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King Louis XIII of France

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

King Louis XIII of France; Credit – Wikipedia

King Louis XIII of France was born September 27, 1601, at the Château de Fontainebleau in Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, France. He was the eldest son of King Henri IV of France and Marie de’ Medici, and had five younger siblings:

At just two months old, Louis was brought to the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, where he was raised with his father’s illegitimate children, and later his own siblings. He was nearly five years old when his christening occurred at Fontainebleau in September 1606. His godparents were Pope Paul V, and his maternal aunt, Eleonora de’ Medici, Duchess of Mantua.

From a young age, Louis showed a great interest in music and learned to play the lute when he was three years old. This love of music continued for his entire life, and in 1635 he wrote The Ballet de la Merlaison, which was first performed that year at the Château de Chantilly. Louis is credited with writing the story, composing the music and lyrics, and choreographing the dancing. He also danced in several performances of the show.

King Louis XIII, c1613. source: Wikipedia

Louis also developed an early love of horses and the military. Once his education began, he did not show much interest in languages, math, or science, but excelled in history and the arts. Growing up, he was much closer to his father King Henri IV, than his mother, even though his father would often mistreat him. Sadly, Louis was only eight years old when his father, King Henri IV was assassinated on May 14, 1610, and he became King Louis XIII of France. Due to his youth, his mother Marie de’ Medici was appointed Regent, to serve until he came of age. Despite reaching his majority in 1614, his mother continued to exert her influence as Regent, deeming her son “too weak in body and spirit” to assume his rightful position.

It would be several years before Louis asserted his authority. In April 1617, he organized a coup d’état, ousting his mother’s primary minister Concino Concini, and sending his mother into exile. He replaced Concini with his favorite advisor, Charles d’Albert, Duke of Luynes. One of the first challenges in his reign was the Thirty Years’ War, which began in 1618. There was much disagreement on which side the French should support. There was also growing disagreement with Luynes and his actions. These all led to a rebellion against the King, led by his mother, who had escaped from exile. Through the influence of Armand Jean du Plessis, 1st Duke of Richelieu, better known as Cardinal Richelieu, Louis and his mother were reconciled, and within a few years, Louis permitted her to return to the French court. By 1624, Louis was now ruled by council, and Cardinal Richelieu took a more prominent role in the King’s reign.

“The Marriage of Louis XIII, King of France and of Navarre, and Anna of Austria” by Jean Chalette. source: Wikipedia

In 1612, at just eleven years old, Louis became betrothed to Anna of Austria, keeping with the tradition of intermarriages between the French and Spanish monarchies. She was the daughter of King Felipe III of Spain and Margaret of Austria. The couple was married by proxy on October 18, 1615, in Burgos, Spain. The same day, Louis’s sister Elisabeth married Anna’s brother, the future King Felipe IV of Spain. Following Anna’s arrival in France, the couple was married in a religious ceremony at the Bordeaux Cathedral in France on November 24, 1615.  After four stillborn children, and 23 years after their marriage, the couple had two sons:

The hunting lodge at Versailles, circa 1630 to 1640. source: Wikipedia

Although best associated with later generations of French monarchs, the Palace of Versailles has its origins with Louis XIII. Having gone on several hunting trips in the area, King Louis XIII ordered the construction of a hunting lodge in 1624. Several years later, he acquired the surrounding land and began to enlarge the building. Under his son’s reign, the small hunting lodge was transformed into a grand palace and became the seat of the French monarchy.

King Louis XIII and Queen Anne with their eldest son, the future King Louis XIV. Cardinal Richelieu is pictured behind the King. source: Wikipedia

After several weeks of intense illness, King Louis XIII died in Paris on May 14, 1643. Ironically, it was 33 years earlier on the same day that his own father had died.  Just like his father, Louis left behind a very young son, not yet five years old, to succeed him on the French throne. He was interred at the Basilica of St. Denis near Paris, France, with very little pomp or ceremony, per his wishes that the French people not be subjected to any excessive or unnecessary expense due to his death. Knowing his death was near, the King had revised his will, limiting the powers of his wife, who would go on to serve as Regent for their young son.

