A Special Gift

Ludwig II, nicknamed the "Swan King," was famous for his construction of the Neuschwanstein Castle. However, little is known to the public about his political career and powerlessness in his struggles for maintaining Bavarian independence from the Prussia-dominated German Empire.

This article will take the perspective of this Bavarian King, retelling the story of Bavaria joining the German Empire after the Franco-German War.

It was a really special present for me. Before receiving it, I have waited for three months.

The King of Prussia sent it to me to show his greatest respect to my good Bavarian nation and our friendly Bavarian civilians. The Prussian King William had just won a war against the aggressive Frenchmen, and the soldiers even captured the Versailles Palace. The whole German nationalities have been waiting for a glorious moment.

William’s gift finally arrived in Munich. I was curious to see what the gift was and how it looked like. In my mind, it may be something as big as the fountain in the palace. Its colour may be red or blue, diamonds would be on it. It was possible to believe that the gift was glorious, as it was gift between two monarchs of two different countries.

Things always act in a way you do not think of. When I rushed out to see the gift, disappointments came into my mind. The gift was nothing but a small yellow package with a few strings wrapping around. I opened the gift cautiously. Inside the tiny yellow package was a piece of written parchment. The words on it were in Prussian German, which actually showed many differences from the way we Bavarians spell and pronounce. With so much surprise, I read it moderately:

Dear Ludwig,

Greeting. Our brilliant Prussian army has won the war against France. Their emperor, Napoleon III, was now captured back to Berlin. A new government which complies with democracy is established with the assistance of us. What’s more, the new president Adolphe Thiers, agrees to return Alsace-Lorraine, our former glorious land, to our great German nation. Germany is a whole, instead of a series of small states owning little power. Apes

lone weak, apes together strong. Contemporarily, a new and powerful German Empire is formed, and I am going to be the emperor. My coronation will be at the Versailles Palace in Paris, France. You, the king of Bavaria, should be a part of our new country, and I am glad to hear your congratulations.

William, King of Prussia

Emperor of Germany

I was shocked. I could not believe that we would be ruled by foreigners. The Prussians, the barbarians. However, now, I have to call the savage king, the “emperor”. Confused by my actions, my servants asked me, “My majesty, joining the German Empire is a good choice, why aren’t you happy?”

“Obviously, this means the loss of our national sovereignty.” I sighed deeply.