Figure 1.--Maximillian II and Marie Hedwig are seen here with their sons Ludwig and Otto. Both boys had mental problems as adults, in part because of their father's ideas about rearing children. This portrait was painted about 1850. I'm not sure who the artist was.

King Maximilian II was the son of King Ludwig I. Bavaria was a center for anti-Prussian and anti-unification sentiment within the German Federation. Partly as a result of a heavily Catholic population it was a bulwark against socialism among the German states. Maximillian accepted the Crown after his father abdicated. He also had a large building program and brought many prominent scientists and artists to Munich. He was a reformer who overhauled the judicial system and introduced freedom of the press. A new road, Maximilianstra�e, was built on his instructions. The Maximilianeum, at the eastern end of the road, is now the seat of the Bavarian parliament. Maximillian had two sons, Ludwig and Otto. He had excentric ideas about raising his children and his inflexible rule was probably the major cause of the mental instability of both boys.

Parents

Ludwig I (1786-1868)

King Maximilian II was the son of King Ludwig I (1786- ). King Ludwig was the son of King Maximilian I Joseph (1756- ) and Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse (1765- ).

Mother

Maximillian's mother was Therese Saxe-Hildburghausen 1792- ). She was the daughter of Frederick of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Duke Saxe-Hildburghausen (1763- ).

Bavaria

Bavaria was a center for anti-Prussian and anti-unification sentiment within the German Federation. Partly as a result of a heavily Catholic population it was a bulwark against socialism among the German states.

Childhood

Maximilliamn was born in 1811.

Reign

Maximillian accepted the Crown after his father abdicated. He also had a large building program and brought many prominent scientists and artists to Munich. He was a reformer who overhauled the judicial system and introduced freedom of the press. A new road, Maximilianstra�e, was built on his instructions. The Maximilianeum, at the eastern end of the road, is now the seat of the Bavarian parliament.

Wife

King Maximillian II married Princess Marie Hedwig of Prussia Hohenzollern in 1842. Marie Hedwig's father was Prussian Prince William Jarl (Hohenzollern) (1783). Her mother was Princess Maria Anna von Hessen-Homburg (1785- ).

Children

Maximillian had two sons, Ludwig and Otto. The Bavarian royal line is best known for Mad King Ludwig who built his fairy-tale castle in the Bavarian mountains during the 19th Century.Ludwig was named named after his grandfather, King Ludwig I. Prince Otto was born in 1848.

Ludwig II (1864-86)

The Bavarian royal line is best known for Mad King Ludwig who built his fairy-tale castle in the Bavarian mountains during the 19th Century. Oddly enough, the romantic, whimsical castles built by King Ludwig II are today the country's most recognizable attraction. Ludwig was officially born August 25, 1845. His father, who showed little interest in his son as a boy, was quite overcome, when his son was born. Ludwig's granfarher was delighted with the young prince. Three years after Ludwig's birth, Ludwig I abdicated. This was not because of his affair with Lola Montez as has often been claimed but as a result of the revolution of 1848. Liberal revolutions swept Europe in 1848. Ludwig came to have little regard for his mother. Leopold as a child had a touchy pride in his high position; he had to come first, whether it was in games with younger brother Otto (1848-1916) or the order of precedence when entering a room in company. Ludwig's interest in religion and spirituality also emerged in his early years. It is well known that Maximilian II was captivated by the ancient Greek ideal of a strict upbringing and was especially influenced by the Stoics. So, for example, the king instructed that his two sons, Ludwig and Otto, should never be allowed to eat until their hunger was fully satisfied. He was worried that his sons might grow up as weaklings or fall prey to decadence. There is limited information available on the clothes the two princes wore. The boys were dressed alike as is the fashion in many royal families. Ludwig was eventually declared insane and removed from office. His brother, Otto, succeded to the throne, but as he also considered insane, Prince Luitpold acted as regent.

Otto I (1886-1913)

Prince Otto was born in 1848. He was the younger son of King Maximilian II, of Bavaria and King Ludwig II's younger brother. He acceeded to the throne in 1886 upon his brother's death. As he was also considered insane, Prince Luitpold served a regent. Prince Otto was considered to be demented. He was proclaimed King in 1886 in spite of his mental derangement. Prince Otto showed serious signs of madness as early as 1875 and was soon afterwards was deprived of his freedom. His uncle Prince Luitpold was appointed Regent. King Otto was not replaced, however, until 1913. One source indicates that he ws deposed November 5, 1913. He died in 1916. Otto, like his brother Ludig, never married.

Fatherhood

Maximillian had excentric ideas about raising his children and his inflexible rule was probably the major cause of the mental instability of both boys.

Sucession

Created: May 7, 2002
Last updated: May 7, 2002