The Review of the Troops in 1875--Crown Prince Friedrich of Prussia
The Bavarian people had accustomed themselves to Ludwig's
peculiarities. Foreign states and peoples still regarded his ways and
actions as signs of genius. The King himself seemed to be indifferent
as to the impression his conduct made upon others.
Military pageants had never interested him; he had had from his
childhood a morbid dread of firearms and of war. On the return of the
troops in 1871 he had not even glanced at the wounded--not because his
heart was wanting in sympathy for them, but because his nerves could
not endure the sight. Great, therefore, was the general astonishment
when it was announced in the summer of 1875 that it was the King's
intention to hold a review. People found it difficult to think that
he would make this exception from his hermit habits.
The report, however, was not contradicted. The troops stationed at
the different garrisons were already out at the autumn manoeuvres
when 14,000 men were recalled to the capital. Ludwig wished to show
the World that he had the chief command of his army. His intention
had hardly been made known before thousands of strangers flocked
to Munich to see him. On Sunday, the 15th of August, 1875, all the
streets were filled to overflowing. The Monarch's brilliant suite took
up its position between the entrance to the royal gardens and the
Feldherren Halle. When he rode up on his white horse that beautiful
Sunday morning, at the head of his staff, the crowds were thrilled
with love and admiration for him.
The King no longer possessed his fascinating beauty; but his features
were still refined and noble, and his eyes full of soul, and brilliant
as before. Despite his youth, he had become very stout, but being tall,
his figure was as imposing as ever. He had only to show himself to
arouse enthusiasm.
With the dignity which was his by birth, and with the fascinating
amiability which he displayed in his best moments, he bowed in all
directions. The troops were forbidden to greet him with cheers, but
no such regulation restricted the citizens. The enthusiasm increased
like an avalanche; it spread from street to street, giving unmistakable
indication of how dearly he was still beloved. At the conclusion of the
review he rode up to Princess Gisela, [28] who had been present at it,
sitting in the King's state carriage. At this moment he was surrounded
from all sides. His servants endeavoured to hold the crowd back, but
he hastened to prevent them. It was with the utmost trouble that a way
was made for him when at a foot's pace he returned to the city. So
overwhelming was the enthusiasm that he felt himself constrained to
write the same day, in his own hand, a letter of thanks for all the
proofs of loyalty and love which he had met with. This was the last
time he gave the citizens of Munich an opportunity of doing homage
to him; the last time that his heart proudly beat time with those of
his subjects.
Nevertheless, this bright day, so full of feeling, was by no means
the outcome of noble thought: the German Crown Prince was in the habit
of holding a review every autumn of the Bavarian troops. Jealousy of
him had caused the lonely King to appear once more before the world.
At the return of the troops in 1871 his displeasure with Friedrich
had been very apparent. It had not grown less with the course
of years. Ludwig II. suffered more deeply under the supremacy of
Prussia than any of the other princes because his kingdom was larger
than that of any other prince, and because he was morbid and his
pride wounded. While his Ministers in 1870-71 were spinning out
the negotiations respecting the federation of the German States,
Friedrich had uttered words of anger against Bavaria of which its
King had not remained in ignorance. He looked upon the Crown Prince's
annual visit to his kingdom as an insult; and he was possessed by the
morbid conviction that the latter, when Emperor, would drive him out
of his dominions. "It is not pleasant to be swallowed up," he often
repeated. Wilhelm I. had, in 1872, sent him the Order of the Black
Eagle; but the envoy conveying it had been unable to gain an audience
of the King, despite the earnest representations of the Prussian
Minister at Munich. At last, however, Ludwig was persuaded to send a
letter of thanks. He wrote that "it would give him pleasure to receive
the Emperor's Order at a later date, when he was feeling less fatigued;
for the time being he was over-tired and could not fix any day"!
Still, he by no means cherished unfriendly feelings towards the old
Emperor. During the last years of his life he mentioned the attempts
to assassinate the latter as one of the reasons for his own distaste
for mixing with the world. And when Wilhelm, accompanied by the Grand
Duchess of Baden, visited Bayreuth, in order to be present at a Wagner
festival, he sent his confidential secretary to arrange everything in
as pleasant a manner as possible for him and his daughter. Wilhelm,
on his side, had only friendly feelings towards Ludwig. He repeatedly
expressed his regret that the King of Bavaria withdrew so much from
the world; and he never forgot the services he had done him and his
country. But the King of Prussia was three times the age of the King
of Bavaria; he was, moreover, a soldier from the crown of his head
to the soles of his feet, and of any real understanding between them
there could be little possibility, since Ludwig by no means shared
the enthusiasm which was generally felt at the reconstitution of the
German Empire, and was weary of the continued praise at his attitude
in the years 1870-71. He was a Bavarian before all else. Often he
expressed himself: "I am honoured only by the colours of my country."
Crown Prince Friedrich was friendly and straightforward in manner, and
he made a favourable impression on the Bavarians. It is, however, known
beyond a doubt that he repaid the King's jealousy with contempt. To
those with whom he was on terms of confidence he called Ludwig "Le
roi fainéant." He was of a lively nature, and he did not always weigh
his words. After a journey of inspection he said to some Bavarian
officers who had assembled in order to bid him farewell: "In ten years'
time you will belong entirely to us." This utterance was repeated
to the King, who was exceedingly annoyed at it. His Minister at the
Prussian court received instructions to request an explanation from
the Crown Prince. Friedrich made answer that he had only referred to
the military alliance; but Ludwig was not satisfied with this reply.
At the beginning of the seventies the German Crown Prince and
his wife desired, for reasons of health, to spend the summer at
Berchtesgaden. The King hastened to put hindrances in the way of
the contemplated visit, giving as an excuse for not receiving them,
that his villa there was to be used as a residence for his insane
brother Otto. A lady of the German aristocracy who owned a house
at Berchtesgaden offered the Crown Prince hers. Ludwig now suddenly
changed his mind. The following characteristic letter shows that for
the moment he regretted his want of friendliness:--
"My dear Friend,
"I see from your kind letter that you have already decided to
make use of the house offered you by Fräulein von Waldenburg. I
am really very sorry for this; the more so that Otto, according
to the doctors' orders, is to continue his cure at Nymphenburg,
and my villa at Berchtesgaden would therefore, dear cousin,
have been entirely at the disposal of yourself and your family.
"I cherish the hope that the stay in the strong mountain air will
give the Crown Princess and your children pleasure and strength.
"I conclude with the wish that you may all like beautiful
Berchtesgaden. Praying that you will kiss the hand of the Crown
Princess for me, I remain in old friendship,
"Your faithful affectionate cousin,
"Ludwig."
When Friedrich came to Munich in later years he always stayed
there incognito. He visited the art and industrial museums, and
received some of his old companions-in-arms; but he never visited
the King, nor did the King ever seek him. The antipathy grew on both
sides. Unfortunately, Ludwig was at no pains to conceal his feelings;
he spoke often and unreservedly of his bitterness towards this member
of the Prussian Imperial House. His entourage did not look upon it as a
duty to preserve silence with regard to what they had heard. The King's
words sometimes journeyed viâ Vienna to Berlin, and the effect made
itself felt in due course. It was in 1874, at the railway station at
Munich, that he greeted the Emperor Wilhelm for the last time. After
this date the "victorious old man" also travelled incognito through
Bavaria when he visited Gastein in the summers.