He was the son of King Maximilian II Joseph and heir to the throne, born on August 25 1845 in Nymphenburg (Munich today). In 1866 Ludwig fought on the Austrian side in the German War against Prussia. One year later he approved an alliance with Prussia. In 1870, upon Bismarck's initiative, he wrote a letter of intent to all German Princes, the so-called "Kaiserbrief" of November 30 1870, that became the basis for the proclamation for the acceptance of King Wilhelm I as Emperor of Germany. In return Bismarck assured Ludwig the financial assistance he so urgently needed, in order to continue with the building of his castles. During the Franco-German War of 1870/71 Ludwig fought on the side of the Germans. Ludwig was a passionate builder and promoter of Richard Wagner, to whom he gifted the Bayreuth Festival Theater. Among others, he built the castles Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee. From 1875 on Ludwig lived completely withdrawn in his various castles and did not appear in public any longer.

On June 9 1886 Ludwig II was declared incompetent based on a medical opinion, after he showed signs of mental illness and because he had ruined the Bavarian State finances with his building fanaticism. On June 10 his uncle, Prince Luitpold, took over the regency. In the evening of June 13 Ludwig drowned in Lake Starnberg near Castle Berg, along with his psychiatrist, Dr. Bernhard von Gudden. To this day the circumstances of their death have not been conclusively determined.

Maximilian II Joseph of Bavaria (1811-1864), King of Bavaria (1848-1864)

Maximilian was born on November 28 1811 in Munich as the son of King Ludwig I. Following his father's abdication he took over as his successor. For the most part Maximilian left his government business to his minister Ludwig von der Pfordten (1811-1880). Maximilian himself concentrated on the promotion of cultural projects and improved Munich as a center for science and art. He built the Maxmilaneum and founded the Historic Commission for the Academy of Science, under the leadership of Leopold von Ranke. Maximilian II Joseph died on March 10 1864 in Munich.

Ludwig I of Bavaria (1786-1868), King of Bavaria (1825-1848)

Ludwig I was born on August 25 1786 in Strassburg as the son of King Maximilian I Joseph. In the beginning of his reign Ludwig I practiced fairly liberal politics based on the constitution of 1818 and generously supported the Greek Freedom Fights. In 1832 his second son Otto became King of Greece as Otto I. After the July-Revolution of 1830 in Paris and the spread of the revolutionary movement to many parts of Europe, Ludwig's politics showed increasingly more reactionary tendencies. He intensified censorship and therefore helped the Clerical Party to power and provoked the opposition. Even more so because of his open affair with the singer/dancer Lola Montez. During the March Revolution in 1848 he was forced to acknowledge the Liberal Party and abdicated in favor of his son Maximilian II Joseph. He died on February 29 1868 in Nice.

Even before he rose to the throne Ludwig I had begun to acquire projects of art, especially in Rome, and established a relationship with many famous artists. After he became king he helped Munich to become the leading Art City of Germany. He drew many recognized artists and architects to Munich, among them Leo von Klenze and Peter von Cornelius. He developed the Ludwigstreet with the University, City Library, Feldherrnhalle and others and Koenigsplatz (Royal Square) with the Propylaaen, the Glyptothek and Antiques Collection Halls. He built the Old and the New Pinakothek and moved the University of Bavaria from Landshut to Munich.