Famous Affinities of History: The Romance of Devotion. Volume 3Orr, Lyndon
History
Famous Affinities of History: The Romance of Devotion. Volume 3
Orr, Lyndon
Biography; Love; Women -- Biography
He dressed like an English fox-hunter, with a most extraordinary hat,
and what was odd and peculiar in others pleased him because he was odd
and peculiar himself. Therefore when Lola made her first appearance at
the Court Theater he was enchanted with her. He summoned her at once to
the palace, and within five days he presented her to the court, saying
as he did so:
"Meine Herren, I present you to my best friend."
In less than a month this curious monarch had given Lola the title of
Countess of Landsfeld. A handsome house was built for her, and a
pension of twenty thousand florins was granted her. This was in 1847.
With the people of Munich she was unpopular. They did not mind the
eccentricities of the king, since these amused them and did the country
no perceptible harm; but they were enraged by this beautiful woman, who
had no softness such as a woman ought to have. Her swearing, her
readiness to box the ears of every one whom she disliked, the huge
bulldog which accompanied her everywhere--all these things were beyond
endurance.
She was discourteous to the queen, besides meddling with the politics
of the kingdom. Either of these things would have been sufficient to
make her hated. Together, they were more than the city of Munich could
endure. Finally the countess tried to establish a new corps in the
university. This was the last touch of all. A student who ventured to
wear her colors was beaten and arrested. Lola came to his aid with all
her wonted boldness; but the city was in commotion.
Daggers were drawn; Lola was hustled and insulted. The foolish king
rushed out to protect her; and on his arm she was led in safety to the
palace. As she entered the gates she turned and fired a pistol into the
mob. No one was hurt, but a great rage took possession of the people.
The king issued a decree closing the university for a year. By this
time, however, Munich was in possession of a mob, and the Bavarians
demanded that she should leave the country.
Ludwig faced the chamber of peers, where the demand of the populace was
placed before him.
"I would rather lose my crown!" he replied.
The lords of Bavaria regarded him with grim silence; and in their eyes
he read the determination of his people. On the following day a royal
decree revoked Lola's rights as a subject of Bavaria, and still another
decree ordered her to be expelled. The mob yelled with joy and burned
her house. Poor Ludwig watched the tumult by the light of the leaping
flames.
He was still in love with her and tried to keep her in the kingdom; but
the result was that Ludwig himself was forced to abdicate. He had given
his throne for the light love of this beautiful but half-crazy woman.
She would have no more to do with him; and as for him, he had to give
place to his son Maximilian. Ludwig had lost a kingdom merely because
this strange, outrageous creature had piqued him and made him think
that she was unique among women.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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