When I see or read anything about Ludwig I immeadiatly recall of most european absolutist kings (Louis XIV, John V of Portugal and his father Peter II of Portugal, or Peter I of Russia). Any other sugestions of other time spans and world regions?
sharePossibly the most interesting such figure is someone who's actually mentioned in the film: Rudolph II, the 16th century Hapsburg emperor.
Unlike Ludwig II, Rudolph had power; but like Ludwig, he was no great military leader and excelled rather as one of the great visionary patrons of the arts.
Rudolph would be a great subject for an ambitious film.
It put me in mind of Howard Hughes in The Aviator and George III in The Madness of King George.
shareOther historical characters who resemble Ludwig in some way or another including architectural megalomania include Emperor Nero, Emperor Hadrian, Khusraw II King of Kings of Iran and of non Iran, William Beckford the writer of Vatheck and builder of Fonthill Abbey, King George IV as a recklessly spendthrift builder, the Fifth Duke of Portland at Welbeck Abbey, Sarah Winchester, etc. etc.
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