King Ludwig II of Bavaria

Ludwig (Louis) II, King of Bavaria, Ludwig Friedrich Wilhelm; sometimes known in English as "Mad King Ludwig" and as the "Märchenkönig" (Fairy-tale King) in German. (August 25, 1845 – June 13, 1886) was king of Bavaria from 1864 until his death. Image File history File links LouisII.jpg Summary King Louis II ( Bavaria ) Licensing Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File links LouisII.jpg Summary King Louis II ( Bavaria ) Licensing Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining. ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... The Free State of Bavaria  (German: Freistaat Bayern), with an area of 70,553 km² (27,241 square miles) and 12. ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ...

Life

His Youth

Born 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 as a child he was extremely spoiled on some occasions but severely controlled by his instructors and subjected to a strict regimen of study and exercise on others. Ludwig 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. View from the Park The Nymphenburg Palace (German: Schloss Nymphenburg) is a Baroque palace in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. ... Munich (German: München, (pronounced listen) is the capital of the German Federal State of Bavaria. ... King Maximilian II of Bavaria Maximilian II of Bavaria (November 28, 1811 - March 10, 1864) was king of Bavaria from 1848 until 1864. ... Marie Friederike Franziska Hedwig von Preußen (October 15, 1825 - May 17, 1889) was Queen of Bavaria, and the mother of Ludwig II. She was the daughter of Prince Wilhelm of Prussia and his wife Marie Anna of Hesse-Homburg. ... Apologetics is the field of study concerned with the systematic defense of a position. ... The House of Windsor, previously called the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, is the Royal House of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the other Commonwealth Realms. ...

Ludwig's youth did have happy times, such as visits to Hohenschwangau and Lake Starnberg with his family. Teenaged Ludwig became best friends with his aide de camp, the handsome aristocrat and actor Paul Maximilian Lamoral von Thurn und Taxis of Bavaria's wealthy Thurn und Taxis family. The two young men rode together, read poetry aloud, and staged scenes from the Romantic operas of Richard Wagner. The relationship broke off when Paul became more interested in young women. During his youth, Ludwig also initiated a lifelong friendship with his cousin Elisabeth, Empress of Austria. They both loved nature and poetry, and nicknamed each other the Eagle (Ludwig) and the Seagull (Elisabeth). Village on left, Schloss Hohenschwangau on right, as wiewed from the Neuschwanstein Hohenschwangau is a district of Schwangau. ... Lake Starnberg (German: Starnberger See) in southern Bavaria is one of Germanys largest lakes and a popular recreation area for the nearby city of Munich. ... An aide-de-camp (French: camp assistant) is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state. ... Aristocracy is a form of government in which rulership is in the hands of an upper class known as aristocrats. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The Princely House of Thurn und Taxis is a German family that was a key player in the postal (mail) services in Europe in the 16th century and is well known as owners of breweries and builders of countless castles. ... The era of Romantic music is defined as the period of European classical music that runs roughly from the early 1800s to the first decade of the 20th century, as well as music written according to the norms and styles of that period. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 in Leipzig[1] – February 13, 1883 in Venice[2]) was an influential German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as he later came to call them). ... Empress Elisabeth Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie, Duchess in Bavaria and Princess of Bavaria (December 24, 1837 – September 10, 1898), of the House of Wittelsbach, was the Empress consort of Austria and Queen consort of Hungary due to her marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph. ...

His Reign

Ludwig 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, Richard Wagner. For much of Ludwig's rule he promoted reconciliation amongst the German states. The following is a list of rulers during the history of Bavaria: // Dukes of Bavaria, 548-1623 Agilolfing Dynasty (see also Bavarii) ca. ... Generally, patronage is the act of supporting or favoring some person, group, or institution. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 in Leipzig[1] – February 13, 1883 in Venice[2]) was an influential German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as he later came to call them). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Ludwig II of Bavaria

