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Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Kingdom of Bavaria: The House of Wittelsbach ruled as Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. Today Bavaria is a landlocked federal state of Germany, occupying its southeastern corner.  Maximilian IV Joseph, Prince-Elector of Bavaria allied his electorate with Napoleon and adopted many of the French beliefs of the Enlightenment. It was this loyal service to Napoleon through which Maximilian’s electorate was created the Kingdom of Bavaria with Maximilian at its king. He officially became the Maximilian I Joseph, the first King of Bavaria on January 1, 1806. On November 13, 1918, King Ludwig III would be the first monarch in the German Empire to be deposed at the end of World War I, bringing an end to 738 years of rule by the Wittelsbach dynasty.

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Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria; source: Wikipedia

Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria

Prince Luitpold of Bavaria served as Prince Regent from 1886 until his death in 1912. He was born Prince Luitpold Karl Joseph Wilhelm Ludwig on March 12, 1821, at the Wurzburg Residence, a palace in Würzburg, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany, the third son of King Ludwig I of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. He had eight siblings:

At 14 years old, Luitpold joined the Bavarian Army and was soon promoted to Captain of the Artillery. He would later attain the ranks of Major General and Field Marshal. He traveled extensively abroad, and it was on one of these trips that he met his future wife, Archduchess Auguste Ferdinande of Austria. She was the daughter of Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Princess Maria Anna of Savoy. Luitpold and Auguste married on April 1, 1844, in Florence, and went on to have four children:

Archduchess Auguste of Austria, c1850. source: Wikipedia

In 1848, his father abdicated and his eldest brother took the throne as Maximilian II. During his brother’s reign, Luitpold did not play any significant role, focusing more on his military career. By this time, his second brother, Otto, had been serving as King of Greece since 1832, and as Otto had no children, Luitpold was considered to be his heir-presumptive. The Greek Constitution required that the heir be a member of the Orthodox church, and for some time, Luitpold considered converting from Catholicism.

In 1864, Maximilian II died and was succeeded by his elder son, King Ludwig II. During the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, Luitpold commanded the 3rd Royal Bavarian Division, and later became Inspector General of the Bavarian Army. He represented Bavaria in the German General Staff during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871.

During Ludwig’s reign, and particularly after the Franco-Prussian War, Luitpold began to take a more prominent role in the monarchy. King Ludwig II was often out of the capital for long periods and became increasingly averse to formal ceremonies and events. The King’s younger brother, the future King Otto, who had served during the war, began to show signs of mental illness and became increasingly unwell. By the mid-1880s, there were many questions about the mental health of King Ludwig II himself. A group of ministers began working to depose Ludwig and asked Luitpold to assume a Regency. Luitpold agreed, on the condition that there was irrefutable proof of his nephew’s incapacity.

On June 10, 1886, Luitpold became Prince Regent after King Ludwig II was declared mentally incompetent. Ludwig II died three days later under mysterious circumstances, and the throne passed to Ludwig’s brother, Otto. However, by this time, Otto had also been declared mentally ill, and Luitpold continued as Prince Regent.

Like many others in his family, Luitpold was a great supporter of the arts and culture in Bavaria. During his tenure – and the liberal government – Munich continued to grow into one of the leading cultural cities in Europe. Shortly after assuming the Regency, he opened several of King Ludwig II’s palaces to the public, and in 1891, he established the Luitpold Gymnasium in Munich.

The Prince Regent, 1911. source: Wikipedia

At 91 years old, Luitpold died in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany on December 12, 1912, after having developed bronchitis. He is buried in the crypt of the Theatinerkirche in Munich. He was succeeded as Regent by his eldest son, who became King Ludwig III the following year, after deposing King Otto.

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Bavaria Resources at Unofficial Royalty

King Otto of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Kingdom of Bavaria: The House of Wittelsbach ruled as Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. Today Bavaria is a landlocked federal state of Germany, occupying its southeastern corner.  Maximilian IV Joseph, Prince-Elector of Bavaria allied his electorate with Napoleon and adopted many of the French beliefs of the Enlightenment. It was this loyal service to Napoleon through which Maximilian’s electorate was created the Kingdom of Bavaria with Maximilian at its king. He officially became the Maximilian I Joseph, the first King of Bavaria on January 1, 1806. On November 13, 1918, King Ludwig III would be the first monarch in the German Empire to be deposed at the end of World War I, bringing an end to 738 years of rule by the Wittelsbach dynasty.

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King Otto of Bavaria – source: Wikipedia

King Otto of Bavaria (Otto Wilhelm Luitpold Adalbert Waldemar) was the younger son of King Maximilian II of Bavaria and Princess Marie of Prussia. He was born two months prematurely on April 27, 1848, at the Munich Residenz, in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria, and was named after his uncle King Otto of Greece.

Otto had one older sibling:

Otto (right) with his parents and brother. source: Wikipedia

Otto and his brother were raised primarily at Hohenschwangau Castle by nannies and servants. They had minimal interaction with their parents, who they came to dislike. Their father was brutally strict, especially with Ludwig, as he was heir to the throne.

