During the last thousand years, European Monarchs have ruled
Europe and the world with an iron fist and by fear, compassion
and hatred. As their wealth grew from the riches of newly
conquered continents and lands, they began building some of the
worlds greatest castles as a sign of their status and wealth,
leaving behind a legacy of beauty and splendor that has lasted
well into the 21st century.
These members of royalty have included tyrants, the mentally
insane, drunks and the psychotic, who have murdered for pleasure
and raped for enjoyment. Imposed terrible taxes on already poor
citizens. They married for financial power and traded in lives.
Kinfolk were murdered so a favorable son could rise through the
ranks. As their power increased so did the atrocities, bringing
with it the hatred of a nation and it?s people.
Join me as we take a trip back in time, discovering which
Monarchs were tyrants, mentally unstable, drunks and psychotic,
as well as those who were loved by their people.
This series of articels will highlight the lives of Vlad
Tepes(Dracula), King Ludwig II and King George III to name a few.
King Ludwig II of Bavaria, named after his grandfather,
was born in Nymphenburg Castle outside Munich on August 25, 1845
and was the eldest son of King Maximillian II and Queen Marie.
As a boy, Ludwig?s favourite time of the year were the summer
holidays spent at the Royal Castle Hohenschwangau which his
father restored between 1832 and 1836.
In 1858, at the age of thirteen, Ludwig was introduced to
Wagner?s opera - Lohengrin, the story of which centres around
the heroic medieval Swan-knight Lohengrin, by his governess. The
young Ludwig instantly fell in love with its concept and it was
the begining of a life long love with all of Wagner?s works. It
was not long before he was acquiring and reading every book
written by Wagner. On February 2nd, 1861, Ludwig attended his
first Wagner opera - Lohengrin, the Knight of the Swan which
left a lasting impression on the young Prince.
In March of 1864, his father died at the age of 53 and Ludwig,
at the age of eighteen, became King Ludwig II. With in days of
coming to the throne a young and impressionable King ordered his
officials to seek out Wagner and bring him back to Munich,
taking it upon himself to become Wagner's patron. He settled his
debts, and set him up comfortably in an Italianate-style villa.
Munich society began to grow weary of Wagner's arrogance and
were also increasingly jealous of his hold over their young
King. Eighteen months after his arrival, Wagner left Munich for
Switzerland and Ludwig fled to Hohenschwangau. The one person
that brought joy into his life had been taken from him.
In 1866 war broke out between Austria and Prussia in what became
known as the Seven Weeks War. Because of her strong links with
Austria, Bavaria was drawn into the conflict on the Austrian
side. In a secret treaty King Ludwig II placed the Bavarian army
at the disposal of the Prussian General Staff.
Ludwig was to marry in August of 1867 but he was unhappy with
the relationship so changed the date to October 12th, which
incidentally was the date that both his grandfather and father
married. Ludwig was very unsettled at the prospect of marrying
and as such voiced his apprehension to his Court Secretary,
confessing that he would rather drown himself than marry. He
wrote to Wagner "Oh, if only I could be carried on a magic
carpet to you . . . at dear, peaceful Tribschen (Lucerne,
Switzerland.) - Even for an hour or two.
In November, King Ludwig II broke of his engagement fleeing to
his beloved Alps. He wrote to Wagner from Hohenschwangau on 21
November, 1867; "I write these lines sitting in my cosy gothic
bow-window, by the light of my lonely lamp, while outside the
blizzard rages. It is so peaceful here; this silence is
stimulating, whereas in the clamour of the world I feel
absolutely miserable. "Thank God I am alone at last. My mother
is far away, as is my former bride, who would have made me
unspeakably unhappy. Before me stands a bust of the one, true
Friend whom I shall love until death. . . If only I had the
opportunity to die for you."
It was at this point that Ludwig began to plan and build his
castles. The task of being king was becoming a heavy burden. He
had at the age of only 20, sent thousands of his countrymen to
fight in the Seven Weeks War. Two years after his failed
romance, Ludwig again had to send his countries men into battle.
This time it was against the French in what became the
Franco-Prussian War. From then on Ludwig withdrew into himself
and into a world of make-believe. The plans for both Neuschwanstein and Linderhof
originated from this time in his life (1869).
Ludwig was a changed person. He went from a slender youth to a
huge man in just a few years, spending all his time in the
mountains at Hohenschwangau and Linderhof as well as his small
mock-Gothic castle at Berg, beside Lake Starnberg. He refused
any contact with his ministerial staff and sought only the
companionship of the mountain people. The only time King Ludwig
II ventured out of the mountains and into Munich was at the
annual investiture and banquet given in the Residenz for the
Knights of the Order of St. George, Bavaria's highest Order of
Chivalry which Ludwig was the Grand Master.
Shortly after Prussia's victory in the Franco-Prussian War,
Bismark sought Ludwig's approval for Bavaria to enter a unified
German Empire with Prussia as leader. After several days, Ludwig
succumbed and wrote a letter inviting Wilhelm II to become
Emperor of a united Germany. King Ludwig II handed over his
beloved Bavaria, becoming a lonely figurehead in a
constitutional monarchy. Life had dealt Ludwig blow after blow
and it was these events that were the root of his seclusion and
alleged ?madness?. With his world falling apart around him King
Ludwig II withdrew from it into a world of his own making.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about King George III.
In my next article will learn about the life of Queen Mary I of
England or as se was nicknamed "Bloody Mary" Unitl then,
Best wishes and have a great day
Stuart Bazga
Guide to Castles of Europe
About the author:
A
Guide to Castles of Europe was born from childhood dreams
and aspirations. It is my hope to educate and stimulate you into
exploring these castles for yourselves.
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