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, his cousin and Empress Elisabeth's younger sister. Their engagement was publicized on January 22, 1867, but after repeatedly postponing the wedding date Ludwig finally cancelled the engagement in October. Sophie later married Ferdinand Philippe Marie, duc d'Alençon (1844-1910), son of Louis Charles Philippe Raphael, duc de Nemours. Ludwig never married. This is a picture from the french version,so verifired for use on Wikipedia. ... This is a picture from the french version,so verifired for use on Wikipedia. ... For other uses, see inheritance (disambiguation). ... The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701-1918 The word Prussia (Old Prussian: PrÅ«sa, German: Preußen, Polish: Prusy, Lithuanian: PrÅ«sai, Latin: Borussia) has had various (often contradictory) meanings: The land of the Baltic Prussians (in what is now parts of southern Lithuania, the Kaliningrad... 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Sophie Charlotte Augustine Duchess in Bavaria (February 23, 1847–May 4, 1897) was the daughter of Duke Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria (1808-1888) and Ludovika, Royal Princess of Bavaria. ... January 22 is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Look up October in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Though Ludwig had sided with Austria against Prussia in the Seven Weeks' War, he accepted a mutual defense treaty with Prussia in 1867 after being defeated in the war. Under the terms of this treaty Bavaria joined with Prussia against France in the Franco-Prussian War. 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 support, but the era of Bavarian independence was over. The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701-1918 The word Prussia (Old Prussian: Prūsa, German: Preußen, Polish: Prusy, Lithuanian: Prūsai, Latin: Borussia) has had various (often contradictory) meanings: The land of the Baltic Prussians (in what is now parts of southern Lithuania, the Kaliningrad... The Austro-Prussian War (also called the Seven Weeks War or the German Civil War) was a war fought between Austria and Prussia in 1866 that resulted in Prussian dominance in Germany. ... For alternative meanings: See Bismarck (disambiguation). ... Flag of the German Empire, 1871–1918: black-white-red ...

Throughout his reign Ludwig had a succession of infatuations with handsome men, including his chief equerry Richard Hornig, Hungarian theatre star Josef Kainz, and courtier Alfons Weber. In 1869, he began keeping a diary in which he recorded his private thoughts and discussed his attempts to suppress his sexual desires and remain true to his Catholic beliefs. Ludwig's original diaries were lost during World War II, and all that remains today are copies of entries made prior to the war. These copied diary entries, along with private letters and other surviving personal documents, suggest that Ludwig struggled with homosexuality.^[1] Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... The word homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings over time. ...

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 XIV of France. The West face of the Petit Dru above the Chamonix valley near the Mer de Glace. ... Christian Jank was the designer of Ludwig II of Bavarias castle, Neuschwanstein. ... Absolute monarchy is an idealized form of government, a monarchy where the ruler has the power to rule his or her country and citizens freely with no laws or legally-organized direct opposition telling him or her what to do, although some religious authority may be able to discourage the... Louis XIV (Louis-Dieudonné) (September 5, 1638–September 1, 1715), reigned as King of France and of Navarre from May 14, 1643 until his death at the age of 77. ...

His buildings

The coat of arms of King Ludwig over the entrance to Neuschwanstein

• Neuschwanstein – or "New Swan Stone", a dramatic Romanesque fortress with Byzantine and Gothic interiors, which was built next to his father's castle: Hohenschwangau. Numerous wall paintings depict scenes from Wagner's operas. Christian glory and chaste love figure predominantly in the iconography, and were possibly hoped to help Ludwig live up to his Catholic ideals. The castle was not finished at Ludwig's death. It is by far the best known (to non-Germans) landmark in Germany today. Neuschwanstein would become the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's castle at Disneyland.

• Linderhof – an ornate palace in neo-Rococo style, with handsome formal gardens. The grounds contain a grotto where opera singers performed on an underground lake lit with electricity, a novelty at that time, and a Romantic woodsman's hut built inside an artificial tree. Inside the palace, iconography reflects Ludwig's fascination with the absolutist government of Ancien Régime France. Ludwig saw himself as the "Moon King", a Romantic shadow of the earlier "Sun King", Louis XIV of France. From Linderhof, Ludwig enjoyed moonlit sleigh rides in an elaborate 18th century sleigh, complete with footmen in 18th century livery. He was known to stop and visit with rural peasants while on rides, adding to his legend and popularity.

• Herrenchiemsee – a replica of the palace at Versailles, France, which was meant to outdo its predecessor in scale and opulence. It is located on an island in the middle of a large lake. Most of the palace was never completed, and Ludwig only stayed there once.

• Ludwig also outfitted Schachen king's house with an overwhelmingly decorative Arabian style interior, including a replica of the famous Peacock Throne. There are stories of luxurious parties with the king sometimes reclining in the role of Turkish sultan while the most handsome soldiers and stable boys served him as scantily clad dancers. These stories may or may not be true.

• Falkenstein – a planned, but never executed "robber baron's castle". A painting by Christian Jank shows the proposed building as an even more fairytale version of Neuschwanstein, perched on a rocky cliff.

