A Friend in Need--Ludwig's Proclamation
It was the earnest desire of all who wished the King well that he
should proceed to his capital, a course which undoubtedly would
have been the only means of saving him. He had during the forenoon
telegraphed for his aide-de-camp, Count Alfred von Dürckheim. "This
man is attached to me," said he, as he sent off the telegram. Just
as the Court Commission was leaving Neuschwanstein, after its short
imprisonment, the Count arrived at Hohenschwangau, with horses which
had been driven half to death in order to arrive in time. He hastened
up to the castle. The gendarmes and the firemen were still standing at
arms outside it. Dürckheim expressed his recognition of their conduct,
but sent them home at the King's desire.
The shy Ludwig, who had never been the friend of the fair sex, had at
this time a lady staying at his castle. Baroness Truchsesz--Spanish
by birth, but married into the Bavarian aristocracy--had in the early
morning hours when she heard that his Majesty was to be incarcerated,
hastened to Neuschwanstein. She had precipitated herself into his
sleeping apartment, without allowing herself to be announced, and had
again and again assured him of her devotion. He quietly permitted the
stream of her eloquence to pass over him, and gave her his hand. "Dear
Baroness," he said in his most amiable tone, "will not you allow
me to send for your husband, so that you may return to your villa
under his protection?" The Baroness would not agree to this, but
implored Ludwig instantly to go to Munich. "I will do so," he said,
"though not at once." "I will go with your Majesty!" she cried. He
made a deprecatory gesture. "It would not do," he answered kindly. The
Baroness took up her position in the ante-room, firmly determined not
to leave his threshold. "If matters were not so serious I should feel
tempted to laugh at the good Baroness," said Ludwig to Count Dürckheim,
who found her there.
This last friend also declared his repairing to Munich to be
imperative. Had the King at this time shown himself in his capital,
it is more than probable that his people would have flocked round
him to protect him.
He declared meanwhile that he was quite tired out; still, he added,
he would go there the following day.
Between Bismarck and Ludwig there had always existed very kindly
relations. "I was particularly honoured with his esteem," the Prince
once said. [34] "We corresponded on important political questions
until the last years of his life. When he expressed his views he was
as amiable towards my person as he was intellectual in his judgment of
the different questions that were being discussed." At this desperate
moment both the King and Count Dürckheim bethought themselves of the
great Chancellor of the German Empire.
The unsuccessful Court Commission, which had omitted to give the
officials of the district any intimation as to what was about to take
place, had been careful enough to inform the telegraph officials
of Hohenschwangau of the impending overthrow. Ludwig's telegrams
could therefore not be sent from Bavaria, but had to be conveyed
across the frontier to the neighbouring Tyrol. Dürckheim craved
Bismarck's help. The Chancellor answered: "His Majesty ought to drive
at once to Munich and take care of his interests before the assembled
Parliament." Later, Bismarck tells us: "I thought thus: either the King
is well, when he will follow my advice, or he is really mad!" He added:
"His Majesty did not go to Munich; he took no determination; he was
no longer in possession of his mental powers, but let fate invade him."
Ludwig and Dürckheim in conjunction drew up a lengthy telegram to the
Emperor of Austria, imploring him to intervene. "Put to!" shouted
the Count into the stables. "Drive to the Austrian frontier-town
of Reutte as quickly as you can, even if you break all your horses'
wind!" At the same time the Empress of Austria also exerted herself to
the utmost from Possenhofen to induce her husband to step in. Count
Dürckheim, in the King's name, commanded Baron Frankenstein to form
a new Ministry; and the battalion of jægers in Kempten was ordered
to come and protect his Majesty. This last despatch went through
the hands of Mayr; the valet added to it some words which caused the
commandant to ask the Minister of War if he was to obey the order. An
answer in the negative was received.
It cannot with certainty be shown what other precautions Count
Dürckheim took in order to save his master. He was mentioned as the
author of a proclamation which was issued the following day in the
King's name: [35]
"I, Ludwig II., King of Bavaria, feel myself constrained to make
the following manifesto to my beloved Bavarians, and the collective
German people.
"Prince Luitpold desires against my will to make himself ruler
of my land. My former Ministry has duped my beloved people by
erroneous representations as to the state of my health, and has
been guilty of high treason.
"I feel myself physically and mentally in as good health as any
other monarch. The projected treason has come in a manner so
surprising that I have not been given time to defeat the base
intentions of the Ministry.
"Should the projected deeds of violence be put into execution,
and Prince Luitpold seize the reins of government against my will,
I give my faithful friends the task of protecting with all their
means and under all circumstances my rights.
"I expect of all the officials of Bavaria, above all from the
gallant Bavarian officers and the soldiers of Bavaria, that they
will, in remembrance of the solemn oath with which they swore
loyalty to me, remain faithful to me and stand by me in this
heavy hour.
"Every loyal citizen is called upon to brand Prince Luitpold and
the former Ministry as traitors.
"I am one with my beloved people, and cherish the firm belief
that they will protect me.
"I turn at the same time to the rest of the German people and to
the Allied Princes.
"As much as it was in my power I contributed to build up the
German Empire. Therefore I dare expect of Germany that she will
not allow a German Prince to be wrongfully displaced.
"If I am not granted time to address myself directly to the German
Emperor, I am confident that no objection will be raised to my
delivering up the traitors to the law of my country.
"My good Bavarians will certainly not fail me!
"In the event that I may be prevented by force from protecting
my rights, I call upon every faithful Bavarian to gather round
my adherents, and to help them to defeat the projected treason
against King and country.
"Given at Hohenschwangau, the 9th of June 1886,
"Ludwig the Second.
"(King of Bavaria, Count Palatine, etc.)."
Meanwhile the events in the capital went their way. On the 10th of
June the Government published the proclamation which signified that
the King's uncle had become Regent, and that the Chamber was to be
summoned to declare Ludwig II. insane. In the course of the night Count
Dürckheim was twice summoned by the Minister of War to Munich. The
first telegram he laid quietly aside. The second he placed before
the King, adding that unhappily he was obliged to obey it, as in the
contrary case he would be charged with insubordination. Ludwig was
in great distress at losing him. "You know how greatly I wish you
to remain with me," he said. "Telegraph to my uncle and ask him if
he will not consent to my keeping you." The Count did this, but the
answer to his request was short and decided: "The Ministry of War
adheres to its orders." Deeply moved, the Count took leave, never to
see his King again. In the ante-room Mayr was awaiting him. The valet,
who wished the new Government success and prosperity, was alarmed at
the precautions Dürckheim had taken. "Do you think his Majesty will
decide to go to the capital?" he asked. It was with a heavy heart
that the Count answered: "No, Mayr; I do not think so." [36]