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Marie de’ Medici, Queen of France

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Marie de’ Medici, Queen of France – source: Wikipedia

Marie de’ Medici was the second wife and consort of King Henri IV of France. She was born on April 26, 1575, at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, now in Italy, the sixth of seven children of Francesco I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Archduchess Joanna of Austria. Of her siblings, only one lived to adulthood:

The House of Medici came to prominence in the 15th century, as founders of the Medici Bank, the largest bank in Europe, and later as Grand Dukes of Tuscany. Along with Marie, other prominent family members included Catherine de’ Medici, consort to King Henri II of France, and Popes Leo X, Clement VII, and Leo XI.

When Marie was five years old, her mother died, and seven years later her father died. Marie was raised by her uncle Ferdinando, who succeeded her father as Grand Duke of Tuscany, and ensured that his niece received a proper education. Marie showed great talent in the arts and science and became very devout in her religious beliefs.

After numerous suitors, Marie became engaged to King Henri IV of France (also King Henri III of Navarre). For Henri, marriage to Marie would help bring legitimate royal descent to France, as Marie was descended from the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I. It would also bring significant financial benefits from the very wealthy de’ Medici family. For Marie, it would mean becoming Queen of both France and Navarre. The couple was married by proxy in Florence on October 5, 1600. Marie and Henri were married in person in a religious ceremony in Lyon, France, on December 17, 1600.

They had six children:

Marie with her husband and family. source: Wikipedia

While the couple had a large family, the marriage was far from happy. Henri had numerous mistresses, and Marie often feuded with them. Typically, Henri sided with his mistresses. Marie later fought back against her husband, showing support and sympathy for his first wife, Marguerite of Valois, banished from France after their marriage was annulled. Marie’s support prompted Henri to allow Marguerite to return to the country.

The Coronation of Queen Marie, painted by Rubens. source: Wikipedia

Marie was formally crowned on May 13, 1610, at the Basilica of St. Denis near Paris, France. The following day, her husband, King Henri IV was assassinated, and Queen Marie was appointed Regent for their eldest son, eight-year-old King Louis XIII. One of her first acts as Regent was to banish her late husband’s mistress from the French court. When Marie came to the French court from the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, she brought Leonora Dori Galigai, her long-time maid, who was appointed Marie’s lady-in-waiting and wardrobe attendant. Leonora married another Tuscan, Concino Concini, who also accompanied Marie to France. As Regent of France, Marie brought Concino Concini to the forefront of her court, and he became the Queen’s most trusted advisor.

Concini and her other Italian advisors influenced Marie, and many of her policies were in sharp contrast to those of her late husband. She promoted a strong alliance with the Spanish monarchy and favored Catholicism over Protestantism. To strengthen this bond, she arranged the marriages of her son, King Louis XIII, to Infanta Anna of Spain (known primarily as Anne of Austria), and her eldest daughter, Elisabeth, to the future King Felipe IV of Spain.

Marie’s policies and plans did not meet with much support amongst the French nobility and the Princes of the Blood, who began to oppose her regency. Unable to overcome the challenges to her position, Marie was forced into convoking the Estates-General in 1614. Along with Concini, Marie counted the Duke of Richelieu (later Cardinal) among her closest advisors. Richelieu had risen to power during the Estates-General and by 1616 had been appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.

By 1617, Marie’s policies had become greatly unpopular with the people of France. Her son King Louis XIII, now three years into his majority, finally stepped in and asserted his position as King. He ordered that Concini be assassinated. Concini’s wife Leonora Dori Galigai, Marie’s long-time confidante, was accused of bewitching Marie and executed. Richelieu was dismissed from his position and exiled to Avignon. Queen Marie was sent into exile at the Château de Blois in the Loire Valley.