In 1863, Otto began serving with the Bavarian army, reaching the rank of Lieutenant the following year. By 1866, he had been promoted to Captain and entered active service with the Royal Bavarian Infantry Guards. He fought in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and later served as Colonel in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. By this time, he was also the heir-presumptive to the Bavarian throne, as his brother had become King Ludwig II following their father’s death in March 1864.

In 1871, Otto and his uncle Prince Luitpold represented his brother at the proclamation of  King Wilhelm I of Prussia as the first German Emperor at the Palace of Versailles in France. Despite his attendance, Otto and his brother King Ludwig II did not support the establishment of the German Empire and Prussia’s prominence. These views, often publicly expressed, were well known to the Prussians and the newly established German court.

Otto, c1875. source: Wikipedia

Otto first began showing signs of mental illness, suffering from anxiety and depression, after serving in the Franco-Prussian War. His illness quickly worsened, worrying the court and his brother King Ludwig II who was expecting Otto to marry and provide an heir to the Bavarian throne. Otto was placed under medical supervision and reports of his condition were passed to the German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck by spies within the Bavarian court. By 1872, his doctors were reporting that he was mentally ill, and the following year he was moved to isolation in the southern pavilion of Nymphenburg Palace.

Dr. Bernhard von Gudden. source: Wikipedia

Otto’s physician was Dr. Bernhard von Gudden. There is much debate about von Gudden’s actions in treating Otto and his brother King Ludwig II. Dr. von Gudden would later also diagnose Ludwig as mentally ill despite never examining him or treating him. This led to Ludwig being deposed in 1913 and dying mysteriously just days later. Many speculate that the doctor’s actions were politically motivated. Unlike Otto and Ludwig, von Gudden and Otto and Ludwig’s uncle Prince Luitpold supported the establishment of the German Empire and Prussia’s dominance. Some historians suggest that it was German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck pulling the strings, wanting to remove Ludwig and Otto from power, and replacing him with Luitpold who was more easily controlled.

Whatever the reasons, Otto was more or less removed from the public eye. In 1875, he made a very public appearance at a mass in the Frauenkirche in Munich, causing a scene before being removed. Otto was then moved to Schleissheim Palace against his will. He made his last public appearance later that year, in August 1875 at the King’s Parade. His condition continued to deteriorate and in 1883 he was moved for the last time, taking up residence at Fürstenried Palace specially converted to provide for his confinement. Here, Otto was often visited by his brother King Ludwig II who insisted that Otto should be treated well and that no harm should come to him.

Within a few years, King Ludwig II was also declared mentally ill by Dr. von Gudden, and their uncle Luitpold was appointed Prince Regent. Just days later, on June 13, 1886, Ludwig and von Gudden both died under mysterious circumstances, and Otto formally became King. However, because of his incapacity, Otto probably never understood that he had become king, and the regency remained in place under Prince Luitpold.

Fürstenried Palace, By Rufus46 – Own work, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1155929

Otto remained in isolation at Fürstenried Palace for the rest of his life. When Prince Luitpold died in 1912, his son Prince Ludwig became Regent. The following year, Ludwig amended the Bavarian constitution to allow for King Otto to be formally deposed. On November 5, 1913, King Otto was formally deposed and replaced by his cousin who took the throne as King Ludwig III.

King Otto died unexpectedly three years later, on October 11, 1916, aged 68, at Fürstenried Palace, as the result of a bowel obstruction. He was buried in the crypt at the Michaelskirche in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria, and his heart was entombed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting.

Coffin of King Otto of Bavaria. photo © Susan Flantzer

The coffin of King Otto of Bavaria. photo © Susan Flantzer

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King Ludwig II of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Kingdom of Bavaria: The House of Wittelsbach ruled as Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. Today Bavaria is a landlocked federal state of Germany, occupying its southeastern corner.  Maximilian IV Joseph, Prince-Elector of Bavaria allied his electorate with Napoleon and adopted many of the French beliefs of the Enlightenment. It was this loyal service to Napoleon through which Maximilian’s electorate was created the Kingdom of Bavaria with Maximilian at its king. He officially became the Maximilian I Joseph, the first King of Bavaria on January 1, 1806. On November 13, 1918, King Ludwig III would be the first monarch in the German Empire to be deposed at the end of World War I, bringing an end to 738 years of rule by the Wittelsbach dynasty.

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King Ludwig II of Bavaria; Credit – Wikipedia

King Ludwig II of Bavaria (Ludwig Otto Friedrich Wilhelm) was born on August 15, 1845, at Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria. He was the elder of two sons of King Maximilian II of Bavaria and Princess Marie of Prussia. He was named after his grandfather, the reigning King Ludwig I of Bavaria as the two shared a birthday, which was also the feast day of Saint Louis IX of France, the patron saint of Bavaria.

