Ludwig II
King of Bavaria
Portrait by Gabriel Schachinger, 1887
Reign	10 March 1864-13 June 1886
Born	25 August 1845
Birthplace	Nymphenburg Palace
Died	13 June 1886
Place of death	Lake Starnberg
Buried	St. Michael's Church, Munich - Wittelsbach family crypt
Predecessor	Maximilian II
Successor	Otto
Royal House	Wittelsbach
Father	Maximilian II
Mother	Marie of Prussia

Ludwig Friedrich Wilhelm II, King of Bavaria (August 25, 1845 – June 13, 1886) was king of Bavaria from 1864 until shortly before his death. He is also referred to as the "Swan King" in English and "der Märchenkönig" ("the Fairy tale King") in German. 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. ... is the 69th day of the year (70th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 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. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... View from the Park The Nymphenburg Palace (German: Schloss Nymphenburg) is a Baroque palace in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Lake Starnberg (German: Starnberger See) in southern Bavaria is Germanys fourth largest lake and a popular recreation area for the nearby city of Munich. ... The Michaelskirche in Munich The High Altar The former Jesuit church of St Michael in Munich is the largest Renaissance church north of the Alps. ... Maximilian II of Bavaria (November 28, 1811 – March 10, 1864) was king of Bavaria from 1848 until 1864. ... Postcard photograph from 1916 of King Ottos body in repose. ... The Wittelsbach family is an European royal family and a German dynasty from 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. ... is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Anthem Königsstrophe Kingdom of Bavaria within the German Empire. ... For other uses, see Swan (disambiguation). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A fairy tale is a story, either told to children or as if told to children, concerning the adventures of mythical characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, and others. ...

Ludwig is best known as an eccentric who died under mysterious circumstances. (Ludwig's psychological condition was questioned towards the end of his life resulting in his deposition without medical examination.^[1]) Ludwig's legacy is also intertwined with the history of art and architecture, as he commissioned the construction of several extravagant fantasy castles (the most famous being Neuschwanstein) and was the patron of the composer Richard Wagner. Neuschwanstein seen from the Marienbrücke. ... ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as they were later called). ...

Life

Childhood and adolescent years

Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria with his younger brother Prince Otto in 1858.

Born in Nymphenburg Palace (today located in suburban Munich), he was the eldest son of King Maximilian II of Bavaria and his Queen, Princess Marie of Prussia. Image File history File links LudwigIIOtto1858. ... Image File history File links LudwigIIOtto1858. ... Postcard photograph from 1916 of King Ottos body in repose. ... View from the Park The Nymphenburg Palace (German: Schloss Nymphenburg) is a Baroque palace in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. ... For other uses, see Munich (disambiguation). ... 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. ...

In an age where Kings were responsible for the governance of most of Europe, Ludwig was continually reminded of his royal status as a child. King Maximilian wanted to instruct his sons Ludwig and Otto in the burdens of royal duty from their childhood onwards. ^[2] Ludwig was extremely indulged and yet severely controlled by his tutors and subjected to a strict regimen of study and exercise. There are some who explain much of his odd behavior as an adult due to the stress of growing up in a royal family. Ludwig did not have a very close relationship with either of his parents. King Maximilian's advisers had suggested that on his daily walks he might like to at times be accompanied by his future successor. The King replied, "But what am I to say to him? After all, my son takes no interest in what other people tell him." ^[3] Ludwig referred to his mother as "my predecessor's consort". ^[4] He was far closer to his grandfather, the deposed and notorious King Ludwig I, who came from a family of eccentrics. Ludwig I (or Louis I, which is the French form of his name) (August 25, 1786 – February 29, 1868) was king of Bavaria from 1825 until 1848. ...

Ludwig's childhood years did have happy moments. He lived for much of the time at Castle Hohenschwangau, a fantasy castle his father had built near the Swan Lake near Füssen. It was decorated in the gothic style with countless frescoes of the walls of heroic German sagas. He also visited Lake Starnberg with his family. As an adolescent, Ludwig became best friends with his aide de camp, the Prince Paul Maximilian Lamoral of Thurn and Taxis of Bavaria's wealthy Thurn and Taxis family. The two young men rode together, read poetry aloud, and staged scenes from the Romantic operas of Richard Wagner. The friendship cooled somewhat when Paul became engaged. During his youth Ludwig also initiated a lifelong friendship with his older cousin, Elizabeth, Duchess of Bavaria, later Elisabeth, Empress of Austria. They 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. ... Füssen is a town in Bavaria, Germany, in the district Ostallgäu. ... Lake Starnberg (German: Starnberger See) in southern Bavaria is Germanys fourth largest lake 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. ... 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 expression romantic music and the homophone phrase Romantic music have two essentially different meanings. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as they were later called). ... Elisabeth in a riding habit, from Vanity Fair, 1884. ... The title of Emperor of Austria was proclaimed in 1804 by the Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor, Francis II, who feared for the future of the old Reich in the face of Napoleons aggressions, and wished to maintain his imperial title in the event that the Holy Roman Empire should...

