Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
grew into the Peasant Rebellion that swept through much of southern Germany. Poorly equipped
and haphazardly organised, the farmers were, of course, no match for the authorities who brought
the uprising to a bloody conclusion.
In the following centuries the people of the Black Forest experienced a series of hardships of
Biblical proportions. The Thirty Years' War left about 70% of the population dead, and plague
and crop failures did much the same for the rest. Unsurprisingly, many of the survivors left for
greener pastures in other parts of Europe.
The Black Forest stayed out of the spotlight for well over a century until the Baden Revolution
of 1848-49. Inspired by the democratic movement in France and the declaration of the French
Republic in February 1848, local radical democratic leaders Friedrich Hecker and Gustav von
Struve led an armed rebellion against the arch-duke of Baden in April 1848, demanding freedom
of expression, universal education, popular suffrage and other democratic ideals. Struve was ar-
rested and Hecker fled into exile, but their struggle inspired the population and spilled over into
other parts of Germany. Eventually Prussian troops cracked down on the revolutionaries in a fiery
showdown at Rastatt in July 1849.
Nearly 100 years later, Freudenstadt and Freiburg were among the regional cities bombed to
bits during WWII. In 1952 the Black Forest became part of the newly formed German state of
Baden-Württemberg. Still largely agrarian, tourism is the single biggest source of income today.
The Accidental Kingdom
Modern Bavaria, more or less as we know it
today, was established in the early 19th century
by Napoleon. At the onset of the Napoleonic
Wars (1799-1815), Bavaria initially found it-
self on the losing side against France. Tired of
war and spurred on by his powerful minister
Maximilian Graf von Montgelas, Maximilian
IV Joseph (r 1799-1825) decided to put his territory under Napoleon's protection.
In 1803, after victories over Austria and Prussia, Napoleon set about remapping much
of Europe. Bavaria fared rather well, nearly doubling its size when it received control over
Franconia and Swabia. In 1806 Napoleon created the kingdom of Bavaria and made Max-
imilian I his new best buddy.
Alas, keeping allegiances had never been Bavaria's strong suit and, in 1813, with Napo-
leon's fortunes waning, Montgelas shrewdly threw the new kingdom's support behind
Austria and Prussia. After France's defeat, the victorious allies again reshaped European
Bruce Seymour's
Lola Montez: A Life
is a highly
entertaining and comprehensive romp through the
life of Bavaria's ultimate courtesan, whose affair
with Ludwig I changed the course of history.
