Photograph of King Otto

Otto of Bavaria (1848–1916, king 1886–1916) was born on 27 April 1848 in Munich as the son of King Maximilian II of Bavaria (1811–1864, king 1848–1864). He had shown the first psychological abnormalities when still a teenager. Depressive, apathetic and aggressive conditions alternated. He had therefore been under medical observation since 1871. From 1872, he was kept away from the court and initially accommodated at Ludwigstal in the Bavarian Forest and in Nymphenburg Palace; from 1875 he resided in Schleißheim Palace. From March 1880, he spent the final 36 years of his life hidden from the public in Fürstenried Palace.

Since he was considered incapable of governing, after the death of his older brother Ludwig II (1845–1886, king 1864–1886) on 13 June 1886, his uncle Luitpold (1821–1912, regent 1886–1912) was appointed as prince regent. After his death, Luitpold’s son Ludwig (1845–1921, regent 1912–1913, king 1913–1918) took over the regency. He brought about a change of rule on 5 November 1913 and ascended to the Bavarian throne as King Ludwig III. Until then Otto had served as king.

To the digitised copy