Expectations for leaders are often set at ridiculously high, as they often must be for people of power. This causes many to be set up for failure, or even to rebel and ignore their responsibilities entirely. A great example of disregarding one’s job as a leader is Ludwig II of Bavaria, who was infamous for spending all the money of his kingdom on extravagant castles, running his country into debt. Ludwig II is the perfect example of someone who was thrown into power due to heresy but destroyed his country because of his own self-interest.
Part of the reason for Ludwig II’s failure to lead was his upbringing. At the age of 18, Ludwig II became king of Bavaria, which was troublesome as he had not learned very much about politics or how to lead. …show more content…
Ludwig II drove his country into major debt due to his fantastical ideas of what a kingdom should look like. Ludwig focused much more on the aesthetic of his kingdom rather than how it functioned. He was completely unaware of how much he was spending, and “his riches appeared inexhaustible to him, and he thought it an easy matter to realise all his dreams” (Tschudi 198). Ludwig II left no table unturned when it came to creating and renovating his castles, and “in order to ascertain how the mansion would look when complete, he caused walls to be built and resorted to other radical expedients, which necessitated a considerable increase of expenditure and eventually lead to his financial ruin” (Tschudi 199). This obviously lead to financial turmoil and he requested more and more loans from others. Castle building was his passion, his obsession, that was taking over his life, ignoring that he was ruining the Bavarian economy, “he continued to build as though his coffers were full to overflowing. It was now his chief pleasure in life. Inevitably he soon needed more money” (McIntosh 266). Ludwig II kept himself secluded in his creations, letting no outsiders enter his sanctuaries. His isolation in his expensive castles led to more and more people, including the leaders of the Catholic Party, irritated with him and wanting him removed from the
Part of the reason for Ludwig II’s failure to lead was his upbringing. At the age of 18, Ludwig II became king of Bavaria, which was troublesome as he had not learned very much about politics or how to lead. …show more content…
Ludwig II drove his country into major debt due to his fantastical ideas of what a kingdom should look like. Ludwig focused much more on the aesthetic of his kingdom rather than how it functioned. He was completely unaware of how much he was spending, and “his riches appeared inexhaustible to him, and he thought it an easy matter to realise all his dreams” (Tschudi 198). Ludwig II left no table unturned when it came to creating and renovating his castles, and “in order to ascertain how the mansion would look when complete, he caused walls to be built and resorted to other radical expedients, which necessitated a considerable increase of expenditure and eventually lead to his financial ruin” (Tschudi 199). This obviously lead to financial turmoil and he requested more and more loans from others. Castle building was his passion, his obsession, that was taking over his life, ignoring that he was ruining the Bavarian economy, “he continued to build as though his coffers were full to overflowing. It was now his chief pleasure in life. Inevitably he soon needed more money” (McIntosh 266). Ludwig II kept himself secluded in his creations, letting no outsiders enter his sanctuaries. His isolation in his expensive castles led to more and more people, including the leaders of the Catholic Party, irritated with him and wanting him removed from the