Ludwig had one younger brother who succeeded him:

Ludwig was raised primarily at Hohenschwangau Castle in Hohenschwangau in southwestern Bavaria by servants and tutors. His education was very strict, and he showed an early interest in art and literature. Neither Ludwig nor his brother were very close with their parents and were much closer to their grandfather King Ludwig I. At an early age, Ludwig developed a close friendship with Prince Paul of Thurn und Taxis who served as his aide de camp, as well as with his first cousin once removed Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria (the future Empress Elisabeth of Austria), with whom he would remain very close for his entire life.

Ludwig and his fiancée, 1867. source: Wikipedia

King Ludwig never married, but in January 1867, he became engaged to his first cousin once removed Duchess Sophie Charlotte in Bavaria. Sophie was the younger sister of Ludwig’s close friend Duchess Elisabeth. After postponing the marriage several times, Ludwig eventually broke the engagement in October of the same year. Most historians believe that Ludwig was actually gay, although he struggled to suppress his desires due to his strong Catholic faith.

Ludwig was just 18 years old when he became King of Bavaria upon his father’s death on March 10, 1864. He continued with his father’s policies and retained his ministers, but his interests were not in ruling the country. His interests lay almost solely in the arts. Soon after becoming King, he established a new Court Theater (now the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz) and began a lifelong project of constructing numerous palaces and castles. He strongly disliked public functions and formal social events, and by 1876 had largely withdrawn from public life. Despite this, and the tension it caused among his ministers, Ludwig remained very popular with the Bavarian people.

His reign saw Bavaria’s defeat in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, having sided with Austria. After the war, Bavaria was forced to enter into a mutual defense treaty with Prussia. Four years later, the country was forced to side with Prussia in the Franco-Prussian War. In late 1870, Bavaria joined the North German Confederation, losing its status as an independent Kingdom, but retaining a much more privileged status than many other constituent states.

In December 1870, King Ludwig was coerced into endorsing the creation of the new German Empire. Despite his endorsement, Ludwig was strongly opposed to the creation of the German Empire and refused to attend the proclamation ceremony held at the Palace of Versailles. In his place, he sent his brother Otto and his uncle Luitpold.

Richard Wagner, 1871. source: Wikipedia

By 1871, Ludwig spent most of his time pursuing his interests in the arts, music, and architecture. At a very young age, he first saw an opera by famed composer Richard Wagner and became enthralled with his work. Shortly after becoming King, he summoned Wagner to court and became his primary patron. Many credit King Ludwig’s support for establishing Wagner’s career and legacy. When Wagner was forced to leave Munich in 1865, the King considered abdicating to follow him into exile, but Wagner insisted that he remain. Ludwig provided Wagner with a home in Switzerland and continued to support him from afar. Eventually, Wagner returned and the relationship between the two continued. Along with Wagner, King Ludwig supported many other artists and saw over 200 private performances of plays ballets, and operas in the court theaters.

Besides his interest in the arts, King Ludwig is probably best known for his love of architecture. Using his personal funds, he built several magnificent palaces and castles, the most famous being Neuschwanstein Castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle, c1900. source: Wikipedia

Neuschwanstein Castle was built near Hohenschwangau Castle where Ludwig spent much of his youth and was dedicated as a tribute to Richard Wagner. The cornerstone was laid in 1869 and construction went on for many years. It was not until 1884 that King Ludwig was able to take up residence in the still unfinished castle.  Other projects included Linderhof Palace, Herrenchiemsee, and the royal apartment at the Munich Residenz.

By 1885, Ludwig was millions of marks in debt due to his spending on his castles and palaces and had all but withdrawn from his duties as King of Bavaria. Several of his government ministers began trying to find grounds to depose him, believing him to be mentally ill. Ludwig’s uncle Luitpold agreed to become Regent, provided the ministers could reliably prove that Ludwig was unfit to rule. In early 1886, a medical report was drawn up, listing a string of bizarre behavior, Ludwig’s unwillingness to deal with state business, and many other supposed examples of his mental instability. In June 1886, the report was completed and signed by several psychiatrists including Dr. Bernhard von Gudden, the chief of the Munich Asylum. None had met Ludwig except von Gudden,  who met him one time, nearly twelve years earlier.

King Ludwig, c1882. source: Wikipedia

On the morning of June 10, 1886, Dr. von Gudden and several others arrived at Neuschwanstein to present Ludwig with a document of deposition. Ludwig had been made aware of the situation by a servant and ordered the castle to be surrounded by the local police. That same day, Ludwig’s uncle Luitpold was proclaimed Prince Regent. The commission returned again on the morning of June 12, and Ludwig was taken to Berg Castle on Lake Starnberg in Berg, Bavaria.

The following day, June 13, 1886, Ludwig went for a walk on the grounds of Berg Castle, accompanied by Dr. von Gudden and several attendants. Ludwig and the doctor went out again that evening without attendants but never returned. Several hours later, King Ludwig II’s and Dr. von Gudden’s bodies were found in the water of Lake Starnberg.

King Ludwig II’s death remains a mystery. It was ruled a suicide by drowning, but no water was found in his lungs during an autopsy. One belief is that Ludwig was murdered while trying to escape and another is that he died of natural causes, possibly due to the extremely cold temperature of the water.

