Maximillian II, King of Bavaria

Maximillian II (1811 - 1864) was the the eldest son of King Ludwig I and third king of Bavaria. Maximillian was married to Princess Marie of Prussia and was father of the Bavarian kings Ludwig II and Otto. Maximillian became king of Bavaria in 1848, when his father stepped down as King of Bavaria due to the Lola Montez scandal. Had Ludwig not abdicated, Maximillian would never had become king, as he died before his father. Maximillian was an intellectual king who was well known for his support of the arts and architecture. Had he not been royalty, Max was quoted saying that he would have preferred to be a scientist. The Bavarian state parliment building, the Maximilianeum, in Munich, was named after him, as are many streets throughout Bavaria. The Royal Castle of Hohenschwangau was built by Maximillian when he was the Crown Prince of Bavaria in the late 1830s.