Marie escaped two years later and began a movement to return to the French court. Marie’s younger son Gaston led a revolt that Gaston’s brother King Louis XIII quickly squashed. However, King Louis XIII knew that he needed to do something to appease his mother and her supporters. He brought Richelieu back to the French court to help mediate the situation with Marie. This led to the Treaty of Angoulême in August 1619, which formally ended the battles between the supporters of Marie and those of King Louis XIII. It also established a reconciliation between Marie and her son. By 1621, Marie again assumed her position on the Royal Council. But by 1630, her political machinations caused her to be banished from court again. Exiled to Compiègne, she escaped the following year and traveled to Brussels and later to Amsterdam, where she received a grand royal welcome. After visiting her daughter, Henrietta Maria, in England in 1638, she traveled to Cologne, Germany.

Independently wealthy, Marie used her fortune to finance numerous projects in France. One of the most prominent was the Palais du Luxembourg in Paris. In 1612, Marie purchased what was then called the Hôtel de Luxembourg and its large grounds, and commissioned a much larger palace, modeled after the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, where she was born. Often referred to as Palais Médicis, the new Palais du Luxembourg became her primary residence during her regency. Today, it is the home of the French Senate. The original building became known as the Petit Luxembourg and now serves as the residence of the President of the French Senate. Marie commissioned famed painter Peter Paul Rubens to create a series of paintings that would adorn the new Palais du Luxembourg. These 24 paintings became known as the Marie de’ Medici Cycle, and now hang in The Louvre in Paris, France

Queen Marie, painted by Rubens, 1622. source: Wikipedia

Queen Marie died on July 3, 1642, in the Free Imperial City of Cologne, now in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Her heart is buried at Cologne Cathedral, but despite the strained relationship with her son, her other remains were returned to France and buried in the Basilica of St. Denis near Paris, France.

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France Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Marguerite of Valois, Queen of France

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Marguerite of Valois, Queen of France; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Marguerite of France, also known as Marguerite of Valois, was the first wife of King Henri IV of France. She was born on May 14, 1553, at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the daughter of King Henri II of France and Catherine de’ Medici. In addition to becoming Queen of France, she was also Queen of Navarre from the time of her marriage. She was named after her paternal aunt, Marguerite of France (later Duchess of Savoy), who, along with Alphonse II d’Este, Duke of Ferrara, served as her godparents.

Marguerite had nine siblings, three of whom became Kings of France:

Marguerite and Henri. source: Wikipedia

After several failed attempts to marry Marguerite off to the son of King Felipe II of Spain and to  King Sebastião I of Portugal in the late 1560s, she became involved with Henri I, Duke of Guise. However, the relationship ended in 1570 when it was discovered by her mother, who had Henri banished from court. Two years later, on August 18, 1572, Marguerite married King Henri III of Navarre (later King Henri IV of France) at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Her husband was the son of Queen Jeanne III of Navarre and Prince Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme. The marriage was arranged by Marguerite’s brother, King Charles IX, hoping it would bring together the Bourbon and Valois dynasties and ease the tensions between the Catholics and Huguenots. Ironically, as Marguerite’s husband was a Huguenot, he was not permitted in the cathedral and had to stay outside for the ceremony. The couple had no children.

Just days after the wedding, the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre took place. Marguerite is alleged to have hidden several prominent Huguenots, as well as her new husband, to keep them safe from certain death. Eventually, her husband Henri was able to return to Navarre, although it would be some time before Marguerite was permitted to join him. The two led relatively separate lives, both having a string of affairs and rarely getting along with each other.

In 1582, Marguerite returned to France to recuperate after an illness. Before long, her brother, King Henri III, forced her to leave, scandalized by her behavior. She returned to Navarre, organizing a coup d’état to take control of the city of Agen. However, that was short-lived, and soon she was forced to flee. In 1586, she was imprisoned by her brother, King Henri III of France, and later by her husband in the castle of Usson. It would be 19 years before she returned to court.

