King Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845–86), a homosexual and a strange, obsessive character, came from a royal family, the Wittelsbachs, which had a strong streak of madness in it. Ludwig virtually fell in love with Wagner and his music, calling the composer his ‘one true friend whom I shall love until death.... If only, I had the opportunity to die for you’ he added. After he succeeded to the Bavarian throne in 1864, Ludwig paid Wagner’s debts, installed him in a comfortable villa and ordered the construction of a festival theatre in Munich for performances of the Ring. Ludwig’s ministers, who suspected Wagner of political interference in Bavarian affairs, halted the building work and forced the composer out of the country. He fled to Switzerland, where the besotted King purchased a villa for him. Ludwig also advanced Wagner 200,000 marks to build the Festspielhaus in Bayreuth, which opened in 1876. After Wagner left Bavaria, King Ludwig became a morbid recluse. He occupied himself constructing fantastic castles like the ‘fairytale’ Neuschwanstein. Ludwig was certified mad in 1886 and a few days later drowned in the Starnberger Lake at his castle of Berg during a walk with his psychiatrist. The psychiatrist also died.

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