Ludwig II of Bavaria

The Man

Ludwig II was born August 25, 1845 in the city of Nymphenburg. His grandfather, Ludwig I, pressed to have his name changed to Ludwig, since they shared the same birthday. His original name, Otto, was given to his younger brother who became the King of Greece .

Known as "Mad King Ludwig" or in German "The Fairy-tale King". The local Bavarians call him "The Builder of Castles". Scholars believe Ludwig II's madness began in early childhood by the almost schizophrenic way in which he was raised. Spoiled and reminded of his royal powers, and then beaten by his instructions. This difference between a strict regime of exercise and study, then the spoiled as a prince would be difficult, at best, for a child to understand.

The Arts

The young price was captivated by the composer Richard Wagner. His lavish and fanciful operas were full of hero knights and medieval German romance. This was a world were Ludwig II could retreat. One of his first acts upon becoming King was to give official patronage to Wagner. Most notible of Wagners operas was Lohengrin - about a Knight of the Holy Grail whose boat is pulled by swans.

An interesting bit of trivia: The popular "Wedding March" or "Here Comes the Bride" was written by Wagner as the openning of Act III.

The Castles

The most famous of the Ludwig II Castles is Neuschwanstein or "New Swan Stone", an obvious reference to the Wagner opera. This castle is the basis of Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Disneyland, California.

Most of Ludwig II castle drawings and plans are kept in the King Ludwig II Museum at Herrenchiemsee. This castle is a duplicate of King Louis XIV's Versailles Palace.

Another famous castle is Linderhof were opera singers performed in an electrically lit, underground lake. The most famous un-built castle is the Falkenstein castle.

Castle's also play a part in Ludwig II's death. His mysterious drowning occurred June 13, 1886 at Berg Castle on Lake Starnberg.

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