King Ludwig II lying in state, June 1886. Source: Wikipedia

After laying in state in the royal chapel at the Munich Residenz in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany, a grand funeral was held, and his remains were interred in the crypt of the Michaelskirche in Munich. In keeping with tradition, his heart was entombed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting in Altötting, Bavaria.  He was succeeded as King by his brother, Otto. However, Otto had also been declared mentally ill – also by Dr. von Gudden – and so their uncle Luitpold remained Prince Regent.

Tomb of Ludwig II, King of Bavaria; Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

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King Maximilian II of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Kingdom of Bavaria: The House of Wittelsbach ruled as Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. Today Bavaria is a landlocked federal state of Germany, occupying its southeastern corner.  Maximilian IV Joseph, Prince-Elector of Bavaria allied his electorate with Napoleon and adopted many of the French beliefs of the Enlightenment. It was this loyal service to Napoleon through which Maximilian’s electorate was created the Kingdom of Bavaria with Maximilian at its king. He officially became the Maximilian I Joseph, the first King of Bavaria on January 1, 1806. On November 13, 1918, King Ludwig III would be the first monarch in the German Empire to be deposed at the end of World War I, bringing an end to 738 years of rule by the Wittelsbach dynasty.

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King Maximilian II of Bavaria – source: Wikipedia

King Maximilian II of Bavaria was born November 28, 1811, in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany, the eldest son of King Ludwig I of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. He had eight younger siblings:

Maximilian studied history and constitutional law at the University of Göttingen and the Friedrich Wilhelm University of Berlin (now Humboldt University) from 1829-1831 and reportedly said that had he not been born into his position, he would have liked to be a professor. In 1830, he was named a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. He was also an avid hiker, and while on a hike in 1829, he came across the ruins of Hohenschwangau Castle. Three years later, he purchased the castle and had it rebuilt as a summer residence for his family.

On January 23, 1842, Maximilian became engaged to Princess Marie Friederike of Prussia, the daughter of Prince Wilhelm of Prussia and Marie Anne of Hesse-Homburg. The two married on October 12, 1842, in Munich, and had two sons:

King Maximilian II with his wife and sons, Ludwig (left) and Otto (right). source: Wikipedia

Maximilian came to the throne suddenly on March 20, 1848, when his father abdicated, and quickly introduced reforms to the constitution to establish a more constitutional monarchy. Unlike his father, who focused on his personal interests and extravagance, Maximilian focused primarily on his duties. However, his tendency to rely heavily on the advice of his ministers, along with his frequent travels, often led to long delays before any decisions were made.

Maximilian wanted to preserve Bavaria’s independence in the German Confederation and refused to accept the constitution put forth by the Frankfurt National Assembly in 1849. At home, he was a strong supporter of science and the arts. He worked to transform Munich into one of the most cultural and educational cities in Europe, and funded studies into the art, costumes, and customs of the Bavarian people, promoting a sense of national identity in the face of growing Pan-Germanism. He also supported many writers and developed a close friendship with the Danish writer Hans Christian Anderson.

Another of Maximilian’s passions was architecture and the building and restoration of several royal residences. In addition to rebuilding Hohenschwangau Castle, he oversaw the rebuilding of Hambach Castle and the redesigning of Berg Castle. He also had several other residences built, including a villa on Rose Island which later became a favorite getaway of his son, King Ludwig II.

King Maximilian II, c1860. source: Wikipedia

King Maximilian II died suddenly on March 10, 1864, after a brief illness. He is buried in a small chapel in the Theatinerkirche in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany while his heart is entombed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting.

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Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Queen of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Queen of Bavaria; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Therese Charlotte Luise Friederike Amalie of Saxe-Hildburghausen was the wife of King Ludwig I of Bavaria. She was born on July 8, 1792, at Jagdschloss Seidingstadt, the summer residence of the Dukes of Saxe-Hildburghausen, in Straufhain, Duchy of Saxe-Hildburghausen, now in Thuringia, Germany. Therese was the fifth of the six daughters and the sixth of the eleven children of  Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen (later Duke of Saxe-Altenburg) and Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

She was the sixth of eleven children, and her siblings included:

Therese was raised primarily at Schloss Hildburghausen in Hildburghausen, now in the German state of Thuringia, where the family’s finances were often strained. Her mother, who was very intelligent and artistic, brought musicians and artists to the court to teach the children, along with various prominent scholars. Therese proved to be a very good student, mastering several languages at a young age, and excelling in the arts.

In 1809, Therese was included on a list of prospective brides for Napoleon I, Emperor of the French who was looking to marry into one of the old royal houses of Europe. However, the future King Ludwig I of Bavaria would become her husband. Ludwig was the son of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and Princess Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt. The couple met in December 1809 when Ludwig visited Hildburghausen and became engaged on February 12, 1810. After prolonged negotiations, primarily due to Therese’s unwillingness to convert to Catholicism, she and her family traveled to Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria, for the marriage.