Reign

Ludwig II just after his accession to the throne of Bavaria

Ludwig ascended to the Bavarian throne at 18, following his father's death. He had just come of age and was not prepared for high office when Maximilian II died after a three-day illness. ^[5] His youth and brooding good looks made him popular in Bavaria and elsewhere. One of the first acts of his reign was to summon composer Richard Wagner to his court in Munich. ^[6] Ludwig had admired Wagner since first seeing his opera, Lohengrin. On May 5, 1864, the 51 year old Wagner met Ludwig in the Royal Palace in Munich. Wagner's operas appealed to the king's fantasy-filled imagination. Wagner had a notorious reputation as a revolutionary and was constantly on the run from creditors. Ludwig was the saviour of Wagner, who wrote of his first meeting with Ludwig, "Alas, he is so handsome and wise, soulful and lovely, that I fear that his life must melt away in this vulgar world like a fleeting dream of the gods." ^[7] Without Ludwig, it is doubted that Wagner's subsequent operas would have been composed. Ludwig called Wagner 'the friend'. Wagner's extravagant and notorious behaviour in Munich unsettled the conservative people of Bavaria and he was asked to leave by the King. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 250 × 313 pixelsFull resolution (250 × 313 pixel, file size: 19 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ludwig II of Bavaria ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 250 × 313 pixelsFull resolution (250 × 313 pixel, file size: 19 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ludwig II of Bavaria ... The following is a list of rulers during the history of Bavaria: // Dukes of Bavaria, 548-1623 Agilolfing Dynasty (see also Bavarii) ca. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as they were later called). ... Lohengrin is a romantic opera (or music drama) in three acts by Richard Wagner. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 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. ...

The greatest stresses of Ludwig's early reign were pressure to produce an heir, and relations with militant Prussia. Both issues came to the forefront in 1867. Ludwig became engaged to Duchess Sophie in Bavaria, his cousin and Empress Elisabeth of Austria's youngest sister. Their engagement was publicized on January 22, 1867, but after repeatedly postponing the wedding date, Ludwig finally cancelled the engagement in October. A few days before the engagement had been announced, Sophie had received a letter from the king telling her what she already knew: "The main substance of our relationship has always been ... Richard Wagner's remarkable and deeply moving destiny." ^[8] After the engagement was broken off, Ludwig wrote to his former fiancee, "My beloved Elsa! Your cruel father has torn us apart. Eternally yours, Heinrich" (the names Elsa and Heinrich came from characters from Wagner operas) ^[9] Ludwig never married, but Sophie later married Ferdinand Philippe Marie, duc d'Alençon (1844–1910). For other uses, see inheritance (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Prussia (disambiguation). ... Sophie Charlotte Augustine was Duchess of Alençon and born Duchess in Bavaria (February 23, 1847–May 4, 1897). ... 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. ... is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Sophie Charlotte Augustine was Duchess of Alencon and born Duchess in Bavaria (February 23, 1847–May 4, 1897). ... Several counts and then royal dukes of Alençon have figured in French history. ...

Though Ludwig had sided with Austria against Prussia in the Seven Weeks' War, his army was defeated. Peace conditions forced him to accept a mutual defence treaty with Prussia in 1867. Under the terms of this treaty, Bavaria joined with Prussia against France in the Franco-Prussian War. On the request of the Prussian Minister President, Bismarck, Ludwig wrote a letter in December 1870 calling for King Wilhelm I of Prussia to be declared German Emperor or Kaiser at the creation of the German Empire. He received financial concessions in return for his support. Ludwig had little choice in the matter. The creation of the German Empire relegated Bavaria to a secondary position within the Empire. The days of Bavaria as an independent kingdom were over. Ludwig registered a protest on the changes by choosing not to attend the ceremony at Versailles Palace in France where Wilhlem I was declared German Emperor. ^[10] For other uses, see Prussia (disambiguation). ... 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. ... Combatants Second French Empire North German Confederation allied with South German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III François Achille Bazaine Patrice de Mac-Mahon, duc de Magenta Otto von Bismarck Helmuth von Moltke the Elder Strength 400,000 at wars beginning 1,200,000 Casualties 150,000... Bismarck redirects here. ... Wilhelm I, (March 22, 1797 - March 9, 1888), German Emperor (Kaiser), ruled January 18, 1871-1888 and king of Prussia, ruled 1861-1888. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For German colonial territories, see German Colonial Empire. ...

