Ludwig II of Bavaria
 Ludwig (Louis) II, King of Bavaria, Ludwig Friedrich Wilhelm, also known as Ludwig the Mad (August 25, 1845 - June 13, 1886) was king of Bavaria from 1864 until his death. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ His YouthBorn in Nymphenburg (today part of Munich), he was the son of Maximilian II of Bavaria and Princess Marie of Prussia. Ludwig was continually reminded of his royal power as a child, and his education swayed between being extremely spoiled on some occasions to being severely controlled by his protectors on others. This no doubt played a role in what later accounts describe as strange behavior. Ludwig's apologists explain that much of his 'unusual' behaviour was caused by the stress of growing up in a royal family, comparing it to the problems that modern royals like those in the House of Windsor have experienced. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Ludwig's youth did have many, often overlooked, happy experiences, as well. An early friend, the handsome aristocrat and actor Paul Maximilian Lamoral von Thurn und Taxis, was pastoral in tone with the two men riding together, reading poetry aloud, and staging scenes from the Romantic operas of Richard Wagner, whom they both adored. The relationship broke off when Paul von Thurn became more interested in young women. During his youth, Ludwig also initiated a lifelong friendship with his cousin Elisabeth of Bavaria called Sisi. They both loved nature and poetry, and nicknamed each other the Eagle (Ludwig) and the Seagull (Elisabeth). ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ His ReignLudwig ascended to the Bavarian throne at age 18 following his father's death. His youth and brooding good looks made him wildly popular in Bavaria and abroad. One of his first acts was official patronage of his idol, Wagner. For much of Ludwig's rule he promoted reconciliation amongst the German states. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The greatest stresses of Ludwig's early reign were the expectation to produce an heir, and relations with militant Prussia. Both issues came to the forefront in 1867. Ludwig was engaged to Princess Sophie of Bavaria who was his cousin and sister of Elisabeth of Austria ("the Seagull"). Their engagement was publicized on January 22, 1867, but after having repeatedly postponed the wedding date, he finally cancelled it in October. Sophie later married Ferdinand Philippe Marie, duc d'Alen?on (1844-1910), son of Louis Charles Philippe Raphael, duc de Nemours. Though Ludwig had sided with Austria against Prussia in the Seven Weeks' War, he quickly allied with Prussia in 1867 after being defeated in the war. Ludwig refused to break ranks with Prussia by making an alliance with France, and joined with Prussia in the Franco-Prussian War. In 1869, Ludwig began keeping a diary in which he recorded his struggles with his sexual desires while trying to remain true to his Catholic beliefs. On the request of Bismarck, Ludwig solicited a letter in December 1870 calling for the creation of a German Empire. He received some concessions in return for his country becoming part of said empire, but not the territorial expansion he sought. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Matrimonial and territorial defeats added to Ludwig's natural melancholy. As Ludwig's rule progressed, he became increasingly withdrawn. In the 1880s, Ludwig spent much of his time in seclusion in the Alps. There he built several expensive fairytale palaces with the stage designer Christian Jank, and imagined a dream world with himself as an absolute monarch descended from Louis Bourbon XIV of France. Ludwig's closest companion during these years was his chief equerry (Master of the Horse), Richard Hornig. Ludwig also enjoyed a brief friendship with the Hungarian theatre star Josef Kainz in 1881. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ His Buildings
His DeathOn June 10, 1886, Ludwig was officially declared insane by the government and incapable of executing his governmental powers, and Prince Luitpold was declared regent. Professor Bernhard von Gudden despite never having examined Ludwig declared him to be insane, chiefly because of stories disseminated by Ludwig?s enemies. Some historians believe that Ludwig was sane, but victim of an intrigue. Empress Elizabeth held that, "The King was not mad; he was just an eccentric living in a world of dreams. They might have treated him more gently, and thus perhaps spared him so terrible an end." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Taking the popular head of state into custody was done in secret, and the event proved as unusual as the rest of Ludwig's life. An eccentric but loyal baroness arrived at the gate of the rural castle to wave her umbrella menacingly and to harangue the men who came to imprison Ludwig. The king himself ordered ? it is said ? all kinds of nonsensical punishments against the "treasonous" ministers. A huge force of peasants swarmed to Hohenschwangau to protect the King. They were willing to escort Ludwig under guard across the border and save him. But Ludwig refused. The battalion of soldiers at nearby Kempten had been summoned to Neuschwanstein, but it was retained by the government. King Ludwig tried to publish the following call to the population: The prince Luitpold intends to rise up without my will to the regent of my country. My past Ministry deceived untrue data over state of my health and prepares high-traitorous actions forwards against my loved people ... I request each faithful Bavaria man to help. Crowds forward around my faithful ones and prevents the planned betrayal to the king and the native country. (Bamberger newspaper on June 11, 1886, briefly before seizing). But most of his telegrams to the newspapers and friends were intercepted by the secret service. Bismarck offered him the advice to go to Munich and show himself to the people, but Ludwig refused. On the morning of the 12th, a second Commission reached Neuschwanstein. The King was placed under arrest at 4:00 am and taken to Castle Berg. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Mystery surrounds his death on Lake Starnberg in Berg, south of Munich. On June 13, at 6:30 pm, Ludwig expressed the desire to walk with Dr. Gudden. Gudden agreed, and told the guards not to follow them. The two men never returned from their walk. King Ludwig and Professor Gudden were found dead at 11:30 pm, in the water near the bank of Lake Starnberg. A little chapel was later built overlooking the site. A remembrance ceremony is held there each year on the anniversary of his death. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It was first alleged in 1887 by his enemies in the government that Ludwig was a homosexual and that he developed mental problems after repeatedly trying to suppress his desires unsuccessfully. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ His LegacyLudwig is remembered as one of the most unusual rulers of Germany. He was quite popular among his subjects, probably for two reasons: First, he avoided engaging in war, giving Bavaria a time of peace. Whether this was due to pacifism or his lack of interest in political power is debated. Second, he funded the construction of his famous fairy-tale castles from his own private property, not from the state budget. This gave many people employment and brought a considerable flow of money to the regions involved. Hence, he is still remembered in Bavaria as "unser Kini" ("our darling king" in the Bavarian dialect), which is meant quite cordially (although now often also jocular). ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Of course, his spending of the family's wealth on art and architecture likely upset his relatives, and it was hence often suspected, that his death was not an accident. This was never proven, but the fact that he was known to be a good swimmer, as well as that the lake was less than waist-deep at the area where he drowned, seems to support the suspicion. Ironically, despite nearly bankrupting Bavaria's royal family with his construction projects, the palaces have now turned into profitable tourist attractions for the State. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
August 25: August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining.... 1845: 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar).... June 13: June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining.... Ludwig II of Bavaria related Images and Photos (experimental) | ~ Table of Content ~
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