#ludwig ii.

[marinasosseh]

(Neo-)Rokoko und Gralsträume im Schloß Linderhof

Während König Ludwig II. das Schloss Neuschwanenstein kaum bewohnte, hat er im Schloß Linderhof vor allem seinen Traum eines absoluten Herrschers verwirklicht, doch es half nichts. Ludwig II. konnte nicht an Ludwig XIV. anknüpfen, selbst wenn der ehemalige Jagdsitz seines Vaters Max II. nach und nach von ihm zu einem kleinen Versailles umgebaut wurde. Am Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts, zu Beginn der…

[livesunique]

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐁𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚, 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲

[otmaaromanovas]

New photographs of the last Romanov family (scroll to see them all!)

Some of the photographs were previously only available for viewing in very low resolution - see these photos for before vs after to show the difference!

The photos mostly originate from the meetings of the Romanov family with their Hessian relatives: the Tsarina’s brother Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig, his wife Grand Duchess Eleonore, and their children, Georg Donatus and Ludwig. Photographs include the family on the Standart yacht, in the Livadia Palace dining hall, and at events greeting the public, from around 1910 to 1912.

Sources and photos: 

📍Ольга, @om871218 (Pinterest), [accessed November 2024]

📍Darmstadt (Hesse), Hessisches Staatsarchiv Darmstadt

— I have cropped the photos so just the images are shown, and no background walls/screens 

[kaiserin-erzsebet]

I think before we try to discuss the gayness of historical figures, we do need to ask where we locate gayness in someone's life.

Is it having the attraction? Or is it kissing and having sex with someone of the same sex? Is it being in a same-sex relationship?

If we couple it exclusively to being intimate with another person, well then you are going to have a hard time saying much about historical people without a public scandal or very revealing personal correspondence to know.

Is a gay person only gay if they've had a relationship ?

The contentious follow up question to "historians will say they were friends" is "what if they were?"

What if someone is attracted to their friend but doesn't necessarily act on it for a whole myriad of reasons? Does that invalidate their expression of those feelings?

And I know this isn't an uncommon gay experience because there used to be all sorts of jokes in LGBT circles about being in love with your friend who you aren't sure would ever return that affection. There are still jokes about having "I'm jokingly flirting unless you're into it" banter with friends.

Having a secret relationship with a friend who goes on to get married is the whole premise of a Chappel Roan song. And that's not even taking into account historical pressure to marry for economic or political reasons instead of attraction.

And when historians say "we can't say that this person would have identified this way" it can also mean that this person may have never acted on an internal attraction that we can nevertheless see in the ways that they try to explain their feelings to themselves or others. They simply may have never understood that as an option.

Tldr: I don't think we can have a meaningful conversation about whether historical figures were gay without talking about the wide variety of gay and bisexual experiences with friendship and attraction.

[borgialucrezia]

"I thought he was an extraordinary looking man. Helmut is a wonderful actor. He looked like Ludwig, and I think he was magnificent in the part. He was, at all times, charming to me. We went out together." — John Moulder-Brown

[spghtrbry]

me and my amazing friend VENYA Created a test.

there are some unexpected questions and answers though

[cleopatragirlie]

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 '𝐋𝐮𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐠' (𝟏𝟗𝟕𝟑)

[scherzokinn]

richard wagner is so funny to me bc like he's known as that extremely racist anti-semitic german composer that hitler loved and then you read more about him and also learn he was a socialist femboy possibly bi-romantic who queerbaited king ludwig ii into giving him money, was hysterical about his close friend franz liszt whose daughter he also made pregnant (simultaneously cucking her husband) so then had to get married to her and also asked nietzsche to buy him panties once

[a-court-of-moonlight-and-ire]

good lord, it is 1am and im getting so stupidly angry about the fact that Rhysand is barely getting Feyre to engage with the night court's, or rather verlaris', culture. Like, your girlfriend is a fucking artist and youre not taking her to a MUSEUM??? youre not taking her to an OPERA HOUSE when going to the opera is like the classic monarch-date?? literally how are you you gonna be the ruler of this city thats apparently worldrenowened for its Arts if youre not even gonna show up and show your support for them as high lord. And dont try to tell me its bc hes too busy because that man is going to the club like all the time. and he should not be there!! Stop going to the club, start going to the ballet gala!! Also, Feyre never asked to go anywhere?? Again, shes an artist surely she would like to look at art. if i was in her shoes, after rhysand showed me velaris and how beautiful it is, I would go to the opera house and just stay there until ive seen literally everything. rhysand comes up to me asking me to do something for him and im like "hey man, as you can see im busy rn so respectfully im not doing all that shit"

[rwpohl]

[falco-ardosiaceus]

The heart of swan burnt in his childhood

[livesunique]

Herrenchiemsee New Palace, Chiemsee lake, Bavaria, Germany

[kelvinthegoatt]

Commission

[kaiserin-erzsebet]

Hi there! Sorry if you've gotten this type of ask before, I searched your blog first and didn't find anything, but we all know about the tumblr search algorithm. I was wondering what you think of Elisabeth das Musical, like its portrayals of the historical figures involved, or its general historical accuracy? I love that musical but I'm no historian, and from my Wikipedia research it does take some liberties. Just curious if you're familiar and have thoughts! Have a good day :)

Thanks for the ask. I don't know if I have ever really made one post addressing the historical accuracy of the musical.

To a degree, I don't know if historical accuracy is a fair metric for a musical that is clearly stylized. Death being a character makes it pretty clear that it is leaning into surrealism. I like to meet media where it is at in terms of what it is trying to be.

And I do personally enjoy the musical quite a lot. Songs from it still regularly appear on my writing playlists. In the current landscape of Sisi media, I think it remains one of the most interesting and compelling explorations of her as a difficult woman with a complex internal life instead of a girlboss or 19th century Princess Diana. She is selfish and sort of inconsistent and perpetually flirting with her own death, and I think that's closer than making her the feminist hero.

There are some key points that it does better than other pieces of media: It also does not portray nationalism as liberation, which I think it important. The Hungarian coronation is not an unmitigated triumph with Lucheni singing the secondary part about rising nationalism as a warning for the unstable times that are coming. The rise of Lueger and Schoenerer as a direct antecedent to Hitler is a bit too linear to be completely historically accurate, but I think the point the musical is making is ultimately a good one. The collapse of the empire unleashes violent nationalism and the musical is pointing that direction ominously.

I also do like that it includes Rudolph's politics and his conflict with his father, since some other things are quick to minimize that. The musical isn't necessarily about him, but I like what it does to explain his disillusioned liberalism.

I don't like other things in it: For example, it moves past the early 1860s in one song, which is a period of constitutional experimentation and the last gasp of absolutism. I wish that wasn't so flattened. That's more personal for me since that is the period I am the most interested in.

My biggest frustration about it is the portrayal of Archduchess Sophie. For all the complexity that the musical grants Elisabeth, Sophie is still just the overbearing, intrusive mother-in-law. Historically, this is a disservice to her and her relationship with Elisabeth. Yes, she could be overbearing, but it was for the good of the monarchy. She's not wrong to be concerned that a teenager doesn't know the gravity or importance of being empress and isn't prepared for it. I just want my girl to get her due without being reduced to an archconservative or nightmare mother-in-law.

On the whole, I still think the musical does more than most media to portray Elisabeth as she was in spirit if not completely in substance. I just wouldn't look to it for accuracy, and I don't think the surrealist elements are really trying for that anyway.

[borgialucrezia]

JOHN MOULDER-BROWN as PRINCE OTTO OF BAVARIA LUDWIG — 1972, Directed by Luchino Visconti