King Max II Joseph of Bavaria

Born in Munich on 28 November 1811.

Died in Munich on 10 March 1864.

Following the abdication of King Ludwig I., his son Max II. Joseph took over the business of government. It was his aim to secure the independence of Bavaria within the German union. And, like his predecessor, he was very interested in supporting the arts and sciences. King Max II. Joseph was educated by the intellectuals, Friedrich Wilhelm Schelling and Leopold von Ranke – both who in a certain way were jointly responsible for the significance he afforded to education and research. With the appointment of important professors and the organisation of symposia with the local intellectual elite, he was able to underpin Munich's reputation as a university city. He also founded the Maximilianeum in 1876, a foundation for highly gifted Bavarian and Palatinate students whose building is today home to the Bavarian parliament.

In view of the increasing industrialisation during this period, commissions for works of art increasingly declined at Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg. After careful deliberations based on various expert opinions, Max II. Joseph finally agreed to privatise the company. The porcelain manufactory was leased from 1862 until 1975 when it was handed over to the Wittelsbacher Ausgleichfonds and thus returned to the patronage of the Bavarian royal family.

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