THE   GREAT   WAR   OF   1914-1918
of Paris (at which he was, to the intense annoyance
of Moltke, continuously and interferingly present),
was negotiations with the petty potentates of South
Germany concerning the terms on which they would
join the North German Confederation, and convert
it into a Pan-German State. They realised that their
junction would involve loss of independence: it
would mean the subjection of then foreign policy
and of their armed forces to Prussian control. The
King of Bavaria was the most serious source of
difficulty. This person—the eccentric and ulti-
mately insane Ludwig n, the extravagant patron of
Richard Wagner—was intensely jealous of his pre-
rogatives. Only by means of long debates, and
extensive concessions to his particularism, was he at
length persuaded to bow his neck to the Prussian yoke.
Finally, when all difficulties had been overcome,
it was agreed that Germany should be united as a
Federal Empire, and that the King of Prussia should
become ex officio 'German Emperor* (not 'Emperor
of Germany'). The King of Prussia was by no means
eager to accept the new and questionable tide. But,
as usual, Bismarck, with the assistance of the Crown
Prince, wore down his resistance. Thus, both the
King of Bavaria and the King of Prussia having been
subdued by Bismarck's imperious will, the Ger-
man Empire came into existence. The King of
Bavaria copied out.and signed a letter drafted by
Bismarck inviting the King of Prussia to accept the
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