Throughout his reign, Ludwig had a succession of close friendships with men, including his chief equerry and Master of the Horse, Richard Hornig, Hungarian theatre actor Josef Kainz, and courtier Alfons Weber. In 1869, he began keeping a diary in which he recorded his private thoughts and his attempts to suppress his sexual desires and remain true to his Roman Catholic faith. 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 throughout his life. ^[11] The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ...

Due to the loss of Bavarian independence, Ludwig became increasingly withdrawn from the royal court and government. In the 1880s, Ludwig spent much of his time in seclusion in the Bavarian Alps, where he built several expensive fairytale castles with the assistance of stage designer Christian Jank. Neuschwanstein Castle was built high above the Pollat Gorge, near his childhood home, Hohenschwangau Castle, in tribute to the Nordic sagas of Lohengrin, Tristan and Isolde and Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring of the Nibelungen) series. Neuschwanstein was never completed. Linderhof Castle, located in the Grswang valley, was built in the style of the time of King Louis XIV of France, and was the only one of his three castles that was completed. His other castle, Herrenchiemsee, was located on the Herren Island in Lake Chiemsee. It is a copy of the central section of Versailles Palace in France, and was never completed. With the reduction of his monarchy to that of a mere titular one within the new German Empire, Ludwig longed for the time of absolutism, when kings had real power. This article needs cleanup. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... In some German Arthurian literature, Lohengrin is the son of Parzival (Percival). ... For information about the knight from Arthurian folklore, see Tristan For the Richard Wagner opera, see Tristan und Isolde For the 2006 movie, see Tristan and Isolde (film) This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Der Ring des Nibelungen, (The Ring of the Nibelung), is a cycle of four epic music dramas by the German composer Richard Wagner. ... Louis XIV redirects here. ... 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. ...

Deposition and death

Ludwig II of Bavaria towards the end of his life

On June 10, 1886, Ludwig was officially declared incapable of executing his powers due to what the four reporting psychiatrists described as "paranoia" ^[12], although no medical examination had taken place, and was deposed by the government. His father's younger brother Prince Luitpold was complicit in the action and was declared regent. The psychiatrist Professor Bernhard von Gudden headed the psychiatric team. Their chief "evidence" were stories of Ludwig's odd behaviour, collected from palace servants and his political enemies. The majority of these stories were hearsay and may have been obtained with bribery or threats, and their reliability is questionable. Most historians believe that Ludwig was indeed sane, an innocent victim of political intrigue. ^[13] Others believe he may have suffered from the effects of chloroform used in an effort to control chronic toothache rather than any psychological disorder. 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. ... is the 161st day of the year (162nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Prince Regent Luitpold Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria (German: Prinzregent Luitpold Karl Joseph Wilhelm Ludwig von Bayern) (12 March 1821—12 December 1912), was the regent and de facto ruler of Bavaria from 1886 to 1912, due to the incapacity of his nephews, Ludwig II and Otto. ... Regent, from the Latin, a person selected to administer a state because the ruler is a minor or is not present or debilitated. ... For other uses, see Psychiatrist (disambiguation). ... Johann Bernhard Aloys von Gudden (June 7, 1824 - June 13, 1886) was a German neuroanatomist and psychiatrist. ... R-phrases , , , S-phrases , Flash point Non-flammable U.S. Permissible exposure limit (PEL) 50 ppm (240 mg/m3) (OSHA) Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ...

Ludwig was taken into custody in secret after repeated attempts to detain him. The events proved as unusual as any in his life. An eccentric but loyal baroness arrived at the gates of Neuschwanstein castle to wave her umbrella menacingly and to harangue the first Commission of men who came to imprison Ludwig. The king himself ordered all kinds of punishments against his treasonous ministers. The most extreme punishments were never carried out. The commission was, however, locked up in the castle, and later released. A huge force of loyal citizens swarmed from the village below Neuschwanstein to protect their King. They were willing to escort Ludwig under guard across the border to save him, but Ludwig refused. The battalion of soldiers at nearby Kempten had been summoned to Neuschwanstein, but it was detained by the government. For other uses, see Baron (disambiguation). ...

Ludwig attempted to issue the following proclamation to the public:

The Prince Luitpold intends, against my will, to ascend to the Regency of my land, and my erstwhile ministry has, through false allegations regarding the state of my health, deceived my beloved people, and is preparing to commit acts of high treason. [...] I call upon every loyal Bavarian to rally around my loyal supporters to thwart the planned treason against the King and the fatherland.

