Ludwig ascended to the throne in at the age of 18 but increasingly withdrew from day-to-day affairs of state in favour of extravagant artistic and architectural projects. He commissioned the construction of lavish palaces: Neuschwanstein Castle , Linderhof Palace , and Herrenchiemsee. He was also a devoted patron of the composer Richard Wagner.
Ludwig spent all his own private royal revenues although not state funds as is commonly thought on these projects, borrowed extensively, and defied all attempts by his ministers to restrain him.
This extravagance was used against him to declare him insane, an accusation that has since come under scrutiny. Ludwig was taken into custody and effectively deposed on 12 June , and he and his doctor were found dead on the following day. His death was ruled to be a suicide, a decision that has since been disputed. Born at Nymphenburg Palace , [ 5 ] which is located in what is today part of central Munich , he was the elder son of Maximilian II of Bavaria and Marie of Prussia , Crown Prince and Princess of Bavaria, who became King and Queen in after the abdication of the former's father, Ludwig I , during the German revolution of — His parents intended to name him Otto, but his grandfather insisted that his grandson be named after him, since their common birthday, 25 August, is the feast day of Saint Louis IX of France , patron saint of Bavaria with Ludwig being the German form of Louis.
Like many young heirs in an age when kings governed most of Europe, Ludwig was continually reminded of his royal status. King Maximilian II wanted to instruct both of his sons in the burdens of royal duty from an early age. Some [ who? Ludwig was not close to either of his parents.
The King replied, "But what am I to say to him? After all, my son takes no interest in what other people tell him. Ludwig's childhood years did have happy moments. It was decorated in the Gothic Revival style with many frescoes depicting heroic German sagas, most notably images of Lohengrin , the Knight of the Swans. As an adolescent, Ludwig began a relationship with his aide de camp , Prince Paul , a member of the wealthy Bavarian Thurn und Taxis family. The two young men rode together, read poetry aloud, and staged scenes from the Romantic operas of Richard Wagner.
