June 16th, 2017

Neuschwanstein Castle, in Southern Germany, is a sight fit for a fairy tale. Indeed, it allegedly inspired the Disney Castle. On the other hand, the story of the man behind the castle was anything but a fairy tale. Born in 1845, Ludwig II ascended to the throne at 18, upon the death of his father. He was well liked at first, though eyebrows began to be raised when he was still unmarried into his mid 20s. It is now know that Ludwig was likely a homosexual, a quality that caused him much personal torment. Ludwig hoped that he would have a heir though his younger brother Otto, yet these aspirations were dashed when Otto suffered a mental breakdown after the Franco-Prussian war. Eventually Otto's condition was so poor that he was considered insane, and had to be held in isolation (though his older brother would visit him some nights). As time passed, Ludwig become increasingly eccentric, and soon began commissioning huge construction projects. These included Neuschwanstein, Linderhoff, and a small-scale replica of the French Château de Versailles built on an island (Herrenchiemsee, which was never completed). Although he never took state funds, these projects personally bankrupted him, and he was forced to seek large loans from around Europe, refusing anyone who implored him to stop. On the evening of June 1886, while walking near Berg Castle, Ludwig was killed under mysterious circumstances, and his body found floating in a nearby lake. The cause of death was listed as drowning, and although an assassination seems very likely, the culprit or culprits were never caught. Ludwig's castles were seen as absurd excess at the time, but now they have paid for themselves many times over, drawing huge amounts of tourist money each year, especially Neuschwanstein. Ludwig once said ``I wish to remain an eternal enigma to myself and to others''. In that, he has likely succeeded. 

Bonus 1:

In his lifetime, Ludwig had a huge fascination with composer Richard Wagner. He funded his projects, attended his operas, and assured his acclaim. Wagner's name would not be as revered as it is today had it not been for Ludwig.

Bonus 2:

After his death, Ludwig was hypothetically succeeded by his brother Otto, who was still alive. However, Ludwig's uncle Luitpold acted as Regent, and was eventually succeeded by his son Ludwig III. The Bavarian Monarchy ended in 1918, with the First World War, as did many others in the coming decades. The past century have seen the number of European Monarchies go from 21 to 11.

-E