Memorial Cross at the site where the body of Ludwig II was found in the Starnberger Lake

This was printed by a Bamberg newspaper on June 11, 1886, but the copies were seized by the government fearful of the consequences of their distribution. Most of Ludwig's telegrams to the newspapers and his friends were intercepted. Ludwig received a message from Bismarck advising him to go to Munich and show himself to the people, but Ludwig felt unable to do so and therefore sealed his fate by refusing to leave Neuschwanstein and rally his people. On the morning of the twelfth, a second Commission reached the castle. The King was arrested at 4:00 am and taken to an awaiting carriage. He asked the person overseeing the operation, Dr. Gudden, "How can you declare me insane? After all, you have never seen or examined me before." ^[14] Nevertheless, Ludwig was transported to Castle Berg on the shores of Lake Starnberg, south of Munich. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (540 × 720 pixel, file size: 67 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ludwig II of Bavaria ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (540 × 720 pixel, file size: 67 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ludwig II of Bavaria ... is the 162nd day of the year (163rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Lake Starnberg (German: Starnberger See) in southern Bavaria is Germanys fourth largest lake and a popular recreation area for the nearby city of Munich. ...

Mystery surrounds Ludwig's death on Lake Starnberg (then called Lake Würm). 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. King Ludwig and Professor Gudden were found dead floating near the shore of Lake Starnberg at 11:30 pm. Lake Starnberg (German: Starnberger See) in southern Bavaria is Germanys fourth largest lake and a popular recreation area for the nearby city of Munich. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

After his death, a small memorial chapel was built overlooking the site. A remembrance ceremony is held there each year on June 13. is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Ludwig's death was officially ruled a suicide by drowning. This is not accurate. ^{[15] [16]} The cause of Ludwig's death has never been truthfully explained. Ludwig was known to be a strong swimmer, the water was less than waist-deep where his body was found, and the official autopsy report indicated that no water was found in his lungs. It is therefore impossible that he died from drowning. ^[17] His cause of death remains unsolved as the Wittelsbach family to this day refuses to solve the mystery. ^[18]Many hold that Ludwig was murdered by his enemies while attempting to escape from Berg. It is claimed that he was shot. ^[19] The King's personal fisherman, Jakob Lidl stated, "Three years after the king's death I was made to swear an oath that I would never say certain things - not to my wife, not on my deathbed, and not to any priest ... The state has undertaken to look after my family if anything should happen to me in either peace time or war." Lidl kept his oral oath but left behind notes which were found after his death. According to these, he had hidden behind bushes with his boat, waiting for the king, in order to row him out into the lake, where escape helpers were waiting. "As the king stepped up to his boat and put one foot in it, a shot rang out from the bank, apparently killing him on the spot, for the king fell across the bow of the boat." ^{[20] [21]} Another theory suggests that Ludwig died of natural causes (such as a heart attack or stroke) during an escape attempt due to the extreme cold of the lake. ^[22] This article is about the medical procedure. ... Heart attack redirects here. ... For other uses, see Stroke (disambiguation). ...

The remains of Ludwig were dressed in the regalia of the Order of the Knights of St. Hubert and lay in state in the royal chapel at the Munich Residence Palace. In his right hand he held a posy of white jasmine picked for him by his cousin the Empress Elisabeth of Austria. ^[23] After an elaborate funeral on June 19, 1886, Ludwig's remains were interred in the crypt of the Michaelskirche in Munich. His heart, however, does not lie with the rest of his body. Bavarian tradition called for the heart of the king to be placed in a silver urn and sent to the Gnadenkapelle (Chapel of the Miraculous Image) in Altötting. Ludwig's urn sits beside those of his father and grandfather inside the chapel. Today visitors pay tribute to the late King by visiting his grave as well as his castles. is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Crypt is also a commonly used name of water trumpets, aquatic plants. ... The Michaelskirche in Munich The High Altar The former Jesuit church of St Michael in Munich is the largest Renaissance church north of the Alps. ... Altötting is a town in Bavaria, capital of the district Altötting (population 12,871 in 2004). ...

Legacy

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

Ludwig II is remembered as one of the most beloved and unusual rulers in Bavarian history. He was quite popular among his subjects, for three major reasons. First, he attempted to avoid wars, giving Bavaria some years of peace. Whether this was due to a belief in pacifism or a lack of interest in politics is debatable. Ludwig always believed Bavaria was closer to Austria than Prussia. Second, Ludwig funded the construction of his famous castles with his personal income, 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 could be quite charming. He hated crowds and formal affairs, but did not consider himself above socializing with his subjects. He enjoyed traveling in the Bavarian countryside and chatting with farmers and labourers he met along the way. Ludwig also delighted in rewarding those who were hospitable to him during his travels with lavish gifts. Ludwig lived mainly away from the court in his castles in the Bavarian countryside. He is still remembered in Bavaria as "Unser Kini" which means "our darling king" in the Bavarian dialect of German. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2411x1671, 844 KB) Summary The coat of arms of Ludwig II of Bavaria as carved over the entrance to Neuschwanstein Castle. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2411x1671, 844 KB) Summary The coat of arms of Ludwig II of Bavaria as carved over the entrance to Neuschwanstein Castle. ... 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. ... Neuschwanstein seen from the Marienbrücke. ...

