of learning. Louis was a man of graceful appearance, with ruddy countenance and prominent nose. BIBLIOGRAPHY.--Many of the authorities for the life and reign of Louis are found in the _Fontes rerum Germanicarum_, Bände i. and iv., edited by J. F. Böhmer (Stuttgart, 1843-1868). Among these is the _Vita Ludovici IV._, by an unknown author. A number of important documents are found in the _Regesta imperii_ 1314-1347, edited by J. F. Böhmer and J. Ficker (Innsbruck, 1865); _Acta imperii selecta_, edited by J. F. Böhmer and J. Ficker (Innsbruck, 1870); _Urkunden zur Geschichte des Römerzuges Königs Ludwigs des Bayern_, edited by J. Ficker (Innsbruck, 1865); _Urkundliche Beiträge zur Geschichte Kaisers Ludwigs IV._, edited by C. Höfler (Munich, 1839); _Vatikanische Urkunden zur Geschichte Kaisers Ludwigs des Bayern_, Bände v. and vi. (Stuttgart, 1877-1888); _Vatikanische Akten zur Deutschen Geschichte in der Zeit Kaisers Ludwigs des Bayern_, edited by S. Riezler (Innsbruck, 1891). In the _Forschungen zur Deutschen Geschichte_ (Göttingen, 1862-1886), Band xx., is found _Urkunden zur Bairischen und Deutschen Geschichte 1256-1343_, edited by S. Riezler; and in Band xiii. is C. Häutle's _Beiträge zum Itinerar Kaiser Ludwigs_.