Therese and Ludwig married on October 12, 1810, and celebrations were held for several days following at the Theresienwiese in Munich, a large outdoor space named in her honor. Theresienwiese is the site of Oktoberfest, held each year to commemorate the wedding.

Ludwig and Therese had nine children:

 

Queen Therese, painting by Joseph Stieler, 1825. source: Wikipedia

Seemingly always pregnant, Therese still managed to participate in charitable events and organizations. While living in Salzburg, she organized meals for the poor and was the patron of the Salzburg Women’s Association. In October 1825, Ludwig and Therese became King and Queen of Bavaria following the death of King Maximilian I Joseph. Therese soon began a more public role, devoting much of her time to assisting the poor, widows, orphans, and the sick. She became the patron of several organizations, including the Women’s Association for Infant Care Institutions. In 1827, she established The Order of Therese which still exists to this day.

Queen Therese with her family, c1830. source: Wikipedia

Queen Therese maintained a great interest in state affairs and was very aware of the politics of the day. She often deputized for the King while he was out of the country, and kept him fully informed of what was happening at home. Sadly, however, her marriage was not always a very happy one. King Ludwig had a constant stream of mistresses, few of which were kept very private. Therese often left the country in defiance of her husband’s actions and received much sympathy and support from the Bavarian people. When Ludwig’s relationship with Lola Montez began in 1846, Queen Therese refused to back down. She publicly chastised the King and refused his request to grant Montez the Order of Therese.

Queen Therese, painting by Julie von Egloffstein, c1836. source: Wikipedia

In March 1848, King Ludwig I abdicated because he refused to reign as a constitutional monarch, and lost the support of his family and government ministers. Queen Therese enjoyed a more private life with her growing family. She died on October 26, 1854, in Munich,  Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria, and was initially buried in the royal crypt at the Theatinerkirche in Munich. Three years later, her husband had her remains moved to St. Boniface’s Abbey in Munich where he was also buried after his death in 1868. As she was not Catholic, her heart was not interred at the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting with the other Bavarian Kings and their consorts. Instead, it is interred at St. Boniface’s Abbey.

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King Ludwig I of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Kingdom of Bavaria: The House of Wittelsbach ruled as Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. Today Bavaria is a landlocked federal state of Germany, occupying its southeastern corner.  Maximilian IV Joseph, Prince-Elector of Bavaria allied his electorate with Napoleon and adopted many of the French beliefs of the Enlightenment. It was this loyal service to Napoleon through which Maximilian’s electorate was created the Kingdom of Bavaria with Maximilian at its king. He officially became the Maximilian I Joseph, the first King of Bavaria on January 1, 1806. On November 13, 1918, King Ludwig III would be the first monarch in the German Empire to be deposed at the end of World War I, bringing an end to 738 years of rule by the Wittelsbach dynasty.

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King Ludwig I of Bavaria – source: Wikipedia

King Ludwig I of Bavaria (Ludwig Karl August) was born on August 25, 1786, at the Hôtel des Deux-Ponts in Strasbourg, France. He was the eldest son of the future King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and his first wife, Princess Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt, and was named for his godfather King Louis XVI of France.

Ludwig had four full siblings:

Ludwig had seven half-siblings from his father’s second marriage to Caroline of Baden:

When Ludwig was born, his father was serving with the French army stationed at Strasbourg. By the time he was 13, his father had become Duke of Zweibrücken, and then Elector of Bavaria and Count Palatine of the Rhine. On January 1, 1806, Ludwig became Crown Prince when his father became the first King of Bavaria.

Ludwig studied with Johann Michael Sailer at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Landshut (now in Munich), and the University of Göttingen, and became proficient in several languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, and Russian. He also received a strong religious education from the Catholic priest Joseph Anton Sambuga.

As was expected at the time, Ludwig also pursued a military career. Despite being against his father’s alliance with the French Emperor Napoleon I, he fought with the allied Bavarian troops in the French wars. He served as commander of the 1st Bavarian Division in VII Corps and led his division into the Battle of Abensberg in 1809. At the Treaty of Ried in 1813, Bavaria left the Confederation of the Rhine and joined the Sixth Coalition against Napoleon. Just days later, Bavaria formally declared war against France, a move Ludwig strongly supported.

Ludwig served briefly as governor-general of the Duchy of Salzburg and spent much of the next 10 years in Würzburg and at Villa Malta, his home in Rome. During this time, he was an ardent supporter of the Greek War of Independence, even providing a loan of 1.5 million florins from his personal funds for the effort. Years later, his generosity would be rewarded when his second son Otto was named King of Greece.

Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Ludwig’s wife; Credit – Wikipedia

On October 12, 1810, Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, the daughter of Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen (later Duke of Saxe-Altenburg) and Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The wedding was held in a large outdoor space called the Theresienwiese in Munich. Named for his bride, Theresienwiese is the site of Oktoberfest, held every year to commemorate the wedding.