Despite this, Marguerite became Queen Consort of France on August 2, 1589. When her brother King Henri III died without an heir, the throne passed to Marguerite’s husband, the senior agnatic heir of King Louis IX of France. When he took the throne as King Henri IV, there would be much dissent amongst the French people because he was not Catholic. After several years of various factions trying to keep him from the throne, Henri converted to Catholicism in 1593.

By then, Henri knew he needed a male heir, and his marriage to Marguerite had produced no children. He began negotiations with Marguerite to have their marriage annulled. After several years, the marriage was formally dissolved in 1599. Marguerite retained her title as Queen of France. Henri would later marry Marie de’ Medici and have several children. It would not be long before Marguerite was back in favor with her former husband, although she remained in Usson.

Queen Marguerite, as portrayed in Rubens’ “Coronation of the Queen at the Abbey of Saint-Denis” – a painting that depicts the coronation of Marguerite’s successor, Marie de’ Medici. source: Wikipedia (click HERE for the full painting)

In 1605, largely due to the efforts of Henri’s second wife, Marie de’ Medici, Marguerite was welcomed back to Paris and the French court. She settled initially at the Hôtel de Sens while a new home, the Hôtel Reine, was built along the Seine, directly opposite the Louvre Palace. She remained a favorite at court and maintained a remarkably close relationship with her former husband and his new wife. In 1608, they even asked her to serve as godmother to their youngest son Gaston.

Memorial to Queen Marguerite at St. Denis. source: Wikipedia

Queen Marguerite of France died on March 27, 1615, and was buried in the Valois Chapel at the Basilica of St. Denis near Paris. Today, the location of her remains is unknown. They were likely destroyed during the French Revolution or could have been moved elsewhere when work was being done on the chapel.

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King Henri IV of France

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

King Henri IV of France – source: Wikipedia

King Henri IV of France was the first French king of the House of Bourbon. He was born on December 13, 1553, in Pau, Kingdom of Navarre, now in France, the second of the five children and the second of the three sons of Queen Jeanne III of Navarre and Antoine de Bourbon, Duke de Vendôme. Although he was baptized in the Catholic Church, he was raised as a Protestant.

Henri had four siblings:

Henri and Marguerite of Valois. source: Wikipedia

Upon his mother’s death on June 9, 1572, Henri took the throne as King Henri III of Navarre. Just months later, on August 18, 1572, at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Henri married Marguerite of Valois, the daughter of King Henri II of France and Catherine de’ Medici. As Henri was a Protestant Huguenot, he was not permitted inside the Cathedral so the ceremony was held just outside the building. Days later, the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre took place, in which thousands of Protestant Huguenots were killed. Henri narrowly escaped death, mostly thanks to his new Catholic wife, and his promise to convert to Catholicism. Despite this, he was forced to remain at the French court for several years before escaping in 1576 and returning to Navarre. Upon his return, he renounced his conversion and once again joined with the Protestants.

In 1584, Henri became the heir-presumptive to the French throne, as the last heir to King Henri III of France had died. Henri was the most senior agnatic descendant of King Louis IX of France, and therefore the rightful heir. This led to what was known as the War of the Three Henries – Henri of Navarre, Henri III, King of France, and Henri I, Duke of Guise. The Duke of Guise was a staunch opponent of the Huguenots and fought against the possibility of Henri succeeding to the French throne. Henri III of France had the Duke of Guise killed in 1588, hoping to restore his authority with the French people. Instead, it caused a great uproar and much of the country refused to recognize him as King. His greatest ally was Henri of Navarre. The two were joined in their desire to defeat the Catholic League which had taken control of much of the country. Joining forces, they attempted to take Paris, but the French king was assassinated on August 2, 1589.

