In February 1428 Albrecht III, the only son and heir of the Duke of Wittelsbach Ernst, regent of the Duchy of Bavaria-Straubing and Munich, got to know and fell in love with the daughter of a barber, Agnes Bernauer of Augsburg. In the Middle Ages barber was considered to be dishonorable. Children from such a connection were excluded from the succession. Nevertheless, Albrecht married Agnes.
In case of Albrechts death, members of the wittlesbach family would take Albrechts place. Since Albrecht didn’t want to be seperated from Agnes, the duke had no choice but to have her executed for treason, witchcraft and state damage.
While Albrecht was hunting, Agnes Bernauer was drowned on 12 October 1435 in the Danube in Straubing.