Ludwig and Therese had nine children:

Ludwig became King of Bavaria upon his father’s death on October 13, 1825. His reign saw the reorganization of the administrative regions of Bavaria and the establishment of the city of Ludwigshafen. The King established the Ludwig Canal between the Main and Danube rivers, and in 1835, the first German railway was constructed between the cities of Fürth and Nuremberg.

However, his previous liberal policies became more repressive after the July Revolution of 1830. Several years earlier, he had reinstated policies of strict censorship greatly opposed by the population. In 1837, he saw the Ultramontanes, backed by the Roman Catholic Church, gained control of Parliament and begin making drastic changes to the constitution, including the removal of civil rights granted to Protestants. Ludwig himself was a strong opponent of Protestantism, but his views changed in 1841 following the funeral of his Protestant stepmother Queen Caroline. Catholic factions held large demonstrations and King Ludwig, who had a very close relationship with Queen Caroline, was greatly disturbed by the disturbances.

Lola Montez, circa 1851. source: Wikipedia

In 1846, Ludwig met Lola Montez, an Irish dancer and actress, who had come to Munich, and she quickly became his mistress. She was very unpopular with the Bavarian people, because of her influence over the King, and became even more so when they found out that she was trying to become a naturalized citizen. The Ultramontanes fought strongly against the naturalization, resulting in the King removing them from power. The following year, after becoming naturalized, the King granted her the title Countess of Landsfeld along with a large annuity.

By 1848, Ludwig’s reign was coming to an abrupt end. Facing protests and demonstrations by students and the middle classes, the King had ordered the university closed. Shortly after, the crowds raided the armory on their way to storm the Munich Residenz. Ludwig’s brother Karl appeased the protesters, but the damage was done. The King’s family and advisors turned against him, forcing him to sign the March Proclamation, giving substantial concessions toward a constitutional monarchy. Unwilling to rule this way, King Ludwig I abdicated on March 20, 1848.

King Ludwig I, c1860. source: Wikipedia

King Ludwig spent the rest of his life in Bavaria, devoting his time to supporting and fostering the arts. He published several books of poems during his reign and translated several plays. On February 29, 1868, King Ludwig died in Nice, France, aged 81, having survived his wife and five of his children. He was buried at St. Boniface’s Abbey in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany. Keeping with tradition, his heart was entombed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting in Altötting, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany.

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Prince Oscar of Sweden, Duke of Skåne

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Prince Oscar, 2022; Credit – Crown Princess Victoria

Prince Oscar of Sweden, Duke of Skåne is the second child of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling (now Prince Daniel of Sweden). Oscar was born at the Karolinska University Hospital in Solna, Sweden, at 8:28 pm on March 2, 2016. He weighed 3.655kg (8.06lb) and measured 52cm (20in) at birth.

The following day, his grandfather, King Carl XVI Gustaf, announced the baby’s name and titles – Prince Oscar Carl Olof of Sweden, Duke of Skåne.

    • Oscar – the name of two Swedish kings and several Swedish princes
    • Carl – for his maternal grandfather
    • Olof – for his paternal grandfather, as well as his father (Prince Daniel’s given name is Olof Daniel)
  • Duke of Skåne – there have been two previous Dukes of Skåne, both of whom became king – King Carl XV and King Gustaf VI Adolf.

Prince Oscar was christened on May 27, 2016, in the Royal Chapel of the Royal Palace of Stockholm. His godparents are:

Prince Oscar’s family, 2022

Prince Oscar has one elder sister:

Prince Oscar’s elder sister Princess Estelle is second in the line of succession to the Swedish throne after her mother Crown Princess Victoria. In 1979, the Riksdag, the Swedish legislature, introduced an Act of Succession that changed the succession to absolute primogeniture, meaning that the eldest child of the monarch, regardless of gender, is first in the line of succession. This Act of Succession became law on January 1, 1980, making Sweden the first country to adopt absolute primogeniture. The previous 1810 Act of Succession allowed only males to inherit the throne. Even after the birth of her brother Prince Oscar, Princess Estelle retains her place in the line of succession as the eldest child of Crown Princess Victoria who is the eldest child and the heir of King Carl XVI Gustaf.

In the fall of 2017, Prince Oscar began attending Lilla Kvikkjokk, a Montessori school in the Djurgården section of Stockholm.

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Augusta Viktoria of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, wife of King Manuel II Portugal

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Augusta Viktoria of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen  source: Wikipedia

Augusta Viktoria of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was the wife of King Manuel II of Portugal from 1913 until he died in 1932.  As he had already been deposed, she was never actually Queen of Portugal, although she was often styled as such by courtesy.

