Ludwig II of Bavaria

Ludwig Friedrich Wilhelm von Wittelsbach or Ludwig II of Bavaria, also known as Ludwig the Mad (August 25, 1845 - June 13, 1886) was king of Bavaria from 1864 to 1886.

Born in Nymphenburg palace, near Munich, he was the son of Maximilian II of Bavaria and Princess Marie of Prussia. Ludwig ascended to the Bavarian throne at age 18 following his father's death. He was by all accounts strange to begin with, and as his rule progressed, he became even more antisocial and withdrew into seclusion in the Alps most of the time, where he built several expensive fairytale castles. The most famous, Neue Burg Hohenschwangau (now known as Neuschwanstein), was not completed until years after his death, and is now a popular tourist attraction.

Mystery surrounds his death by drowning in Lake Starnberg in Berg, south of Munich.

Ludwig was a major patron of composer Richard Wagner. He was cousin to Elisabeth of Austria called "Sisi" ("Sissi").

Castles include:

• Herrenchiemsee
• Linderhof palace
• Neuschwanstein castle, built next to his father's castle: Hohenschwangau castle.
• Schachen king's house

• Mysterious death of King Ludwig: http://www.schwangau.de/en/king_ludwig.html
• Eyewitness Report during the events on June 10, 1886 in Hohenschwangau: http://www.koenig-ludwig.org/english/poppeler_report.php