Henri of Navarre, as the heir-presumptive, became King Henri IV of France. However, the Catholic League was still the primary force in the country and refused to recognize him as the new monarch. The Catholic nobles who had previously supported King Henri III of France in his alliance with Henri of Navarre still refused to recognize him as their new sovereign. He began to take the country by force, with support from Germany and England. The Catholic League proclaimed Henri’s uncle Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon as the king but he was being held prisoner by Henri at the time. A battle ensued to name a new successor, with Spain pushing for the removal of Salic Law, thus allowing a Spanish Infanta to become Queen. However, this was struck down by the Parlament of Paris. After several more years, encouraged by his mistress, Gabrielle d’Estrées, Henri once again renounced his religion and converted to Catholicism. This gained him the support of the French people and he was finally able to rule his kingdom. As the Catholic League still occupied the city of Reims – the traditional site of French coronations – Henri was crowned King of France at the Cathedral of Chartres on February 27, 1594.

Statue of King Henri IV on the Pont Neuf. By Mbzt – Own work, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11941438

During his reign, Henri IV stabilized the country’s finances and worked to promote education and agriculture. He restored Paris as a great city, building the Pont Neuf over the Seine River to join the Right and Left Banks. He built the Place Royale (now the Place des Vosges) and added the Grand Gallery to the Louvre Palace. A huge supporter of the arts, Henri permitted hundreds of artists and craftsmen to live on the lower floors of the new building. He also financed numerous expeditions to North America, which would eventually see France laying claim to Canada.

Perhaps his best-known accomplishment was issuing the Edict of Nantes in 1598. This guaranteed a level of religious freedom previously unseen in France, restoring civil rights to Protestants, and ending the Wars of Religion.

In a loveless marriage, and knowing that he needed an heir, Henri had begun negotiations to end his first marriage to Marguerite of Valois. He hoped to have the marriage annulled so he could marry his mistress Gabrielle d’Estrées with whom he already had several children. This was seen as scandalous and ill-advised by most of his ministers who argued against the idea. After Gabrielle died in childbirth in April 1599, Henri continued with his plans, and his marriage to Marguerite was annulled later the same year.

Henri with his second wife Marie de’ Medici, and family. source: Wikipedia

The next year, on December 17, 1600, King Henri IV married Marie de’ Medici, in a lavish ceremony in Lyon. The couple had six children:

The murder of King Henri IV, painted by Charles-Gustave Housez. source: Wikipedia

King Henri IV was killed in Paris on May 14, 1610, the day after his wife’s coronation. While traveling through Paris, Henri’s carriage was stopped on the Rue de Ferronnerie. A Catholic zealot, François Ravaillac, took the opportunity to rush up to the carriage and stab the King twice in the chest. Quickly subdued, Ravaillac was taken into custody and later executed. The King was taken to the Louvre Palace where he died. Following a grand funeral on July 1, 1610, King Henri IV was interred in the Basilica of St Denis near Paris. In keeping with a promise made some years earlier, his heart was entombed at the Church of Saint Louis of La Flèche.

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King Ludwig III 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, ending 738 years of rule by the Wittelsbach dynasty.

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King Ludwig III of Bavaria – source: Wikipedia

King Ludwig III was the last King of Bavaria, reigning from November 1913 until November 1918. He was born Prince Ludwig Luitpold Josef Maria Aloys Alfried on January 7, 1845, in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany, the eldest son of Prince Luitpold of Bavaria, the third son of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, and Archduchess Augusta of Austria. He had three younger siblings:

Just hours after birth, Ludwig was baptized in the throne room of the Munich Residenz, where he was named after his grandfather, the reigning King Ludwig I. At the time, he was fifth in the line of succession, with little expectation of ever becoming King of Bavaria. Three years later, his grandfather abdicated, and his uncle took the throne as King Maximilian II.

