Ludwig II, King of Bavaria

King of Bavaria Ludwig II
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natal chart English style (Equal houses)
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Name	Ludwig II, King of Bavaria Gender: M
Birthname	Ludwig Otto Friedrich Wilhelm
born on	24 August 1845 at 23:35 (= 11:35 PM )
Place	Munich, Germany, 48n08, 11e34
Timezone	LMT m11e34 (is local mean time)
Data source	Quoted BC/BR Rodden Rating AA Collector: Blackwell
Astrology data	01°33' 03°34 Asc. 26°03'

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King of Bavaria Ludwig II

Biography

German royalty, the King of Bavaria at the age of 19, known as Mad Ludwig. A genius in architecture, he built the famous dream castles that are among the most frequently visited spots in Europe by tourists to this day.

Ludwig was born in Nymphenburg Palace and was the elder son of Maximilian II of Bavaria and his wife Princess Marie of Prussia. Ludwig and his younger brother Otto were raised in an unusual way. The brothers spent most of their childhood with servants and teachers at Hohenschwangau Castle. Their parents were distant and formal, and were at such a loss about what to say to Otto and Ludwig that they often ignored and even avoided them. Their mother decided what the brothers wore: she ordered that Ludwig should always be dressed in blue while Otto should always wear red. Their father was strict with the brothers, particularly Ludwig, the heir to the throne. Between 1853 and 1863, the brothers spent their summer holidays at the Royal Villa in Berchtesgaden, which had been specially built for their father. He loved Wagner from age 13 and became so involved with the characters of Wagner's tragic-romantic opera's, that he put on elaborate productions, and painted Wagnerian scenes as murals in his castle.

After the unexpected death of his father after a three-day illness in 1864, Ludwig was crowned and had to deal with the emerging position of Bavaria. Although he was not prepared for high office, his youth and brooding good looks made him popular in Bavaria and elsewhere. He continued the state policies of his father and retained his ministers. In 1871, after a victorious war against France, his state was absorbed into the new Germany of Bismarck and Ludwig became a figurehead.

Ludwig never married, though he had been engaged with the to Duchess Sophie Charlotte in Bavaria ((23 February 1847 – 4 May 1897)). It is known from his diary (begun in the 1860s), private letters, and other surviving personal documents, that he had strong homosexual desires. He struggled all his life to suppress his sexual desires and remain true to his Roman Catholic faith. While homosexuality had not been punishable in Bavaria since 1813, the Unification of Germany in 1871 under Prussian hegemony changed this.

Otto and Ludwig were often seen together during the early years of Ludwig's reign but they became estranged over time. Ludwig was shy and introverted and eventually became a recluse while Otto was cheerful, outgoing and extroverted until the Franco-Prussian War (19 July 1870 – 10 May 1871). After having been a decorated officer soldier in war, his "red" brother Otto suffered from melancholia, got psychotic spells and had to be institutionalised.

Ludwig's actual interest in state affairs was minimal; he claimed he got only headaches from it. The king enjoyed travelling in the Bavarian countryside and chatting with farmers and labourers he met along the way. He also delighted in rewarding those who were hospitable to him during his travels with lavish gifts. But he disliked large public functions and avoided formal social events whenever possible, preferring a life of seclusion that he pursued with various creative projects. Between 1872 and 1885, the King had 209 private performances (Separatvorstellungen) given for himself alone or with a guest, in the two court theaters, comprising 44 operas (28 by Wagner, including eight of Parsifal), 11 ballets, and 154 plays (the principal theme being Bourbon France) at a cost of 97,300 marks. But he last inspected a military parade on 22 August 1875 and gave his last Court banquet on 10 February 1876.

His mother had foreseen difficulties for Ludwig when she recorded her concern for her extremely introverted and creative son who spent much time day-dreaming.

He had no interest in women but had discreet liaisons with his equerry, actors, and perhaps a few military officers. An increasingly solitary figure, he kept a nocturnal schedule, attending musicals and designing castles.

In February 1868, Ludwig's grandfather Ludwig I died, freeing the considerable sums that were previously spent on the abdicated king's appanage. This allowed Ludwig II to start the architectural project of building a private refuge in the familiar landscape far from the capital Munich, so that he could live out his idea of the Middle Ages. In a Letter to Richard Wagner, he wrote May 1868: "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 [...]; you know the revered guest I would like to accommodate there; the location is one of the most beautiful to be found, holy and unapproachable, a worthy temple for the divine friend who has brought salvation and true blessing to the world. It will also remind you of "Tannhäuser" (Singers' Hall with a view of the castle in the background), "Lohengrin'" (castle courtyard, open corridor, path to the chapel) ...". The fabulously beautiful Neuschwanstein was begun in 1869 and was never finished. About 15 miles east, he built Linderhof.

