The Project Gutenberg eBook of Ludwig the Second, King of Bavaria

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Title: Ludwig the Second, King of Bavaria

Author: Clara Tschudi

Translator: Ethel Harriet Hearn

Release date: March 24, 2015 [eBook #48578]
Most recently updated: October 24, 2024

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project
Gutenberg (This book was produced from scanned images of
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LUDWIG THE SECOND, KING OF BAVARIA ***

LUDWIG THE SECOND

KING OF BAVARIA

Ludwig II.

LUDWIG THE SECOND
KING OF BAVARIA
BY
CLARA TSCHUDI
AUTHOR OF “MARIE ANTOINETTE,” “EUGÉNIE, EMPRESS OF THE FRENCH,” “MARIA SOPHIA, QUEEN OF NAPLES,” ETC. ETC.
TRANSLATED FROM THE NORWEGIAN
BY
ETHEL HARRIET HEARN

“Certains caractères échappent à l’analyse logique.”

George Sand.

WITH COLOURED PORTRAIT
London
SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO. LIM.
NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO.
1908

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. Descent and Education 1
II. Fundamental Traits of Ludwig’s Character 11
III. “Le Roi est mort! Vive le Roi!” 17
IV. A Plan of Marriage 22
V. King Ludwig and Richard Wagner 25
VI. Ludwig’s First Visit to Switzerland—Richard Wagner leaves Munich 40
VII. The Political Situation—The Schleswig-Holstein Question—The War of 1866 53
VIII. The King makes the Tour of his Kingdom 58
IX. Ludwig’s Betrothal 63
X. The King goes to Paris—Disharmonies between the Engaged Couple—Ludwig meets the Emperor Napoleon and the Empress Eugénie in Augsburg—The King breaks his Promise of Marriage 75
XI. After the Parting with Sophie—Episodes from the King’s Excursions in the Highlands 81
XII. The Empress of Russia visits Bavaria—The Duchess Sophie’s Engagement and Marriage—An Unexpected Meeting with the Duchesse d’Alençon—A Last Attempt to forge the Links of Hymen around Ludwig 86
XIII. Ludwig and the Artistes of the Stage—Josephine Schefzky 92
XIV. Prince Hohenlohe—Political Frictions 99
XV. A Meeting between Bismarck and Ludwig 108
XVI. Outbreak of the War with France 111
XVII. During the War—The German Empire is Proclaimed 118
XVIII. The Bavarian Troops Return to Munich—King Ludwig and the Crown Prince of Germany 131
XIX. A Visit from the Emperor Wilhelm—Ludwig Withdraws more and more from the World 138
XX. Prince Otto’s Insanity—The King’s Morbid Sensations 145
XXI. The Review of the Troops in 1875—Crown Prince Friedrich of Prussia 151
XXII. King Ludwig and the Empress Elizabeth 158
XXIII. King Ludwig and Queen Marie 164
XXIV. State and Church—Ignaz von Döllinger—Ludwig’s Letters to his old Tutor 168
XXV. Ludwig II. in Daily Life 175
XXVI. Ludwig and Richard Wagner—The King’s Visit to Bayreuth 180
XXVII. King Ludwig and the Artists of the Stage and Canvas 187
XXVIII. Private Performances at the Hof Theater at Munich 193
XXIX. King Ludwig and his Palaces 197
XXX. King Ludwig’s Friendships 204
XXXI. The Actor Kainz 209
XXXII. A Journey to Switzerland 214
XXXIII. King Ludwig and his Servants 221
XXXIV. The Mad King 225
XXXV. The Last Meeting between Mother and Son 230
XXXVI. Pecuniary Distress 234
XXXVII. Plots 239
XXXVIII. Preparations to Imprison the King—The Peasantry Assemble to his Rescue 244
XXXIX. A Friend in Need—Ludwig’s Proclamation 250
XL. The King’s Last Hours at Neuschwanstein 257
XLI. Schloss Berg—The King’s Death 265
XLII. Conclusion 272