Ludwig II of Bavaria

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Ludwig II of Bavaria
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Introduction

• This presentation will discuss briefly
• Ludwigs life
• His famous castles
• The association with Wagner
• Ludwigs mysterious death
• His place in history

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Ludwigs Life

• Childhood
• Fathers death
• The young king
• The castle builder
• His final days

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Childhood

• Isolated and lonely
• Disinterested parents
• His imagination ruled his life
• Otto, his brother

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Fathers Death

• Ludwigs father died when he was only nineteen.
  He was not prepared to become the king.

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The Young King

• Ludwig knew little about politics or ruling a
  nation. When he found royal duties unpleasant or
  incomprehensible he retreated to the Bavarian
  countryside.

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The Castle Builder

• Ludwig dealt with the burden of governing
  Bavaria, in part, by building castles
  Linderhof, Neuschwanstein, and Herrenchiemsee.

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His Final Days

• Depression
• Arrest
• Death

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Ludwigs Castles
Linderhof Ettal 1870-1878, Rococo
Neuschwanstein Fuessen 1869-1886, Romanesque
Herrenchiemsee Chiemsee Lake 1878-1886, Replica of Versailles
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The Wagner Association

• Ludwig admired Richard Wagner and his music. He
  supported him financially until his advisers and
  public opinion forced him to withdraw that
  support.

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Ludwigs Mysterious Death

• Although the events leading up to his death are
  documented, his actual death by drowning will
  forever remain a mystery.

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Ludwigs Place in History

• Ludwig as a king and a man was an individual born
  after his time. His castles are his legacy.

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References

• http//www.german-way.com/german/ludwig.html
• http//www.germanworld.com/ludw.htm
• http//www.neuschwanstein.com/english/castle/ludwi
  g/
• http//www.koenig-ludwig.org/english/poppeler_repo
  rt.php