Königreich Bayern Update #4
1848 Revolutions and the Abdication of Ludwig I
In 1848 revolutions broke out all through German speaking Europe which stressed pan-Germanism, and emphasized popular discontent with the traditional, largely autocratic political structure of the thirty-nine independent states. Bavaria was not spared from these revolutions as the autocratic rule of Ludwig I came under heavy attack from liberals within Bavaria.
Berlin 1848
Munich 1848. Bavarian troops quell an armed uprising outside Ludwig's palace. Many chanted for Ludwig's head on a pike.
King Ludwig I was forced to abdicate on
March 20, 1848. In an attempt to pacify the public, contain the spreading of revolutionary ideas and save the monarchy by offering concessions. Next to the political reasons, there was a moral issue: Ludwig I, still a womanizer at heart, had kept up a hot love affair with Lola Montez despite it becoming public 2 years earlier, even elevating her to the aristocracy by making her a countess. The love affair seemed morally unacceptable, in particular for the monarch of such a staunchly Catholic country, and the lady's rumoured political influence on Ludwig was widely regarded as unacceptable.
The aristocratic cabinet, in an attempt to appease the masses and with his own family's support, tried to make the king accept constitutional monarchy; however Ludwig I, who had become increasingly reactionary in his middle and later years, instead handed the crown over to his eldest son Maximilian II, and declared:
Regieren konnte ich nicht mehr, und einen Unterschreiber abgeben wollte ich nicht. Nicht Sklave zu werden, wurde ich Freiherr.
"Govern I could no longer, and to give up an underwriter I did not wish. To not become a slave, I became a lord."
Ludwig became the only monarch in the German speaking lands to lose his title. Despite Ludwig's achievements in the arts and the victorious war over Baden which propelled Bavaria to great power status, the people of Bavaria had had enough of Ludwig I.
Maximilian II the Jingo
Maximilian II was handed the crown of Bavaria by his father and at the beginning of his rein Bavaria was still an absolute monarchy. Immediately the people of Bavaria insisted he attend the Frankfurt Assembly, which sought to proclaim a German Empire based on the principles of parliamentary democracy. Maximilian II attended but he had no actual plans of subordinating himself to a Prussian Kaiser or taking part in any creation of a German nation. Ultimately Maximilian was able to create the illusion that he supported liberalism and pan-Germanism by attending the event and thus the pressure for political reform in Bavaria began to die down in Bavaria, for now..............
Maximilian II attended the 1849 Frankfurt Assembly due to the insistence of his population.
1850 Royal Bavarian Army Military Reforms
Although the Bavarian army had great success over Baden 2 years ago, in 1849 it was in no shape to fight any major wars. The revolutions of 1848 had taken a toll on the Royal Bavarian Army. While Ludwig I was mostly interested in the arts, Maximilian II was a jingoist and in 1850 he started a reform of the army.
New equipment included breech-loaded rifles and iron breech loaded artillery. Furthermore army professionalism, military plans and statistics were emphasized in the newly reformed Royal Bavarian Army.
Army professionalism.
Bavarian cavalry
One of the three Bavarian armies in 1852. This one was the best of the three at the time due to the many guards troops in it. Well armed but as you can see many of the newly trained troops lacked in actual battle experience.
By January 1852, Bavaria has a standing army of 120,000 professional soldiers and was able to mobilize another 100,000 men. The Royal Bavarian Army was well trained and armed with the latest technology. The country was taxed heavily during this period of time to pay for it but Maximilian I the Jingo has his army.
Bavaria's infamy in 1850 was still high due to the annexation of Baden 3 years earlier. The jingoist king and his supporters must wait for their time but by the time the army reforms are done in 1852 the infamy should be greatly decreased.