A hundred twenty-five years ago, Bavaria's "Maerchenkoenig" (or
"Fairy-tale King") Ludwig II died under very mysterious circumstances at
the age of 40, his body found floating in Lake Starnberg, south of
Munich. Today, Ludwig remains famous for the castles he built and
attempted to build, most notably Neuschwanstein Castle, perched high in
the Alpine foothills. The king was a romantic, a friend and suporter of
composer Richard Wagner, and he hired theatrical set designers rather
than architects to design his castles. More absorbed in his personal
world than state affairs, Ludwig spent most of his time on his own
projects -- emptying his personal coffers -- and left his ministers
frustrated by his inattention. When his cabinet accused him of insanity,
he was placed in custody after a brief showdown at Neuschwanstein
Castle, and was taken to a castle next to Lake Starnberg. The following
day, while out for a walk, Ludwig disappeared, his lifeless body
discovered hours later. The death was declared a suicide, but many have
rejected that ruling, and the demise of this popular king remains a
mystery to this day. [30 photos]
Neuschwanstein Castle, perched on a rugged hill in front of the Alpine
foothills near Füssen, in southwest Bavaria, Germany, viewed on July 31,
2007. Neuschwanstein was commissioned by Bavaria's King Ludwig II and
designed by Christian Jank, a stage designer from Munich. Construction
began in 1869, but it was only partially completed, with 185 interior
rooms of a planned 200 left unfinished. (AP Photo/Christof Stache, File)
Photographer Joseph Albert, posing with his equipment in front of
Hohenschwangau Castle, near the present site of Neuschwanstein Castle,
around 1857. At this time, Ludwig was a 12-year-old Crown Prince, living
with his family, headed by his father, King Maximilian II. Ludwig spent
much of his youth in living in Hohenschwangau, exploring the
surrounding lakes and Alpine foothills. (Joseph Albert) #
The hill that would hold up Neuschwanstein Castle, seen around 1860.
The ruins of two medieval-era castles, Vorderhohenschwangau and
Hinterhohenschwangau are visible among the trees. Shortly after he came
to power in 1864, Ludwig II made plans to build a new, grand castle in
this location, replacing the smaller. older ruins. (Joseph Albert) #
Scaffolding surrounds the walls of Neuschwanstein Castle as it is being
constructed, seen about 1875. In 1868, Ludwig had written to his friend
and inspiration, composer Richard Wagner: "It is my intention to
rebuild the old castle ruin of Hohenschwangau near the Pöllat Gorge in
the authentic style of the old German knights' castles, and I must
confess to you that I am looking forward very much to living there one
day." (Joseph Albert) #
An aerial view of Neuschwanstein Castle, near Füssen, Bavaria, seen on
July 1, 2007. The castle was completed in 1886, and was opened to the
public only seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II. Ludwig
himself was only able to live in the castle for a total of 172 days. (Joerg Koch/AFP/Getty Images) #
Ludwig II and his fiance, Duchess Sophie in Bavaria in 1867. Though the
two were engaged throughout most of 1867, Ludwig later canceled the
engagement, and never married. Studies of his diaries suggest the King, a
devout Roman Catholic, struggled with his sexual orientation throughout
his adult life. (Joseph Albert) #
Linderhof Castle, near Oberammergau in southwest Bavaria, viewed in a
photochrom print (color photo lithograph) dated around 1900. Linderhof
was the smallest of Ludwig's castles, and the only one which he lived to
see completed, in 1876, though some work continued there until his
death in 1886. (Library of Congress / Detroit Photographic Company) #
An aerial view of Herrenchiemsee Castle, built on an island in the
middle of Bavaria's largest lake, the Chiemsee. Ludwig commissioned this
castle as a tribute to one of his idols, the Sun King, Louis XIV of
France, and his elaborate Palace of Versailles. Herrenchiemsee Castle
was only partially completed, and Ludwig was only able to spend a few
days there in September of 1885. (Hansueli Krapf/CC BY SA) #
Neuschwanstein Castle is now a world-famous tourist attraction.
Criticized by many as wasteful and extravagant at the time of their
construction (despite the King using his own money, not state funds),
Ludwig's castles have paid for themselves many times over in the years
since his death. Photo taken on May 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) #
Castle Berg, on Lake Starnberg, in a photograph taken in 1886, the year
Ludwig II died -- his body found floating in Lake Starnberg. Ludwig had
been accused of insanity by his cabinet of ministers, was arrested at
Neuschwanstein Castle on June 12, 1886, and transported here, to Castle
Berg. On June 13, 1886, around 6:00 pm, Ludwig and a psychiatrist named
Dr. Bernhard von Gudden left the castle for a walk around Lake Starnberg
-- that was the last time anyone saw either man alive. Both of their
bodies were found late that night, Ludwig was floating face-down in
waist-deep water. Ludwig's mysterious death was officially ruled a
suicide, but theories have existed since that day that the death was an
assassination. (Joseph Albert) #
Members of the "Guglmaenner" secret society transport a crucifix to the
site where Bavarian King Ludwig II died, on June 6, 2006 in a boat on
Lake Starnberg. The "Guglmaenner", who annually commemorate the king's
death, are of the opinion that Ludwig II was killed for political
reasons. (Johannes Simon/AFP/Getty Images) #
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.