George Sand.

WITH COLOURED PORTRAIT
London
SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO. LIM.
NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO.
1908

CONTENTS

CHAPTERPAGE
I.[Descent and Education]1
II.[Fundamental Traits of Ludwig’s Character]11
III.[“Le Roi est mort! Vive le Roi!”]17
IV.[A Plan of Marriage]22
V.[King Ludwig and Richard Wagner]25
VI.[Ludwig’s First Visit to Switzerland—RichardWagner leaves Munich]40
VII.[The Political Situation—The Schleswig-HolsteinQuestion—The War of 1866]53
VIII.[The King makes the Tour of his Kingdom]58
IX.[Ludwig’s Betrothal]63
X.[The King goes to Paris—Disharmonies between theEngaged Couple—Ludwig meets the Emperor Napoleon and the EmpressEugénie in Augsburg—The King breaks his Promise ofMarriage]75
XI.[After the Parting with Sophie—Episodes from theKing’s Excursions in the Highlands]81
XII.[The Empress of Russia visits Bavaria—The DuchessSophie’s Engagement and Marriage—An Unexpected Meeting withthe Duchesse d’Alençon—A Last Attempt to forge theLinks of Hymen around Ludwig] 86
XIII.[Ludwig and the Artistes of the Stage—JosephineSchefzky]92
XIV.[Prince Hohenlohe—Political Frictions]99
XV.[A Meeting between Bismarck and Ludwig]108
XVI.[Outbreak of the War with France]111
XVII.[During the War—The German Empire isProclaimed]118
XVIII.[The Bavarian Troops Return to Munich—King Ludwig andthe Crown Prince of Germany]131
XIX.[A Visit from the Emperor Wilhelm—Ludwig Withdraws moreand more from the World]138
XX.[Prince Otto’s Insanity—The King’s MorbidSensations]145
XXI.[The Review of the Troops in 1875—Crown PrinceFriedrich of Prussia]151
XXII.[King Ludwig and the Empress Elizabeth]158
XXIII.[King Ludwig and Queen Marie]164
XXIV.[State and Church—Ignaz vonDöllinger—Ludwig’s Letters to his old Tutor]168
XXV.[Ludwig II. in Daily Life]175
XXVI.[Ludwig and Richard Wagner—The King’s Visit toBayreuth]180
XXVII.[King Ludwig and the Artists of the Stage and Canvas]187
XXVIII.[Private Performances at the Hof Theater at Munich]193
XXIX.[King Ludwig and his Palaces]197
XXX.[King Ludwig’s Friendships]204
XXXI.[The Actor Kainz]209
XXXII.[A Journey to Switzerland]214
XXXIII.[King Ludwig and his Servants]221
XXXIV.[The Mad King]225
XXXV.[The Last Meeting between Mother and Son]230
XXXVI.[Pecuniary Distress]234
XXXVII.[Plots]239
XXXVIII.[Preparations to Imprison the King—The PeasantryAssemble to his Rescue]244
XXXIX.[A Friend in Need—Ludwig’s Proclamation]250
XL.[The King’s Last Hours at Neuschwanstein]257
XLI.[Schloss Berg—The King’s Death]265
XLII.[Conclusion]272

LUDWIG THE SECOND
KING OF BAVARIA

CHAPTER I