Ludwig I. became to 25.August 1786 in Strasbourg born and originated from the clan of the Wittelsbacher. He was the son of Maximilian I. and Augusta Wilhelmine Maria, Princess of Hessen darmstadt. As Bavarian Crown Prince he married to 12.October 1810 the princess Therese von Saxonia Hildburghausen. (Prince wedding) with it the tradition residents of Munich of the Octoberfest was justified. The place of event is called after the princess Theresienwiese.

From the marriage 9 children followed:
* Maximilian II, * Mathilde Karoline von Bayern, * Otto I., * Theodolinde Charlotte Luise,
* Luitpold, * Adelgunde Auguste Charlotte, * Hildegard Louise Charlotte, * Alexandra Amalie,
* Adalbert Wilhelm.

After the death of its father Maximilian I. to 13.October 1825 was crowned Ludwig as its successors to the Bavarian king. Already before its accession Ludwig had begun, To take up and to Rome of art treasures acquire connections with important artists. It made Munich the prominent art city of Germany. It pulled considerable artists and architects to Munich and left so the Ludwig route, the king place cultivate and the old person and the new Pinakothek establish. Ludwig was a glowing fan of the antique Greece, which reflects itself in the structural transformation of Munich. Thus it let many this very day important buildings establish, among other things field-gentleman-resounds, the victory gate, the state library, those fame-resounds and the Bavaria statue on the Theresienwiese. Further it left the Walhalla and release-resounds establishes. In the year 1847 Lola Montez became the loved one of Ludwig, that ever more under their influence turned out. Thus received you a title of nobility and a financial support from Ludwig. After the dancer Lola tried the Ministers by dance balls to impress and these boycott, Ludwig dismissed these from its services, which entailed the Lola the residents of Munich students against Ludwig instigated, which entailed Lolas in the storm on the arsenal and banishing. Its family, the conservative circles and the Ministers placed themselves approximately to him and he forced were to 20.March 1848 in favor of its firstborn son Maximilian II. to resign. It lived still 20 years as privately a man and deceased to 29.February 1868 in Nice. It is buried in the Basilika pc. Bonifaz in Munich.