Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria

Ferdinand Maria
Portrait by Paul Mignard
Elector of Bavaria
Reign27 September 1651 – 26 May 1679
PredecessorMaximilian I
SuccessorMaximilian II Emanuel
Born(1636-10-31)31 October 1636
Schleissheim Palace, Electorate of Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire
Died26 May 1679(1679-05-26) (aged 42)
Schleissheim Palace, Electorate of Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire
BurialJune 1679
Spouse
(m. 1650; died 1676)
Issue
HouseWittelsbach
FatherMaximilian I, Elector of Bavaria
MotherMaria Anna of Austria
ReligionRoman Catholicism
SignatureFerdinand Maria's signature

Ferdinand Maria (31 October 1636 – 26 May 1679) was a Wittelsbach ruler of Bavaria and a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 1651 to 1679. The Elector modernized the army and introduced Bavaria's first government code. Besides encouraging agriculture and industry, he also improved building and restoration works on churches and monasteries since the damage caused during the Thirty Years' War.