Many stories have been told and books have been written about the childhood and youth of King Ludwig II. that have caused many uncertainties. For a long time it was accepted that Ludwig had the same birthday as his grandfather Ludwig I, who reigned in the year 1845. Today we know that Ludwig was born a day earlier but that was concealed for the pleasure of King Ludwig I....

On the following pages offer an insight into the childhood and youth of King Ludwig II. The following excerpts are taken from the book

"King Ludwig II. of Bavaria - From Eyewitness Reports." Produced and narrated by Rupert Hacker and published by Karl Rauch Publishing Company, Germany.

On August 25 1845 at 12:30 at night the first son and heir to the throne was born to the Bavarian crown prince Maximilian and his wife Marie at Nymphenburg castle. The event was cause for great jubilation, especially since the little prince was born on the same day as his grandfather King Ludwig I. 59 years ago. Crown Prince Max tells his brother-in-law Prince Adalbert von Prussia about this happy event in a letter:

I am bringing you the happy news that the good Lord has blessed our precious Marie with a lovely and strong little boy on the day of my father's birthday, which made him extremely happy. Be assured that I did not take this happy day easy but with forethought and prudence. Aunt Luise was informed in time but on the day of the birth she was with Aunt Elise in Tergernsee. Only my parents stood by, they did not want to miss the event. My mother stood by Marie with all her love.

You can imagine that I hardly left her alone in her pain and I suffered with her during this long time. Her pains started towards 4 o'clock in the morning but she had only slight contractions. Marie told me at 6 o'clock and at 11:30 at night they ended when the little one arrived in the world. It was a wonderful moment when the child took his first breath and cried. Our good Marie had suddenly forgotten all her pain. She suffered long and much and she was so beautiful and brave. She as well as the little one is well, thank God. They both sleep long and much. It is a wonderful feeling to be a father."

Crown Princess Marie who was born as a Prussian princess, recorded the birth and baptism of her son the family chronicle:

Ludwig Friedrich Wilhelm was born on August 25 at 12:30 in the early morning at Nymphenburg, above the bedroom where Max Josef I. had died. King Ludwig I., who attended the birth, was overjoyed that his grandson was born on his birthday and at the same hour that he was born. Max and his parents as well as aunt von Leuchtenberg and uncle and aunt Eduard were in the room. King Ludwig I. was so happy that he embraced several people of the court. The birth was announced in Munich by 101 canon shots. The village of Nymphenburg was decorated and illuminated. The festive baptism took place on August 26 in the great hall, with archbishop Gebsattel officiating. King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. And Queen Elisabeth had already arrived at noon on the 25th from Tegernsee, along with uncle Karl and aunt.

Ludwig Hauff described the festive baptism ceremony in his biography of King Max:

The baptism took place in the presence of King Ludwig, the king and queen of Prussia, the crown prince and, other personalities mention below, the archbishop of Munich-Freising with assistance of the royal band director and church provost Dr. Reindl and other church officials. An altar and baptism table next to the main stairway on the right side of the great hall. The opposite side was reserved for the royal majesties and others. At 1:45 the most highest and highest personalities gathered at Nymphenburg in the apartments of Her Majesty the Queen and at 1:30 their servants arrived in the dining room next to the queen's apartments. The archbishop and church officials waited for the beginning of the christening ceremony in the gallery between the queen's living quarters and the great hall. Once the kings and queens et al had assembled in the before mentioned apartments, the newborn was carried in by the crown princess' uppermost lady-in-waiting and four royal chamberlains held the edges of the christening cloth. In prescribed order the royal family and the other guests enter the christening hall, the crown prince walking with the Duchess of Leuchtenberg and Prince Luitpold with Duchess Luise of Bavaria. Pages are holding the trains of the are carrying the trains of the queens and the royal princesses. Arriving at the baptism room the majesties and princes take their designated seats across from the christening table with kneeling benches. The attendants are standing in back and on both sides. The uppermost lady-in-waiting places the infant on the christening table, Prince Adalbert stands next to the table holding a candle.

Upon the king's order the royal chamberlain leads the archbishop and other church dignitaries into the room. The archbishop opens the christening ceremony with a short speech and the royal uppermost chamberlain escorts the godparents, King Ludwig and Queen Therese, to the christening table. King Ludwig answered the prescribed questions according to church ritual and after the baptism has taken place the king and queen return to their seats and await the end of the te deum the archbishop had begun to sing. Standing on the gallery, members of the royal court choir provide the music. Until late evening countless masses of people had gathered in continual happy streams before the castles and in the streets leading to Nymphenburg. Many houses along the way and in Neuhausen were decorated with flags, flowers and wreaths and beautiful illuminations when darkness set in. Wonderful weather favored the happy festivities."

The delicate health of the little prince is already reason for concern during his first year. His mother records in the family chronicle:

"In March/April of 1846 Ludwig was deathly ill while we had rushed to Mama's deathbed. His wet nurse had died of typhus and he had to be weaned. King Ludwig refused to send the child to us in Berlin because he was very weak and remained that way for a long time".

After the revolutionary confusion that also broke out in Munich during the "freedom year" of 1848, King Ludwig I. abdicated on March 20 1848 in favor of his son Maximilian. With King Max' rise to the throne the two and one half year old Ludwig became crown prince. Soon his future artistic tendencies are hinted at. In 1851 Queen Marie records in her chronicle:

"Early on Ludwig developed an enjoyment for the arts. He enjoyed building, especially churches, monasteries and the likes."