Anybody recall crazy King Ludwig? Of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof castles fame... idolized Richard Wagner even.
Ludwig (Louis) II, King of Bavaria, Ludwig Friedrich Wilhelm; sometimes known in English as "Mad King Ludwig" (August 25, 1845 - June 13, 1886) was king of Bavaria from 1864 until his death.
Born in Nymphenburg (today part of Munich), he was the son of Maximilian II of Bavaria and Princess Marie of Prussia. Ludwig was continually reminded of his royal power as a child, and his education swayed between being extremely spoiled on some occasions to being severely controlled by his protectors on others. This no doubt played a role in what later accounts describe as strange behavior.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_II_of_Bavaria
Also interesting that both built their
elaborate fantasy castles on ruin and devastation.
"Hohenschwangau -- Prince Maximilian acquired the castle in 1832 which had been in ruins 700 years. He decided to create a fairy tale castle and as fantastic and picturesque as possible, with decorative towers and turrets, oreils, portals, balconies, pillars, crenellated parapets. It was so enchanting that when the King's father, Ludwig I, saw it for the first time in 1844, he cried out in amazement, "Hohenschwangau is truly a fairy tale castle" Here in the castle Ludwig found fuel for his mediaeval fantasies. "
http://www.castles.org/castles/Europe/Central_Europe/Germany/germany4.htm
Enter "elaborate fantasy castles", find the recesses of an teen's brain.