Ludwig, c1860. source: Wikipedia

Ludwig was raised at the Munich Residenz and the Wittelsbacher Palais, both in Munich before moving to Palais Leuchtenberg, also in Munich, in 1855. Palais Leuchtenberg was the former home of Eugène de Beauharnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg, and his wife Princess Augusta of Bavaria, who was also the aunt of Ludwig’s father Luitpold. Prince Luitpold purchased the palace in 1852, after his aunt Augusta’s death. Ludwig was educated privately at home by a series of tutors, before entering the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in 1864, studying law, economics, history, and philosophy. He also began a military career in 1861, commissioned as a Lieutenant in the infantry.

In 1866, Ludwig served as a military aide to his father during the war against Prussia and was injured at the Battle of Helmstedt, sustaining a gunshot wound in his leg. The following year, while in Vienna for the funeral of his cousin Archduchess Mathilda of Austria, Ludwig met his future wife Archduchess Maria Theresia of Austria-Este. She was the daughter of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este and Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria. After a brief courtship, Ludwig and Maria Theresia married on February 20, 1868, at the Augustinerkirche in Vienna, Austria, adjacent to the Hofburg Palace.

Over the next 23 years, Ludwig and Maria Theresia had thirteen children:

Some of Ludwig’s children circa 1909. source: Wikipedia

In 1886, Ludwig’s father Prince Luitpold became Prince Regent after King Ludwig II was declared mentally incompetent. Just days later, King Ludwig II died mysteriously and was succeeded by his brother King Otto. However, Otto was also mentally ill, and the Regency continued. Upon his father’s death on December 12, 1912, Ludwig succeeded him as Prince Regent for his cousin King Otto. Less than a year later, the Bavarian Parliament passed legislation allowing the Regent to assume the throne himself, provided that the regency was for reasons of incapacity, had lasted more than ten years, and there was no prospect of the Sovereign being able to reign. So on November 5, 1913, with overwhelming support from the parliament, Ludwig deposed his cousin and assumed the Bavarian throne as King Ludwig III.

Enthronement of King Ludwig III, 1913. source: Wikipedia

King Ludwig III’s reign would be brief, as World War I saw the end of the German Empire and many other European monarchies. As the war was ending, the German Revolution of 1918 -1919 broke out in Bavaria. Ludwig fled Munich with his family and took up residence at Anif Palace near Salzburg, Austria, thinking it would be a temporary move. A week later, on November 13, 1918, King Ludwig III would be the first monarch in the German Empire to be deposed, ending 738 years of rule by the Wittelsbach dynasty.

The former King Ludwig III returned to Bavaria and lived at Wildenwart Castle, where his wife died three months later. Fearing his life was in danger, Ludwig soon left the country, traveling to Hungary, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. He returned to Wildenwart Castle in April 1920 and remained until the following autumn, when he traveled to his castle Nádasdy in Sárvár, Hungary.

Tomb of King Ludwig III. photo © Susan Flantzer

Tomb of King Ludwig III. photo © Susan Flantzer

The former King Ludwig III died at Nádasdy Castle in Sárvár, Hungary, on October 18, 1921. His body was brought to Wildenwart Castle where his wife was buried, and then both of their remains were brought to the Ludwigskirche in Munich where a state funeral was held. They were then buried in the crypt of the Frauenkirche in Munich. In keeping with tradition, their hearts was buried separately, at the Chapel of Grace in Altötting, Bavaria, Germany.

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Auguste Ferdinande of Austria, Princess of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Auguste Ferdinande of Austria, Princess of Bavaria Source: Wikipedia

The wife of Prince Luitpold of Bavaria, Regent of Bavaria, Archduchess Auguste Ferdinande of Austria, Princess of Tuscany, was born in Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, now in Italy, on April 1, 1825. She was the second of three daughters of Leopoldo II, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Princess Maria Anna of Saxony.

