Milan had now been transformed into a military fortress; its prosperity had faded, leaving only clashing steel and iron steeds.
Since the outbreak of the Continental War, the Kingdom of Lombardy had become the front line of the Franco-Austrian confrontation. The moment war erupted, Prince Luitpold, acting as regent, issued a general mobilization order.
By the mid-to-late nineteenth century, the Wittelsbach Family seemed to have been cursed, with one misfortune following hard on the heels of another.
First, Maximilian II had been a step too slow, chosen the wrong side in the international political struggle, and only barely kept his throne through a political marriage.
Yet as the price of defeat, the Wittelsbach Family still paid dearly. They lost Bavaria, which they had long cultivated, and came to Lombardy to build their fortunes anew.
They had only just gained a foothold when Ludwig II, the succeeding king, developed mental illness. After they had finally seen Ludwig II off, Otto I, who succeeded him, proved to be mentally ill as well.
Never mind prestige—the Wittelsbach Family had become a laughingstock outright. Outsiders mocked them as the "mad royal family," and some unscrupulous fellows even bet that the Wittelsbach Family's next king would also be mentally ill.
It was not only the main branch that suffered misfortune; the Greek branch had fared no better. Another fellow named Otto had not only died without heirs, but had also been overthrown.
Had the Vienna Government not intervened, Wittelsbach rule in Greece would have collapsed long ago.
They had not enjoyed good days for long before the Continental War caught up with them. With the Kingdom of Lombardy becoming the front line, this was another grave challenge to Wittelsbach rule.
Prince Luitpold, acting as regent, had been deeply troubled of late, terrified that some mishap