THE RECIPIENT OF THE LETTER

King Ludwig II of Bavaria

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King Ludwig II of Bavaria was born on August 25, 1845, in the Nymphenburg Castle in Munich, the eldest son of King Maximilian II of Bavaria and Queen Marie Friederike, Princess of Prussia. Ludwig had a younger brother, later King Otto I. The education of the two offspring of the royal house was entrusted to learned tutors, but Ludwig, an intelligent student, had no equal interest in all subjects of study. In the long time he spent in the royal castle of Hohenschwangau he cultivated a strong passion for poetry. 
He lost his father at the age of 18 and succeeded him to the throne. Despite his young age, he initially proved responsible in his duties, although not very competent. Later, he showed an aversion to business and state matters. Gifted with architectural imagination, he built the castles of Linderhof, Herrenchiemsee and Neuschwanstein. As he increasingly neglected his royal obligations and led an eccentric life, he was banned by his ministers in 1886, and taken to Starnberger See Castle. A few days later he was found drowned in the lake. His body was buried in St. Michael's Church in Munich. His heart, according to the custom of the Bavarian kings, was placed in a silver urn in the chapel of the Altötting sanctuary.