Augusta Viktoria was born on August 19, 1890, in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Brandenburg, the daughter of Wilhelm, Prince of Hohenzollern and Princess Maria Teresa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. For several years, her father had been the heir presumptive to King Carol I of Romania, his paternal uncle. However, he renounced his rights to the Romanian throne in 1886, and it eventually passed to his younger brother who became King Ferdinand of Romania. Augusta Viktoria had younger twin brothers, who married two sisters:

Wedding of Augusta Viktoria and the former King Manuel II of Portugal source: Wikipedia

In 1912, Augusta Viktoria met the former King Manuel II of Portugal while both were visiting Switzerland. Manuel had become King in 1908 following the assassinations of his father and elder brother but was deposed two years later when the Portuguese First Republic was declared. Augusta Viktoria and Manuel were second cousins, both great-grandchildren of Queen Maria II of Portugal. They married on September 4, 1913, at Sigmaringen Castle. in Sigmaringen, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Following a honeymoon in Munich, they settled at Fulwell Park, Manuel’s home outside London, England. Augusta Viktoria and Manuel had no children.

Manuel and Augusta Viktoria attending Wimbledon, 1930.

Manuel and Augusta Viktoria attending Wimbledon, 1930; Credit – Wikipedia

Manuel died July 2, 1932, at Fulwell Park, in Middlesex, England. Several years later, on April 23, 1939, Augusta Viktoria married Count Robert Douglas, head of the Swedish comital house of Douglas (a branch of the Scottish Clan Douglas). The couple lived at Langenstein Castle in Orsingen-Nenzingen   Baden, Germany, and had no children.

Widowed in 1955, Augusta Viktoria continued to live in Germany and died on August 29, 1966, at Eigeltingen, Baden-Württemerg, Germany. She is buried at Langenstein Castle.

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Portugal Resources at Unofficial Royalty

King Manuel II of Portugal

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

King Manuel II of Portugal – Source: Wikipedia

King Manuel II of Portugal was the last Portuguese monarch, reigning just two and a half years before Portugal was declared a republic. He was born Infante Manuel Maria Filipe Carlos Amélio Luís Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Xavier Francisco de Assis Eugénio on November 15, 1889, at Belém Palace in Lisbon, Portugal, the youngest child of King Carlos I of Portugal and Princess Amélie of Orléans. Styled Duke of Beja from birth, Manuel had two older siblings:

Manuel received a strict education and proved to be a good student, becoming fluent in numerous languages, and studying history, math, and religion. He also trained on the piano and developed a love of literature and the arts. Manuel was preparing to enter the Portuguese Naval Academy when tragedy struck the royal family, and he found himself unexpectedly on the throne of Portugal.

On February 1, 1908, the royal family was attacked by assassins while riding in a carriage en route to the palace. Manuel was shot only in the arm, but his father was shot in the head, dying instantly, and his brother, Luís Filipe, was also mortally injured and died several minutes later. At just 18 years old, Manuel became the last King of Portugal.

Manuel’s first act as King of Portugal was asking for the resignation of Prime Minister João Franco, who he felt was complicit in the killing of his father and brother. He then appointed a new government, hoping for more unity within Portugal. At first, the new King received much sympathy and support, primarily due to his youth and the tragic circumstances that put him on the throne. Manuel traveled extensively, meeting the Portuguese people in all corners of the country, and received warm welcomes at every stop. He also traveled throughout Europe,  particularly the United Kingdom where his father had formed such close ties. Ironically, one of King Manuel’s last foreign trips would be to London in May 1910, for the funeral of King Edward VII.

In Portugal, the political climate was shifting, with anti-monarchy sentiments rising quickly. The Republican Party gained ground in the Portuguese parliament and seized power. On October 4, 1910, what started as a military coup became what is now known as the Republican Revolution. The Palace of Necessidades was attacked and King Manuel was forced to flee to the Mafra National Palace. There he was joined by his mother and grandmother. The following day, on October 5, 1910, King Manuel and his family left on the royal yacht Amélia IV, planning to travel to Porto, narrowly escaping the Republican forces who arrived just as the ship was sailing off. En route, learning that Porto had also fallen to Republican forces, Manuel changed their destination to Gibraltar. The Portuguese monarchy had ended, and Manuel would live the rest of his life in exile. The family then traveled to London, where they were welcomed by King George V of the United Kingdom.

Gaby Deslys, source: Wikipedia, from the George Grantham Bain Collection at the Library of Congress

For several years, Manuel was involved with a French actress and dancer named Gaby Deslys. The two first met during Manuel’s visit to Paris in December 1909 and quickly began a relationship. Manuel showered her with expensive gifts, including a pearl necklace valued at $70,000. While their relationship was well-guarded in Portugal, it was greatly publicized elsewhere in Europe and the United States. They continued to see each other in London after Manuel’s exile, but the relationship ended in 1911 when she moved to New York.

Wedding of Manuel and Augusta Viktoria of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen; Credit – Wikipedia

On a visit to Switzerland in 1912, King Manuel met Princess Augusta Viktoria of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and was quickly smitten. Augusta Viktoria was the daughter of Wilhelm, Prince of Hohenzollern and Princess Maria Teresa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, and a second cousin to Manuel through their mutual descent from Queen Maria II of Portugal. They were soon engaged, and married on September 4, 1913, in the Chapel at Sigmaringen Castle. Following a honeymoon in Munich, they settled at Fulwell Lodge, Manuel’s home outside London, England. Manuel and Augusta Viktoria had no children.

