High in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps stands a castle, brash and alone. Its appearance is self indulgent, fanciful, and almost instantly recognizable. You, the reader, have most likely seen this castle before in posters, commercials, movies, and as the basis for the "Disney Castle." Despite the commanding appearance and importance suggested by its posture, the castle, Schloss Neuschwanstein, was never the seat of power for a great empire nor a powerful ruler. It stands as an unfinished monument to one of Europe's most distinctive rulers, King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Ludwig II is known by many as the "mad king," and popular belief holds that his penchant for building large and expensive castles led to his downfall. This may be true, but was the "mad" king really crazy? Many have marveled at the king's ostentatious castles, but the king's life, and especially his sudden death at age 40, remains shrouded in mystery. Born on the August 25th,