Although the construction of his castles very nearly bankrupted Bavaria's Wittlesbach royal family, they were never built with funds from the Bavarian treasury. ^[24] It is the ultimate irony that the very castles that were claimed, incorrectly, to be ruining Bavaria financially, the reason for his deposition, have today become extremely profitable tourist attractions for the Bavarian state. The palaces have paid for themselves many times over and attract millions of tourists from all over the world to Germany each year.

Ludwig and the arts

Ludwig II with his 'friend' Richard Wagner, the composer of Lohengrin and many other romantic operas at the piano

Ludwig was a major patron of composer Richard Wagner, and he funded the construction of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus. Without Ludwig's support, it is almost certain that Wagner would have been unable to complete his opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen or to write his final opera, Parsifal. Ludwig also sponsored the premieres of Tristan und Isolde, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and, through his financial support of the Bayreuth Festival, those of Der Ring des Nibelungen and Parsifal. Image File history File linksMetadata Wagner_Ludwig. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Wagner_Ludwig. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as they were later called). ... Lohengrin is a romantic opera (or music drama) in three acts by Richard Wagner. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as they were later called). ... 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. ... Der Ring des Nibelungen, (The Ring of the Nibelung), is a cycle of four epic music dramas by the German composer Richard Wagner. ... Parsifal is an opera, or music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner. ... Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde) is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by the composer, based largely on the romance by Gottfried von Straßburg. ... Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (The Master Singers of Nuremberg) is an opera in three acts, written and composed by Richard Wagner. ... Bayreuth Festspielhaus, as seen in 1882 The annual Bayreuth Festival in Bayreuth, Germany is devoted principally (but not exclusively) to performances of operas by the 19th century German composer Richard Wagner. ...

Buildings

It is not surprising that Ludwig II had a great interest in building. His paternal grandfather, King Ludwig I, had largely rebuilt Munich. It was known as the 'Athens on the Isar'. His father, King Maximillian II had also continued with more construction in Munich as well as the construction of Hohenschwangau Castle, the childhood home of Ludwig II, near the future Neuschwanstein Castle of Ludwig II. Ludwig II had planned to build a large opera house on the banks of the Isar river in Munich. This plan was vetoed by the Bavarian government. ^[25] Using similar plans, a festival theatre was built later in his reign from Ludwig's personal finances at Bayreuth.

Ludwig II 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 Castle. These building designs date from the latter 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. ...

• Winter Garden, Residenz Palace, Munich, an elaborate winter garden built on the roof of the Residenz Palace in Munich. It featured an ornamental lake with gardens and painted frescos. It was roofed over using a technically advanced metal and glass construction. ^[26] After the death of Ludwig II, it was dismantled in 1897 due to water leaking from the ornamental lake through the ceiling of the rooms below. Photographs and sketches still record this incredible creation which included a grotto, a Moorish kiosk, an Indian royal tent, an artifically illuminated rainbow and intermittent moonlight. ^{[27] [28]}

An 1890s photochrom print of Neuschwanstein Castle.

• Neuschwanstein Castle, or "New Swan Stone Castle", a dramatic Romanesque fortress with Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic interiors, which was built high above 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 may have been intended to help Ludwig live up to his religious ideals. The castle was not finished at Ludwig's death. The residence quarters of the king can be visited along with the servant's rooms, kitchens as well as the monumental throne room. Unfortunately the throne was never completed although sketches show how it might have looked on completion. ^[29]
  Neuschwanstein Castle is a landmark well-known by many non-Germans, and was used by Walt Disney in the twentieth century as the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castles at Disneylands around the world.

Linderhof Castle

• Linderhof Castle, an ornate palace in neo-French Rococo style, with handsome formal gardens. The grounds contain a Venus grotto where opera singers performed while Ludwig was rowed in a shell-like boat on an underground lake lit with electricity, a novelty at that time. The lighting can change from red to blue. In the grounds a romantic woodsman's hut was also built around 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 eighteenth century sleigh, complete with footmen in eighteenth century livery. He was known to stop and visit with rural peasants while on rides, adding to his legend and popularity. The sleigh can today be viewed with other royal carriages at the Carriage Museum at Castle Nymphenburg in Munich. There is also a Moorish Pavilion in the ground of Linderhof Castle.

