Criminal
03-07-2003, 10:36 PM
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/pix/ludwig2.jpg
Best known to foreigners, Bavaria's King Ludwig II (born 25.August.1845) is known mainly as the builder of Neuschwanstein, the white castle featured in countless German tourist leaflets. Ludwig's real contribution is far more significant. He championed the operas of composer Richard Wagner. Without the King's enthusiastic support it is doubtful that Wagner would ever have had the opportunity to produce the work he did.
The young prince, that had his hair curled everyday, assumed the thrown at age 19. He was obsessed with costumes of the new role of taken over the thrown. Affairs of the state held minimal appeal for him and soon he antagonized his cabinet.
King Ludwig II's Mother noted that he enjoyed dressing up as a child in Nun habits and frequently gave away his toys and money. As he grew older and sat on the throne as the King of Bavaria, he was inspired to build three dream castles: Neuschwanstein (1869), a shrine to Lohengrin, Tannhauser and other medieval German heroes; Herrenchiemsee (1845) and Linderhop (1879) with its magical grotto. The cost? 31 Million Marks.
Another cause for complaint was the King's infatuation with Wager. The King had Cabinet Secretary Pfistermeister spend three weeks in pursuit of the elusive Wagner. On Wagner's return, they imbursed into an intense and passionate meeting. Ludwig worshipped the composer, Wagner. Wagner wrote of Ludwig, "he knows and understands everything about me - understands me like my own soul. He is like a God! If I am Wotan, then he is my Siegfried".
The King paid off Wagner's debts, set him up in a villa in Munich, granted him a stipend that exceeded that of a senior minister and promised him an enormous sum on completion of the "Ring".
Because of Wagner's spences, Cabinet Secretary Pfistremeister and Minister-President von Pfordten connived to get rid of Wagner, and in the end they succeeded.
According to many reports, on the contrary, Ludwig's relationship with Wagner was strictly platonic, even though it's believed that the King was homosexual and had relations with a succession of grooms, handsome cousins and attentive aides-de-camp.
Ludwig was engaged in 1867 to his cousin "Sophie", but admitted that he could not go through with it.
Ludwig loathed his Mother, saying that her 'prose' destroyed his 'poetry'. He avoided her and referred to her as "that old goose".
The one woman that he had a grand relationship was Sophie's sister, the Empress Elizabeth of Austria. They adored each other and had been friends since childhood. He referred to her as "the dove" and she in turn referred to him as "the eagle". They remained deeply attached until his death.
King Ludwig II lived in his dream-world, neglecting affairs of the state. He ran up huge debts, building and decorating his castles. The cabinet decided that he had to go, but the easiest way was to get Luitpold's backing to have Ludwig declared insane
King Ludwig, sadly enough, was declared insane by Dr. Bernhard von Gudden, even though Dr. Gudden NEVER ONCE examined King Ludwig.
The night that Dr. Gudden and a deputation from the cabinet went to apprehend Ludwig, was a cold and rainy evening. They arrived at midnight, but alas, the King had been warned from a loyal coachman. On arrival, they noticed the coachman gone, along with King Ludwig. They set off at 3am but found themselves blocked from finding the king by the police, the fire-brigade and crowds of loyal fans who had come to protect their king.
The downfall of King Ludwig was that he never appeared in public to dispute his madness and on the night of 13.June.1886, he seemed calm enough to walk in the grounds at the Castle of Berg, on the Starnberger See. Even though the night before, he was devastated, drinking heavily and threatening suicide, he seemed calm enough to walk the grounds unaccompanied with Dr. Grudden.
The two never returned.
Later that night both of their bodies were fished out of shallow water at the edge of the lake.
What happend remains a mystery, but Ludwig's death was tragic and pointless.
Best known to foreigners, Bavaria's King Ludwig II (born 25.August.1845) is known mainly as the builder of Neuschwanstein, the white castle featured in countless German tourist leaflets. Ludwig's real contribution is far more significant. He championed the operas of composer Richard Wagner. Without the King's enthusiastic support it is doubtful that Wagner would ever have had the opportunity to produce the work he did.
The young prince, that had his hair curled everyday, assumed the thrown at age 19. He was obsessed with costumes of the new role of taken over the thrown. Affairs of the state held minimal appeal for him and soon he antagonized his cabinet.
King Ludwig II's Mother noted that he enjoyed dressing up as a child in Nun habits and frequently gave away his toys and money. As he grew older and sat on the throne as the King of Bavaria, he was inspired to build three dream castles: Neuschwanstein (1869), a shrine to Lohengrin, Tannhauser and other medieval German heroes; Herrenchiemsee (1845) and Linderhop (1879) with its magical grotto. The cost? 31 Million Marks.
Another cause for complaint was the King's infatuation with Wager. The King had Cabinet Secretary Pfistermeister spend three weeks in pursuit of the elusive Wagner. On Wagner's return, they imbursed into an intense and passionate meeting. Ludwig worshipped the composer, Wagner. Wagner wrote of Ludwig, "he knows and understands everything about me - understands me like my own soul. He is like a God! If I am Wotan, then he is my Siegfried".
The King paid off Wagner's debts, set him up in a villa in Munich, granted him a stipend that exceeded that of a senior minister and promised him an enormous sum on completion of the "Ring".
Because of Wagner's spences, Cabinet Secretary Pfistremeister and Minister-President von Pfordten connived to get rid of Wagner, and in the end they succeeded.
According to many reports, on the contrary, Ludwig's relationship with Wagner was strictly platonic, even though it's believed that the King was homosexual and had relations with a succession of grooms, handsome cousins and attentive aides-de-camp.
Ludwig was engaged in 1867 to his cousin "Sophie", but admitted that he could not go through with it.
Ludwig loathed his Mother, saying that her 'prose' destroyed his 'poetry'. He avoided her and referred to her as "that old goose".
The one woman that he had a grand relationship was Sophie's sister, the Empress Elizabeth of Austria. They adored each other and had been friends since childhood. He referred to her as "the dove" and she in turn referred to him as "the eagle". They remained deeply attached until his death.
King Ludwig II lived in his dream-world, neglecting affairs of the state. He ran up huge debts, building and decorating his castles. The cabinet decided that he had to go, but the easiest way was to get Luitpold's backing to have Ludwig declared insane
King Ludwig, sadly enough, was declared insane by Dr. Bernhard von Gudden, even though Dr. Gudden NEVER ONCE examined King Ludwig.
The night that Dr. Gudden and a deputation from the cabinet went to apprehend Ludwig, was a cold and rainy evening. They arrived at midnight, but alas, the King had been warned from a loyal coachman. On arrival, they noticed the coachman gone, along with King Ludwig. They set off at 3am but found themselves blocked from finding the king by the police, the fire-brigade and crowds of loyal fans who had come to protect their king.
The downfall of King Ludwig was that he never appeared in public to dispute his madness and on the night of 13.June.1886, he seemed calm enough to walk in the grounds at the Castle of Berg, on the Starnberger See. Even though the night before, he was devastated, drinking heavily and threatening suicide, he seemed calm enough to walk the grounds unaccompanied with Dr. Grudden.
The two never returned.
Later that night both of their bodies were fished out of shallow water at the edge of the lake.
What happend remains a mystery, but Ludwig's death was tragic and pointless.