LUDWIG THE SECOND KING OF BAVARIA BY CLARA TSCHUDI AUTHOR OF "MARIE ANTOINETTE," "EUGÉNIE, EMPRESS OF THE FRENCH," "MARIA SOPHIA, QUEEN OF NAPLES," ETC. ETC. TRANSLATED FROM THE NORWEGIAN BY ETHEL HARRIET HEARN "Certains caractères échappent à l'analyse logique." George Sand. WITH COLOURED PORTRAIT London SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO. LIM. NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO. 1908 CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE 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--Richard Wagner leaves Munich 40 VII. The Political Situation--The Schleswig-Holstein Question --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 the Engaged Couple--Ludwig meets the Emperor Napoleon and the Empress Eugénie in Augsburg--The King breaks his Promise of Marriage 75 XI. After the Parting with Sophie--Episodes from the King's Excursions in the Highlands 81 XII. The Empress of Russia visits Bavaria--The Duchess Sophie's Engagement and Marriage--An Unexpected Meeting with the Duchesse d'Alençon--A Last Attempt to forge the Links of Hymen around Ludwig 86 XIII. Ludwig and the Artistes of the Stage--Josephine Schefzky 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 is Proclaimed 118 XVIII. The Bavarian Troops Return to Munich--King Ludwig and the Crown Prince of Germany 131 XIX. A Visit from the Emperor Wilhelm--Ludwig Withdraws more and more from the World 138 XX.