The delight was great all over Germany. It was known that it was the young King of Bavaria, who had spoken the word at the right moment. Only the initiated were cognisant that he had done it under pressure and after hesitation. Hardly a dinner was given, and no political meeting was held, but the health of "Ludwig the German" was drunk with enthusiasm. The greatest satisfaction prevailed at headquarters. He was no longer now "the boy who did not know his own mind." Both Bismarck and the King of Prussia expressed themselves in terms of the warmest recognition of the Bavarian Sovereign. The proclamation of the Empire was to take place at Versailles on the 18th of January, 1871. Three days before this date the future emperor summoned the court chaplain to him. He spoke of Ludwig II.'s idealism, and added: "Whatever his abilities may be, he must at any rate be very highly considered." Bismarck at an entertainment rose to his feet, and made the following speech:--"I drink to the health of his Majesty the King of Bavaria, and to the prosperity of his dynasty, which has extended through a thousand years! I can only repeat that as long as I have a voice in matters, a step shall never be taken which might wound Bavaria in its rightful position. His Majesty the King will find in me, as long as I live, a servant as attached as if I were still his vassal." [24] After the death of Ludwig II. the Chancellor of the German Empire declared: "In 1870 Ludwig was our only influential friend in Germany." CHAPTER XVIII The Bavarian Troops Return to Munich--King Ludwig and the Crown Prince of Germany The war was ended; the peace concluded. A great German Empire had been re-established. Germany had been given an Emperor--and that Emperor was the King of Prussia. With the last-named fact the essence of the new Empire is characterised: Prussia was the paramount country. The other four and seventy states were not to be without a voice in the decision of the common affairs of the realm, and each one was to retain a certain independence, but Prussia was, and intended to be, the state to lead the course of events--the centre of gravity which was to decide the balance. Thanks to Ludwig II.'s obstinacy, his kingdom had formally received a special position. The new constitution granted Bavaria in a special paragraph [25] the right to all the attributes which are considered as belonging to national independence: she retained, for instance, her own Minister of War, her own army, her own Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the right to independent diplomatic and consular services. The appearance of sovereignty was retained. But Ludwig's burning desire to extend the frontiers of his kingdom had not been fulfilled. This circumstance was the cause, on his side, of much displeasure towards the Royal House of Prussia.