Herrenchiemsee Castle

• Herrenchiemsee, a replica of the central section of the palace at Versailles, France, which was meant to outdo its predecessor in scale and opulence. It is located on the Herren Island in the middle of the Chiemsee Lake. Most of the palace was never completed once the king ran out of money, and Ludwig lived there for only the 10 days before his mysterious death. It is interesting to note that tourists come from France to view the recreation of the famous Ambassador's staircase. The original Ambassador's staircase Versailles in France was demolished in 1752. ^[30]

• Ludwig also outfitted Schachen king's house with an overwhelmingly decorative Arabian style interior, including a replica of the famous Peacock Throne. There are allegations 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.

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

• Ludwig also had plans for several other buildings that were never constructed, such as a Chinese summer palace and Byzantine palace.^[31]

Winter Garden may refer to: Winter Garden A winter garden, winter-hardy plants grown to decorate in the winter or be harvested between winter and early spring Winter Garden, Florida Winter Garden Theatre A large public atrium in the World Financial Center in New York City Winter Garden, a book... The Residenz (German word for residence) in the city center of Munich, Bavaria is the former royal residence of the Bavarian Dukes, Electors and Kings. ... For other uses, see Munich (disambiguation). ... From de:Bild:00179r. ... From de:Bild:00179r. ... This photochrom illustrates Hildesheim town hall in the 1890s, and shows the evocative coloration characteristic of the process. ... Castle seen from the Marienbrücke The castle Neuschwanstein (German: Schloß Neuschwanstein) is located in Germany, near Hohenschwangau and Füssen in southwest Bavaria near the Austrian border. ... Castle seen from the Marienbrücke The castle Neuschwanstein (German: Schloß Neuschwanstein) is located in Germany, near Hohenschwangau and Füssen in southwest Bavaria near the Austrian border. ... South transept of Tournai Cathedral, Belgium, 12th century. ... The Palatine Chapel of the Norman Kings of Sicily. ... The western facade of Reims Cathedral, France. ... Schloss Hohenschwangau was the childhood residence of King Ludwig II of Bavaria and was built by his father. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... This is an article about a structure at Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland. ... Disneyland is a theme park that is located at 1313 South Harbor Boulevard in Anaheim, California, USA. It opened on July 17, 1955. ... Download high resolution version (3000x1865, 1567 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (3000x1865, 1567 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Linderhof Palace Linderhof Palace (German: Schloss Linderhof) is a castle in Germany, near Oberammergau in southwest Bavaria near Ettal Abbey. ... Linderhof Palace Linderhof Palace (German: Schloss Linderhof) is a castle in Germany, near Oberammergau in southwest Bavaria near Ettal Abbey. ... A style of 18th century French art and interior design, Rococo style rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Ancien Régime, a French term meaning Former Regime, but rendered in English as Old Rule, Old Order, or simply Old Regime, refers primarily to the aristocratic social and political system established in France under the Valois and Bourbon dynasties. ... Rather unusually, these Angels wear white hart (deer) badges, with the personal livery of King Richard II of England, who commissioned this, the Wilton diptych, about 1400 A livery is a uniform or other sign worn in a non-military context on a person or object (such as an airplane... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x527, 293 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x527, 293 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ... 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. ... 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. ... This article is about the city of Versailles. ... The Chiemsee is a freshwater lake in Bavaria, Germany, between the towns of Rosenheim and Salzburg. ... View from the other side Königshaus am Schachen is a small castle (Schlösschen) at Schachen Witterstein, Germany, built by Ludwig II of Bavaria. ... Arabia redirects here. ... 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. ... For other uses, see Sultan (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Falkenstein. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Falkenstein. ... 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. ... View from the other side Königshaus am Schachen is a small castle (Schlösschen) at Schachen Witterstein, Germany, built by Ludwig II of Bavaria. ... Linderhof Palace Linderhof Palace (German: Schloss Linderhof) is a castle in Germany, near Oberammergau in southwest Bavaria near Ettal Abbey. ... Castle seen from the Marienbrücke The castle Neuschwanstein (German: Schloß Neuschwanstein) is located in Germany, near Hohenschwangau and Füssen in southwest Bavaria near the Austrian border. ... View from the Park The Nymphenburg Palace (German: Schloss Nymphenburg) is a Baroque palace in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. ... Schloss Hohenschwangau was the childhood residence of King Ludwig II of Bavaria and was built by his father. ...

Ludwig in popular culture

Literature, stage and film

• The 1972 film Ludwig, directed by Luchino Visconti was based on his life. It traces the life of Ludwig II from his accession to death, and stars Helmut Berger as Ludwig II and Romy Schneider as the Austrian Empress Elisabeth.

• The 1972 German film Ludwig - Requiem für einen jungfräulichen König (Ludwig - Requiem for a Virgin King), written and directed by Hans-Jürgen Syberberg provides a more personal, sympathetic and idiosyncratic account of the King's life from his boyhood to his death. It stars Harry Baer and Balthasar Thomass as Ludwig II, and Gerhard Maerz and Anette Tirier as Richard Wagner.

