Chapter I: Front Matter

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

LUDWIG THE SECOND KING OF BAVARIA