Louis II - Roi de Baviere 1845-86 - Ludwig Friedrich Wilhelm II, King of Bavaria (August 25, 1845 - June 13, 1886) was king of Bavaria from 1864 until shortly before his death. He is also referred to as the "Swan King" in English and "der M酺chenk霵ig" ("the Fairy tale King") in German. Ludwig is best known as an eccentric who died under mysterious circumstances. (Ludwig's mental state was hotly disputed toward the end of his life, and has been a continued subject of speculation among historians. Ludwig's legacy is also intertwined with the history of art and architecture, as he commissioned the construction of several extravagant fantasy castles. ?007 TopFoto