• An earlier film, directed by Helmut Kautner, entitled Ludwig II (1955), starred O. W. Fischer in the role of Ludwig II and Ruth Leuwerik in the role of Empress Elizabeth.

• An epic film, Wagner (1983), directed by Tony Palmer for the London Cultural Trust, on the life of Richard Wagner, starring Richard Burton in the role of Wagner, also features Laszlo Galffi in the substantial role of King Ludwig.

• The early 21st century play Valhalla by playwright Paul Rudnick prominently features Ludwig as the play unfolds in 19th century Bavaria and 1940s Texas.

• A play by Jordan Harrison, "Doris to Darlene, a cautionary valentine," features Ludwig II and his relationship with Wagner as two central characters. It premiered at Playwrights Horizons in New York in December 2007.

• 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 Europe 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.

• Takarazuka Revue has adopted the life of the emperor for a musical production.

• Ludwig figures in The Alabaster Egg, a novel by Gillian Freeman.

• There is an anecdote of the death of Ludwig II by T.S.Eliot in the first stanza of The Waste Land.

This article is about motion pictures. ... Ludwig is a 1972 film by Italian director Luchino Visconti about the life and death of Ludwig II of Bavaria, mostly known today for his blind admiration for Richard Wagner and his commissioning of many palaces in Bavaria such as Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee. ... Luchino Visconti. ... Helmut Berger (born May 29th 1944 as Helmut Steinberger in Bad Ischl, Austria) is an Austrian actor. ... Romy Schneider (September 23, 1938 – May 29, 1982) was a German-Austrian actress. ... Hans-Jürgen Syberberg (December 8, 1935 - ) is one of the most controversial directors of New German Cinema. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as they were later called). ... Helmut Kautner German Third Reich film director active mainly in the 1940s and 50s. ... O. W. Fischer Otto Wilhelm Fischer (April 1, 1915 – January 29, 2004) was an Austrian actor. ... Wagner may refer to more than one place in the United States: Wagner, South Dakota Wagner, Wisconsin Wagner may refer to more than one person: Richard Wagner, German composer Cosima Wagner, daughter of Franz Liszt and wife of Richard Wagner Heinrich Leopold Wagner, dramatist and author John Peter Honus Wagner... Tony Palmer is an award-winning British film director and author. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as they were later called). ... For other persons named Richard Burton, see Richard Burton (disambiguation). ... Paul Rudnick is a screenwriter and playwright. ... This article is about the comics created in Japan. ... Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co. ... Busch Gardens Europe is a theme park located in James City County, Virginia about 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Williamsburg. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Thomas Stearns Eliot, OM (September 26, 1888–January 4, 1965) was a poet, dramatist and literary critic, whose works, such as The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, The Waste Land, The Hollow Men, and Four Quartets, are considered major achievements of twentieth century Modernist poetry. ... The Waste Land (1922)[1] is a highly influential 434-line[2] modernist poem by T. S. Eliot. ...

Video and computer games

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. 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. ... This article is about a fictional character. ... 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. ...

Music

A number of musicals based on the life of Ludwig II have been staged. One was called, Ludwig: The Musical by Rolf Rettburg and another, Ludwig II: Longing For Paradise with music by Franz Hummel and lyrics by Stephen Barbarino. A special theatre was constructed on the shores of the lake at Fussen, not far from Castles Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, specifically for the musical performances.

The Clean's spoken-word song Ludwig is about him. The Clean were an influential first-wave punk band that formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1978. ...

The electronic duo Matmos recorded a song entitled "Banquet for King Ludwig II of Bavaria" on their 2006 album The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of a Beast. Matmos (left to right): Drew Daniel and M.C. Schmidt Matmos is an experimental electronica duo from San Francisco on the Matador Records label. ... The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of a Beast is a 2006 album by Matmos. ...

Electronic music composer Klaus Schulze wrote the song "Ludwig II von Bayern" on his album X. Klaus Schulze is a German electronic music composer and musician. ... X is the tenth album by Klaus Schulze. ...

There is a restaurant called King Ludwigs at the Disney village in Disney Land Paris

Ancestry

Maximilian II of Bavaria (November 28, 1811 – March 10, 1864) was king of Bavaria from 1848 until 1864. ... Ludwig I (or Louis I, which is the French form of his name, his godfather was Louis XVI of France) (Strasbourg, August 25, 1786 – February 29, 1868 in Nice) was king of Bavaria from 1825 until the 1848 revolutions in the German states. ... This page refers to King Maximilian I of Bavaria. ... Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt, Duchess of Zweibrücken Landgravine Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt (German:Marie Auguste Wilhelmine von Hessen-Darmstadt) (born Darmstadt, 14 April 1765; died Rohrbach, 30 March 1796) was a German princess. ... Queen Therese of Bavaria portrait by Joseph Karl Stieler Therese Charlotte Luise of Saxony-Hildburghausen (Therese of Bavaria) (8 July 1792 in Seidingstadt (Castle in the duchy of Saxe-Hildburghausen) - 26 October 1854 in Munich) was queen of Bavaria. ... Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen (b. ... 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. ... Prince Wilhelm of Prussia (1783–1851) was the son of Frederick William II of Prussia and Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt. ... Frederick William II (German: ; September 25, 1744–November 16, 1797) was the fourth King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. ... Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt (October 16, 1751 – February 25, 1805) was Queen of Prussia as the second wife of Frederick William II of Prussia. ...

