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1. This king was crazy for castles

• Family background:
  • Wittelsbach Royal Family:
    1. Ludwig’s family consisted of:
       • parents: King Maximilian II (1811 to 1864)
             Queen Marie of Prussia (1825 to 1889)
       • brother: Otto I (1848 to 1916)
       • grandfather: Ludwig I (1786 to 1868).
    2. Ludwig was born in the royal family Nymphenburg Castle in Munich.
  • Personal facts: born—25 August 1845 and died—13 June 1886
    1. Ludwig was born under the star sign Jungfrau (Virgo).
    2. Ludwig practiced the Catholic religion.
    3. People gave him nicknames, but loved him and still is their favorite king: "Grail King" / "fairy-tale king" / "castle Builder" / "Mad King of Bavaria."
    4. Ludwig reigned as King of Bavaria from 1864 to 1886.
    5. The total amount of money spent on his 3 castles was roughly 31,221,458 Marks.
    6. Ludwig only lived 130 days at Neuschwanstein Castle.
  • Time Table of Ludwig’s life: 1845 to 1886
• Ludwig the person
  • Childhood and youth:
    1. Most of his upbringing was spent at Hohenschwangau Castle.
       • Since he spent a major part of his youth at the castle, he developed a dislike for royal and political life.
       • This period of time had a great effect upon his personal life, his love for the outdoors, and his passion for ancient Germanic legends.
    2. Introduction to Richard Wagner’s music and opera, "Lohengrin"
  • What kind of person was Ludwig?
    1. Characteristics and traits
    2. Personality
       • Beliefs
       • Interests
       • Likes and dislikes
  • Major people who influenced his life
    1. parents: King Maximilian 2 of Bavaria and Queen Marie of Prussia
    2. Louis XIV of France (1638 to 1715)
    3. Chancellor Otto von Bismarck of Prussia in 1863
    4. composer Richard Wagner from 1864 to 1865
    5. fiancée Princess Sophie, Duchess of Bavaria and sister of Austrian Empress Elizabeth, also his cousin, from January 22 to October 10, 1867
  • Ludwig's lifestyle and habits
    1. Musical relationship with composer Richard Wagner and promoted his works from 1864 to 1865
    2. Role of women in Ludwig’s life
    3. Ludwig’s closet
    4. Ludwig’s withdrawal from life as a king and becoming a recluse
• Events during his life:
  • Ludwig became king at age of 19 on March 10, 1864.
    1. Relationship with Prussia
    2. Struggle for power between Prussia, Bavaria, and Austria
    3. Austro-Prussian War or Seven Weeks’ War (1866)
    4. Franco-Prussian War (1870 to 1871)
  • Conspiracy, intrigue, set-up, and deposition
    1. Ludwig’s last days
    2. Ludwig’s death and aftermath