MAXIMILIAN II (1811-1864, from 1848 King of Bavaria)

Fine letter in Italian with translation, signed, to Giacomo Luigi Brignole (1797-1853, from 1834 Cardinal), thanking him for his good wishes "on the return of the Holy Nativity", wishing him in return "every greatest happiness", and asking him to be persuaded of his "perfect esteem", 1 side folio and conjugate blank, Munich, 31st December

While still crown prince, Maximilian rebuilt Schloss Hohenschwangau in the mountains and made it a centre for artists and men of learning. Coming to the throne in the eventful year of 1848, he sought a middle way for Germany between the rivalry of Austria and Prussia, and granted Bavaria a constitution in 1859. He continued to invite scientists such as Liebig to Munich, regardless of their religious views, in spite of criticism from the ultramontane party.
Early in his career Cardinal Brignole wrote a paper on the reform of the Papal bureaucracy, but his period as treasurer (1833-1834) was a disaster. He proceeded to squander the sum of 3,000,000 scudi, lent by Rothschild at 72½% in August 1832, only to request another loan for the same sum in September 1833 at 82%, to cover the deficit which had leapt to 850,000 scudi per annum. From 1842 he was President of the Congregation for the Audit and Public Administration, and from 1851 Prefect of the Congregation of the Index.

Item Date:  1849

Stock No:  14432      £375

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