Auguste had two sisters who both died before they were twenty:

  • Archduchess Carolina Auguste (1822 – 1841), died in her teens
  • Archduchess Maria Maximiliana (1827 – 1834), died in childhood

Auguste’s mother died in 1832, and the following year her father married Princess Maria Antonietta of the Two Sicilies.

Auguste had ten half-siblings from her father’s second marriage:

Auguste was a very intelligent child, interested in the arts and science from a young age. Raised in a strict Catholic background, it was expected that she would marry into one of the Catholic ruling families in Europe. This came to be on April 15, 1844, in Florence, when she married Prince Luitpold of Bavaria, a younger son of King Ludwig I of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. King Ludwig had initially opposed the marriage, as Auguste was already showing signs of pulmonary tuberculosis, which would later take her life. However, he soon relented and allowed the couple to marry.

Over the next eight years, they had four children:

Auguste of Austria, Princess of Bavaria.source: Wikipedia

Because of her health, Auguste had difficulty adjusting to the Bavarian climate. A few years after marrying, she and her husband built a home on Lake Constance, which they used as a summer residence. Auguste was a devoted mother to her four children, speaking to them only in Italian, and a strong supporter of her husband and the Bavarian monarchy. In 1848, she publicly criticized her father-in-law, King Ludwig I, for his relationship with his mistress Lola Montez and its negative effects on the monarchy. King Ludwig I soon abdicated, and Auguste made many public appearances encouraging support for her brother-in-law, the new King Maximilian II.

Photo © Susan Flantzer

Tomb of Auguste of Austria, Princess of Bavaria. Photo © Susan Flantzer

Sadly, on April 26, 1864, Princess Auguste died, aged 39, in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria, from the effects of tuberculosis she had suffered for many years. She is buried in the crypt of the Theatinerkirche in Munich.

Years later, her husband would be named Prince Regent of Bavaria, due to the mental incapacity of his two nephews, the brothers King Ludwig II and King Otto. Following Luitpold’s death, the couple’s son Ludwig assumed the regency and eventually, formally deposed his cousin, King Otto, taking the throne himself as King Ludwig III, the last King of Bavaria.

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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

Prince Luitpold of Bavaria served as Prince Regent from 1886 until he died 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:

Luitpold joined the Bavarian Army when he was fourteen years old 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 on one trip 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, Luitpold’s father abdicated and his eldest brother took the throne as King Maximilian II of Bavaria. During his brother’s reign, Luitpold did not play any significant role, focusing more on his military career. His second brother Otto had been serving as King of Greece since 1832, and as Otto had no children, Luitpold was considered his heir-presumptive. The Greek Constitution required that the heir be a member of the Greek Orthodox Church, and for some time, Luitpold considered converting from Catholicism. Otto would remain King of Greece until he was deposed in 1862.

In 1864, King Maximilian II of Bavaria died and was succeeded by his elder son King Ludwig II of Bavaria. 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 King Ludwig II’s reign, 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. King Ludwig II’s younger brother, the future King Otto of Bavaria, 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 supporter of the arts and culture in Bavaria. During his tenure, Munich continued to grow into one of the leading cultural cities in Europe. Shortly after assuming the Regency, Luitpold 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, from bronchitis. He is buried in the crypt of the Theatinerkirche in Munich. Luitpold’s eldest son succeeded him as Regent of Bavaria and became King Ludwig III the following year, after deposing his cousin King Otto.

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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 Chapel of Grace in Altötting, Bavaria, Germany.

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 as its king. He officially became 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 to 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 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, he 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 German Empire’s creation 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 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, the bodies of King Ludwig II and Dr. von Gudden 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 lying 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 Chapel of Grace in Altötting, Bavaria, Germany. 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 rebuilt it 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 Andersen.

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, circa 1860. 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, and his heart is entombed at the Chapel of Grace in Altötting, Bavaria, Germany.

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.

Bavaria Resources at Unofficial Royalty