By 1886, Ludwig's extravagance had left the treasury severely in debt and his ministers and cabinet conspired to have him deposed. A lengthy report declared him insane and he was taken in custody at Neuschwanstein. On 13 June 1886, during a stroll around Berg Castle escorted by two attendants, his psychiatrist Dr. Bernhard von Gudden (7 June 1824, Kleve), tried to explain his diagnosis and treatment to Ludwig. Later that day, Ludwig and Dr. Von Gudden went for private walk from which neither ever returned. Their bodies were later found floating in the lake. Leaving the question open of whether it was murder, accident or suicide, his watch had stopped at 6:45 PM, Lake Starnberg near Berg Castle.

Ludwig's diaries were destroyed during WW II.

Link to Wikipedia biography

Relationships

• other associate with von Gudden, Bernhard (born 7 June 1824). Notes: his not chosen psychiatrist

• child->parent relationship with Marie, Queen Consort of Bavaria (born 15 October 1825)

• child->parent relationship with Maximilian II, King of Bavaria (born 28 November 1811)

• sibling relationship with Otto, King of Bavaria (born 27 April 1848)

• (has as) protégé relationship with Wagner, Richard (born 22 May 1813). Notes: devoted patron

• homicide victim relationship with von Gudden, Bernhard (born 7 June 1824)

Events

• Other Family 27 April 1848 at 10:30 AM in München (Brother Otto of Bavaria born)
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• Death of Father 10 March 1864 at 11:45 AM in München (after an illness of seven days)
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• Relationship : Meet a significant person 4 May 1864 Jul.Cal. (16 May 1864 greg.) in München (Wagner had an audience with Ludwig in the Royal Palace in Munich)
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• Other Misc. 10 June 1865 in München (Tristan und Isolde)
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• Relationship : End significant relationship December 1865 (had to break with Wagner, but provided a residence for Wagner in Switzerland)
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• Other Relationship 22 January 1867 (Engaged to Duchess Sophie Charlotte in Bavaria, shared their adoration for Wagner, never married.)
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• Relationship : End significant relationship October 1867 (Cancelled engaged to Duchess Sophie Charlotte in Bavaria)
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• Death of Significant person 29 February 1868 in Nice (Ludwig I of Bavaria)
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• Work : Begin Major Project 5 September 1869 (Neuschwanstein Castle)
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• Other Social January 1872 (His brother Otto was declared mentally ill, maybe neurosyphilis)
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• Social : End a program of study 22 August 1875 (Last military parade he visited)
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• Social : End a program of study 10 February 1876 (Last court banquet)
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• Crime : Arrest 10 June 1886 at 04:00 AM in Neuschwanstein Schloss
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• Other Social 10 June 1886 in München (Ludwig II was declared unable to rule)
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• Death, Mysterious 13 June 1886 at 6:45 PM (Drowned, age 40)
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• Crime : Homicide Perpetration 13 June 1886 in Berg (killed his psychiatrist Dr. Bernhard von Gudden)
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• Family trauma 13 June 1886 in München (Brother Otto became king, but never ruled because of mental ilnness)
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Source Notes

Arthur Blackwell quotes the official announcement given in AA 2/1956, 8/25/1845, 00:25 AM LMT.

Dana Holliday quotes Wilfred Blunt, "The Dream King," Penguin Books, 1973, p.11, for 00:30 AM "recorded in his mother's journal."

Sy Scholfield, April 2002, quotes a website [1]: "Even though Ludwig's official birthday is still April 25, we now know that Ludwig II was actually born on April 24, 1845, approximately a half hour before midnight. Why the discrepancy? It was a family conspiracy to honor the devout wishes of Ludwig's grandfather, Ludwig I, to have his grandson born on the same day that he was. Since Ludwig I was present in the palace at the time of his grandson's birth, it was decided to delay the announcement of the royal child's arrival for an hour, and to enter August 25, 12:28 a.m. as the official date and time of birth. To this day, that is still what the official church documents state."

In May 2004, Renate Thiermann sent PT a rectification based on events of his life and his character. She rectifies the chart to the 25th of August 1845 at 12:38 PM. Her paper is on file.

Link update: http://www.german-way.com/notable-people/featured-bios/king-ludwig-ii/

Categories

• Traits : Personality : Private (Reclusive)

• Traits : Personality : Solitary/ Introvert

• Diagnoses : Psychological : Other Psychological (schizo-typal personailty)

• Family : Childhood : Family distant

• Family : Childhood : Family noted

• Family : Childhood : Sibling circumstances (Queen-Mother ordered that Ludwig should always be dressed in blue while brother Otto should always wear red.)

• Family : Relationship : Married late/never (Never)

• Lifestyle : Social Life : Hobbies, games (Loved music, opera)

• Lifestyle : Social Life : Other Social Life (preffered a to realise his dreams instead of the daily social affairs)

• Passions : Sexuality : Gay (Discreet affairs)

• Personal : Death : Unusual (Drowned mysteriously)

• Vocation : Building Trades : Architect/ Planner (Genius in architecture)

• Notable : Famous : Royal family (Germany)