A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... Castle seen from the Marienbrücke Schloss Neuschwanstein (German: Schloß Neuschwanstein, new swan stone castle; IPA pronunciation: /nɔyʃvanʃtain/) is a late 19th century castle in Germany, near Hohenschwangau and Füssen in southwest Bavaria, not far from the Austrian border at approximately , . It is said to be... Romanesque St. ... Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire. ... See also Gothic art. ... Schloss Hohenschwangau was the childhood residence of King Ludwig II of Bavaria and was built by his father. ... A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. ... Originally, a landmark literally meant a geographic feature used by explorers and others to find their way back or through an area. ... Disneyland Park is a theme park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, USA. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. ... Schloss Linderhof Schloss (castle) Linderhof is a castle in Germany, near Oberammergau in southwest Bavaria. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A Grotto (Italian grotta), when it is not an artificial garden feature, is a cave, small or quite large, usually near water and often flooded or liable to flood at high tide. ... Ancien Régime means Old Rule or Old Order in French; in English, the term refers primarily to the social and political system established in France under the Valois and Bourbon dynasties. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... A livery is a uniform worn by a civilian person. ... Schloss Herrenchiemsee One of the fountains in the gardens of Schloss Herrenchiemsee Herrenchiemsee 2005 Herrenchiemsee is a complex of royal buildings on the Herreninsel, an island in the middle of Bavarias largest lake, the Chiemsee, 60 km south east of Munich. ... Versailles in 1789. ... The Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula (in Arabic: شبه الجزيرة العربية) is a peninsula in Southwest Asia at the junction of Africa and Asia consisting mainly of desert. ... The Peacock Throne, called Takht-e-Tavous (Persian: تخت طائوس) in Persian, is the name originally of a Mughal throne, later used to describe the thrones of the Persian emperors from Nader Shah Afshari to Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. ... A sultan (Arabic: سلطان) is an Islamic title, with several historical meanings. ... Castle Falkenstein was supposed to be located in Bavaria, Germany, not far from Neuschwanstein King Ludwig II of Bavaria planned this as his fourth castle. ... Christian Jank was the designer of Ludwig II of Bavarias castle, Neuschwanstein. ...

His Death

Ludwig II of Bavaria

On June 10, 1886, Ludwig was officially declared insane by the government and incapable of executing his governmental powers, and Prince Luitpold was declared regent. The psychiatrist 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 Elisabeth 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." Image File history File links Ludwig_II_of_Bavaria_-_Project_Gutenberg_eText_16431. ... Image File history File links Ludwig_II_of_Bavaria_-_Project_Gutenberg_eText_16431. ... June 10 is the 161st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (162nd in leap years), with 204 days remaining. ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... INSANE is a proprietary INteractive Streaming ANimation Engine developped by LucasArts. ... Prince Luitpold of Bavaria (12 March 1821—12 December 1912), HRH Luitpold Karl Joseph Wilhelm Ludwig Prince of Bavaria, was a Bavarian prince of the House of Wittelsbach. ... // High public office A regent, from the Latin regens who reigns is anyone who acts as head of state, especially if not the monarch (who has higher titles). ... Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that studies and treats mental and emotional disorders (see mental illness). ...

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. Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State of 16 countries including: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand and the Bahamas, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... Categories: 1911 Britannica | Historical stubs | Feudalism ...

Ludwig attempted to issue the following proclamation to the public: 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. This was printed by a Bamberg newspaper on June 11, 1886, but the copies were seized by the government to prevent distribution. Most of Ludwig's telegrams to the newspapers and his friends were intercepted. Ludwig did receive a message from Bismarck advising him to go to Munich and show himself to the people, but Ludwig refused to leave Neuschwanstein. On the morning of the 12th, a second Commission reached the castle. The King was placed under arrest at 4:00 am and transported to Castle Berg in Berg, south of Munich.

Mystery surrounds Ludwig's death on Lake Starnberg. On June 13, at 6:30 pm, Ludwig asked to take a walk with Professor 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 in the water near the shore of Lake Starnberg at 11:30 pm that night. A little chapel was later built overlooking the site. A remembrance ceremony is held there each year on June 13. Lake Starnberg (German: Starnberger See) in southern Bavaria is one of Germanys largest lakes and a popular recreation area for the nearby city of Munich. ...

Ludwig's death was officially ruled a suicide by drowning, but alternate theories abound. Ludwig was known to be a good swimmer, the water was less than waist-deep where his body was found, and the official autopsy report indicates that no water was found in his lungs. No solid proof of foul play has ever come to light, but many hold that Ludwig was either assassinated by his political enemies or killed while attempting to escape from Berg. Another theory suggests that Ludwig died of natural causes (such as a heart attack or stroke) during an escape attempt. An autopsy, also known as a post-mortem examination or an obduction, is a medical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of a persons death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present. ... A myocardial infarction occurs when an atherosclerotic plaque slowly builds up in the inner lining of a coronary artery and then suddenly ruptures, totally occluding the artery and preventing blood flow downstream. ... For other uses, see Stroke (disambiguation). ...

Ludwig's body was interred in the crypt of the Michaelskirche in Munich. Crypt is also a commonly used name of water trumpets, aquatic plants. ... The former Jesuit church of St Michael in Munich is the largest Renaissance church north of the Alps. ...