In exile, King Manuel continued to support efforts to restore the monarchy in Portugal. He insisted that this be done via legal means, through elections, and not by force. He continued to play a prominent role in the relationship between Portugal and the United Kingdom and maintained a close relationship with King George V. During World War I, he offered his services to the Allies in any way he could help and was given a post with the British Red Cross. At first, disappointed that he was not given a more prominent position, he soon threw himself into the job, organizing fund drives and visiting troops and hospitals on the front lines. He also helped to establish several medical facilities, both in France and England, to help support those wounded in the war.

King Manuel just hours before his death, on July 2, 1932. source: Wikipedia

King Manuel II died unexpectedly on July 2, 1932, at Fulwell Lodge. With permission from the Portuguese government, his remains were returned to Lisbon on a British cruiser and were received at Commerce Square, the same place his father and brother had been assassinated 24 years earlier. The procession traveled to the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora where the former king was interred in the Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza.

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Portugal Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Amélie of Orléans, Queen of Portugal

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Amélie of Orléans, Queen of Portugal; Source: Wikipedia

Princess Amélie of Orléans was the Queen Consort of King Carlos I of Portugal. She was born Marie Amélie Louise Hélène d’Orléans on September 28, 1865, the eldest of eight children of Prince Philippe, Count of Paris, and Princess Marie Isabelle of Orléans. Although a French princess, she was born in Twickenham, London, England where her family had been living in exile since the French monarchy of the House of Orléans had fallen.

Amélie had seven siblings:

Following the fall of the Second French Empire, the family was able to return to France in 1871. Amélie developed a love of the arts, particularly theater and opera, and became an accomplished painter. As she became older, her family began to search for a suitable husband. After several proposed marriages into the Austrian and Spanish royal families did not work out, she became engaged to the future King Carlos I of Portugal, the eldest son of King Luís of Portugal and Princess Maria Pia of Savoy.

Wedding of Amélie and Carlos, 1886. Source: Wikipedia

Amélie and Carlos met in Chantilly, France, where both were guests at a hunting party, and their engagement was announced on February 7, 1886. In mid-May of that year, Amélie’s father threw a lavish engagement party in Paris. The extravagance of the event led to the family again being sent into exile just a month later. After the party, Amélie traveled to Lisbon, Portugal where she and Carlos were married on May 22, 1886, at the Church of St. Dominic.

Queen Amélie and her two sons, c1890. Source: Wikipedia

Amélie and Carlos settled at Belém Palace in Lisbon, and had three children:

Queen Amélie (center) with Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom and Dowager Queen Maria Pia, 1905. Source: Wikipedia

Amélie quickly became fluent in Portuguese and was greatly admired in her new country. In October 1889, just a month before the birth of their younger son, Carlos and Amélie became King and Queen of Portugal following the death of King Luís. As Queen, Amélie took great interest in the well-being of the Portuguese people, establishing hospitals, sanatoriums, pharmacies, kitchens, and nurseries. She also founded the Royal Institute of Aid to the Shipwrecked in 1892, as well as the National Coach Museum in 1905, the Pasteur Institute in Portugal, and the National Assistance for Tuberculosis in 1899. However, along with her philanthropic efforts, she was also greatly criticized for her lavish spending, particularly in the midst of Portugal’s two bankruptcies.

On February 1, 1908, upon their return to Lisbon from a stay at the Palace of Vila Viçosa, the royal family was the target of an assassination. King Carlos and The Prince Royal, Luís Filipe, were both killed, and Manuel was injured. Remarkably, Queen Amélie was unharmed and is credited with likely having saved the life of her younger son. When one of the shooters had come into the carriage, she reportedly waved her bouquet of flowers around, trying to hit him and keep him from taking any more shots. After the shooting, she was kept under close security, along with her son and mother-in-law, at the Palace of Necessidades. She later withdrew to the Pena National Palace, which would be her last home in Portugal.

Dowager Queen Amélie with her son, King Manuel II, 1910. source: Wikipedia

Now Dowager Queen, Amélie offered her full support to her son, King Manuel II. However, the political climate in Portugal was tenuous at best, and soon the monarchy would come to an end. In October 1910, the monarchy was deposed during the Republican Revolution. Amélie went into exile along with her son, and mother-in-law, settling in Twickenham, London. After her son’s marriage in 1912, the Dowager Queen moved to France, settling at the Château de Bellevue in Le Chesnay, close to the Palace of Versailles.

Her son, King Manuel II, died in 1932, leaving Amélie the last living member of her family. At the onset of World War II, the Portuguese government invited her to return and live in the country, but she declined, preferring to remain in France where she received diplomatic immunity. She did, however, make a visit to Portugal in May and June of 1945. During this trip, she visited Lisbon, made a pilgrimage to Fatima, and returned to many of her former homes. She also visited several of the pharmacies and other organizations that she had founded.

Just six years later, Queen Amélie died in Le Chesnay, France on October 25, 1951. Her remains were returned to Portugal, where she was buried in the Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza, at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora in Lisbon.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Portugal Resources at Unofficial Royalty