A Plan of Marriage
Shortly after his ascent of the throne Ludwig was visited by the
Emperor and Empress of Austria. Elizabeth was his cousin. At the time
that she went to Vienna as Empress he was only nine years old. She had,
later, often visited her parental home and the Bavarian royal family;
but on these occasions the shy and retiring Crown Prince had hardly
been allowed to see and talk to the beautiful sovereign of the great
neighbouring state. Matters were now changed. Now he was King, and
there was soon knitted between these two a bond of friendship which
lasted until Ludwig's death. He received the Emperor and Empress
with every mark of attention, endeavouring to make their sojourn in
his capital as pleasant and gay as possible. From Munich, Franz Josef
and his consort went on to Kissingen, where Ludwig paid them a return
visit. At this noted resort the young King of Bavaria was received with
enthusiasm. Here also he met the Russian royal family. The Empress
Maria Alexandrowna met him with motherly kindness, and seems at once
to have formed the plan of making him her son-in-law. Bavaria was not,
indeed, a great power, but it was a respected kingdom of the second
class. The Bavarian dynasty was old and esteemed; and its present
head was a brilliant personality, and, as it appeared, noble and
amiable in character. To Ludwig also, and the country he represented,
a connection of the kind must have presented itself as suitable and
desirable; albeit, the Grand Duchess Maria--the only daughter of the
Emperor and Empress--was at that time a mere child.
From Kissingen the Russian royal family went on to Schwalbach. After
a short stay in Munich the King of Bavaria sought them there,
accompanying--their untiring knight--the mother and daughter in
their excursions.
This scheme of marriage, entertained by the Russian and the Bavarian
courts, extended over several years. It seems to be proved beyond all
doubt that Ludwig for a time thought of asking the Grand Duchess's
hand. He even had the plans drawn of a Græco-Muscovite palace, which
he intended should be his wedding gift to the bride, and where,
as a newly-married couple, they should spend their honeymoon.
The following summer the Tsarina and her daughter came again to
Kissingen; there again the King met them. The mutual amiabilities and
civilities recommenced, and the Empress and the Bavarian Ministers
still seemed eager to have the connection brought about. The
announcement of the engagement was expected every day. But it was
expected in vain. The King hesitated to say the decisive word;
as a matter of fact, he never said it. People tried to guess the
reason. Some thought that the Tsarina's too great eagerness for
the match had cooled his own ardour for it. Others thought that the
beauty-loving youth had hesitated because he had discovered that the
little Russian Princess had a higher heel on one foot than on the
other. Hardly any one suspected the real reason. It must be sought in
Ludwig's restless, undecided temperament, and in his inborn aversion
to entering the married state. [3]