Ludwig II

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

Portraits of Ludwig

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

More portraits but now younger Ludwig

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

A photo

[Carolath Habsburg]

I love this one of Ludwig. It says a lot of him!

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

A portrait

[Carolath Habsburg]

[THERRY]

He is always a surprise to me, even though I know it well enough !

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

Is he wearing some traditional suit? (bavarian?)

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Attention Replies # 80 and # 82:  He is pictured in the garb of a "Knight of the Royal Order of Saint George" (undoubtedly as Grand Master).  A similiar photo of the "costume" (plumed hat, mantle with ermine-tipped collar, etc.) is shown in plate #149, page 136, "King Ludwig III of Bavaria," in the volume, " The Last Courts of Europe," 1981, ISBN 0-86565-015-2. My understanding is that this Order is still in existence, with HRH Franz, Duke of Bavaria, as Grand Master.   AP

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

Thanks for the information Aleksandr!!

[timfromengland]

Im wondering just where Ludwig  got the money  to build on such a lavish scale.... Neuschwanstein Castle  for eg...
it must have cost millions..  all the opulance and the fabulous artwork  etc....  and all that built on top of a mountain too ?
Was Bavaria  so rich that it could finance this and other building projects of Ludwig ?

Where did  those sources of funding and massive wealth  really come from ?  international trade ?   drugs ? alcohol ?

[Greenowl]

Ludwig got some money (in other words, a bribe) from the Prussian Minister President Bismarck when he wrote the so-called Kaiserbrief in December 1870 endorsing the creation of the German Empire. However, Bavaria became pretty bankrupt with all his various building projects. Ironically, Bavaria earns a great deal today in terms of tourist revenues from these castles.

[timfromengland]

In the end, Ludwig II only lived in Neuschwanstein for a total of 172 days.

Even after his debts had reached 14 million mark, Ludwig insisted on continuation of his architectural projects; he threatened suicide if his creditors seized his palaces.
In early 1886 Ludwig asked his cabinet for a credit of 6 million mark, which was denied.
In April he followed Bismarck's advice to apply for the money to his parliament.

In June, the Bavarian government decided to depose the king, who was living at Neuschwanstein at the time.
On June 9 he was incapacitated, and on June 10 he had the deposition commission arrested in the Gatehouse.
In expectation of the commission he had alarmed the gendarmerie and fire brigades of surrounding places for his protection.
A second commission headed by Bernhard von Gudden arrived on the next day, and the king was forced to leave the palace in the same night.

Ludwig was put under the supervision of von Gudden.
On June 13 both died under mysterious circumstances in the shallow shore water of Lake Starnberg near Castle Berg.

I wonder if the schemeing  Bismark had anything to do with  Ludvig's final end ?
How vindictive of the Bavarian Parlement to vote to depose their King..
Poor Ludwig  suddenly found himself a prisoner in his own Kingdom.... his end followed very swiftly.

Money seems to be at the route of it ... debts etc,  its ironic that  Ludwigs ambitious works... the Palaces, castles etc  should today be a goldmine  for the Bavarian government as the tourist dollars roll in.............  6000  visitors  per day in high summer at  Schloss Neuschwanstein  alone....
thats a lot of Euros  !

I dont believe that Wagner ever stepped foot in  Schloss Neuschwanstein  either  !  and  poor Ludwig dreamed of having him there as an honoured guest  !

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

Composed portrait showing King Ludwig II and his favorite cousin, the Empress Sissi

[Hector]

Considering their mothers are sisters, I've always seen a family resemblance between Grand Duke Ludwig IV of Hesse and King Ludwig II of Bavaria.