His Legacy

Ludwig is remembered as one of the most unusual rulers of Germany. He was quite popular among his subjects, probably for three 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 debatable. 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. Third, his public eccentricities were quite engaging. Though he hated crowds, he enjoyed travelling "incognito" among his people, and he rewarded those who were "unknowingly" hospitable to him later with lavish gifts. He is still remembered in Bavaria as "Unser Kini" which means "our darling king" in the Bavarian dialect of German. Also, he was not a ruler who saw visiting with the commoners as something shameful.

Ironically, despite nearly bankrupting Bavaria's royal family during their construction Ludwig's palaces have become profitable tourist attractions for the State.

Ludwig and the arts

Ludwig was a major patron of composer Richard Wagner, and he funded the construction of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus. Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 in Leipzig[1] – February 13, 1883 in Venice[2]) was an influential German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as he later came to call them). ... The Bayreuth Festspielhaus (Bayreuth Festival Theatre) is an opera house built to the north of the town of Bayreuth in Germany, dedicated to the performance of Richard Wagners operas. ...

Ludwig left behind a large collection of plans and designs for other castles that were never built, as well as plans for further rooms in his completed buildings. Many of these designs are housed today in the King Ludwig II Museum at Herrenchiemsee. These building designs date from the later part of the King's reign, beginning around 1883. As money was starting to run out, the artists knew that their designs would never be executed. The designs became more extravagant and numerous as the artists realized that there was no need to concern themselves with economy or practicality. Schloss Herrenchiemsee One of the fountains in the gardens of Schloss Herrenchiemsee Herrenchiemsee 2005 Herrenchiemsee is a complex of royal buildings on the Herreninsel, an island in the middle of Bavarias largest lake, the Chiemsee, 60 km south east of Munich. ... 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Ludwig in fiction

The 1972 movie Ludwig, directed by Luchino Visconti was based on his life. The computer game Gabriel Knight: The Beast Within features several Ludwig II-related locations and includes extensive discussion of his life, although numerous fictional elements (including werewolves and a lost Wagner opera entitled Der Fluch des Engelhart ("The Curse of Engelhart")) are added to fit in with the supernatural mystery plot of the game. There is also a three-volume manga published by Kadokawa Shoten called Ludwig II (ルートヴィヒⅡ世, Ruutovihi II sei) by the artist Higuri You (氷栗優), a highly fictionalized account of Ludwig's love life. The Busch Gardens Williamsburg ride Curse of DarKastle features Ludwig as a king whose parents, and later, party guests "mysteriously disappeared", and who now haunts his old castle terrorizing guests riding golden sleighs. As with Gabriel Knight: The Beast Within, werewolves figure in the ride. 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1972 calendar). ... Film refers to the celluloid media on which movies are printed. ... Luchino Visconti, Duke of Modrone (November 2, 1906 - March 17, 1976) was an Italian theatre and cinema director and writer. ... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... Gabriel Knight is the title character in a series of adventure games produced by the Sierra Corporation in the 1990s. ... A werewolf in folklore and mythology is a person who changes into a wolf, either by purposefully using magic in some manner or by being placed under a curse. ... For other uses, see Manga (disambiguation). ... Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co. ... Busch Gardens Europe is a theme park located in Williamsburg, Virginia. ... Gabriel Knight is the title character in a series of adventure games produced by the Sierra Corporation in the 1990s. ...

King Maximilian II of Bavaria Maximilian II of Bavaria (November 28, 1811 - March 10, 1864) was king of Bavaria from 1848 until 1864. ... King of Bavaria was a title held by the hereditary rulers of Bavaria from 1805 till 1918, when the kingdom was abolished. ... Otto of Bavaria (His Majesty Otto Wilhelm Luitpold Adalbert Waldemar, King of Bavaria) (27 April 1848-11 October 1916) was the insane King of Bavaria from 1886 to 1913. ...

References

The following citations are for English-language biographies of Ludwig II.

• Blunt, Wilfred and Michael Petzet. The Dream King: Ludwig II of Bavaria. 1970. ISBN 0241112931, ISBN 0140036067.
• Chapman-Huston, Desmond. Bavarian Fantasy: The Story of Ludwig II. 1955.
• King, Greg. The Mad King: The Life and Times of Ludwig II of Bavaria. 1996. ISBN 1559723629
• McIntosh, Christopher. The Swan King: Ludwig II of Bavaria. 1982. ISBN 1860648924

Notes

1. ^ McIntosh, pp 155-158

External links

• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Linderhof
• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Neuschwanstein
• The king's portrait: [1]
• Ludwig II
• Mysterious death of King Ludwig: http://schwangau.de/646.0.html
• Eyewitness Report during the events on June 10, 1886 in Hohenschwangau: http://www.koenig-ludwig.org/english/poppeler_report.php
• Ludwig at IMDb: [2]