Notes

1. ^ Wahnsinn oder Verrat - war König Ludwig II. von Bayern geisteskrank? by Julius Desing
2. ^ Hans Nohbauer, p.6
3. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.12
4. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.12
5. ^ Han Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.12
6. ^ Han Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.25
7. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.25
8. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.40
9. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.40
10. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.37
11. ^ McIntosh, pp 155–158.
12. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.82
13. ^ Wahnsinn oder Verrat - war König Ludwig II. von Bayern geisteskrank? by Julius Desing
14. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.82
15. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.88
16. ^ Katerina von Burg, Ludwig II of Bavaria, p.315
17. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.88
18. ^ Katerina von Burg, Ludwig II of Bavaria, p.308
19. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.88
20. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.88
21. ^ Katerina von Burg, Ludwig II of Bavaria, p.311
22. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.88
23. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.86
24. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.73
25. ^ Ludwig II. und seine Schloesser by Michael Petzet and Werner Neumeister, p.24
26. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.18
27. ^ Past and present Castles of Bavaria by Paolo Calore, pp.164-165
28. ^ Hans Nohbauer, Ludwig II, p.18
29. ^ ibid, p.89
30. ^ Past and present Castles of Bavaria by Paolo Calore, p.60
31. ^ Koenig Ludwig II Museum Herrenchiemsee

Books

English-language biographies and related information on Ludwig II:

• Blunt, Wilfred and Michael Petzet. The Dream King: Ludwig II of Bavaria. 1970. ISBN 0-241-11293-1, ISBN 0-14-003606-7.
• Calore, Paola. Past and Present Castles of Bavaria. 1998. ISBN 1-84056-019-3
• 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 1-55972-362-9
• McIntosh, Christopher. The Swan King: Ludwig II of Bavaria. 1982. ISBN 1-86064-892-4
• Nohbauer, Hans. Ludwig II'. 1998. ISBN 3-8228-7430-2
• Richter, Werner. The Mad Monarch: The Life and Times of Ludwig II of Bavaria. 1954.
• Von Burg, Katerina, Ludwig II of Bavaria. 1989. ISBN 1-870417-02-X

German-language biographies and related information on Ludwig II:

• Botzenhart, Christof : Die Regierungstätigkeit König Ludwig II. von Bayern - "ein Schattenkönig ohne Macht will ich nicht sein" , München , Verlag Beck , 2004 , 234 S., ISBN 3-406-10737-0
• Desing, Julius : Wahnsinn oder Verrat - war König Ludwig II. von Bayern geisteskrank? , Lechbruck , Verlag Kienberger , 1996
• Reichold, Klaus : König Ludwig II. von Bayern - zwischen Mythos und Wirklichkeit, Märchen und Alptraum ; Stationen eines schlaflosen Lebens ; München , Süddt. Verl., 1996
• Richter, Werner : Ludwig II., König von Bayern , 14.Aufl. ; München ,Stiebner , 2001 , 335 S., ISBN 3-8307-1021-6
• Schäffler Anita, Borkowsky Sandra, Adami, Erich : König Ludwig II. von Bayern und seine Reisen in die Schweiz - 20. Oktober - 2. November 1865, 22. Mai - 24. Mai 1866, 27. Juni - 14. Juli 1881 ; eine Dokumentation , Füssen , 2005
• Wolf, Georg Jacob : Koenig Ludwig II Und Seine Welt, Muenchen, Franz Hanfstaengl, 1922
• Hojer, Gerhard : Koenig Ludwig II. - Museum Herrenchiemsee, Muenchen, Hirmer Verlag, 1986. ISBN 3-7774-4160-0
• Petzet, Michael : Koenig Ludwig. Und Die Kunst, Prestel Verlag, Muenchen, 1968
• Petzet, Michael & Neumeister, Werner : Ludwig II. Und Seine Schloesser: Die Welt des Bayerischen Maerchenkoenigs, Prestel Verlag, Muenchen, 1995. ISBN 3-7913-1471-8

External links

• Mysterious death of King Ludwig: http://schwangau.de/646.0.html
• English website about "Mad" King Ludwig