He was a son of Louis III, Elector Palatine and his second wife Matilda of Savoy.

His maternal grandparents were Amadeus, Prince of Achaea and his wife Catherina of Geneva.

However, the emperor did not manage to displace Frederick who was an able strategist and allied with Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria.

Frederick was also successful against other opponents such as the emperor's party follower Albrecht III Achilles, Elector of Brandenburg and Diether von Isenburg, the archbishop of Mainz, and increased his territory.

With the Battle of Seckenheim during the Bavarian War (1459–63) Frederick captured his antagonists Bishop George of Baden, Charles I, Margrave of Baden-Baden and Ulrich V, Count of Württemberg.