LUIGI II, king of Bavaria. — Born on 25 Aug. 1845 at Nymphenburg, died on 13 June 1886 in Lake Starnberg. Son of Maximilian II of Bavaria and of Marie of Prussia, he succeeded his father on the throne in 1864. He discovered the genius of Richard Wagner and facilitated the performance of his works.
Of an artistic temperament, he had no interest in politics and allowed the government of the State to be directed by his ministers, who adopted measures gravely contrary to the Catholic Church; among other things, he supported the heretical and schismatic schemes of Döllinger. On Bismarck’s advice, though reluctant and jealous of the autonomy of his kingdom also for dynastic reasons, in Dec. 1870 L. offered the German imperial dignity to the king of Prussia. Owing to the great expenditure on buildings and to the eccentricity of his character, he was interdicted from exercising his sovereign powers. He died a few days after this removal, together with the psychiatrist Gudden, who had drawn up the report on his insanity. The circumstances of the double death still remain shrouded in mystery.