The personal and the political collided disastrously in the story of Lola Montez. Born in Ireland in 1821, she spent her childhood in India, England, and Scotland, and eloped at the age of 19. By 1843, she had left her husband and was trying to jump-start a career as a professional dancer in Europe. In 1846, She captured the attention of King Ludwig I of Bavaria. As his mistress, she was only too happy to accept gifts from the king, including a stately palace in Munich. Ludwig spent lavishly on Lola, and indulged her desire for a title: she became Baroness Rosenthal and Countess of Lansfeld. Though she lacked the title of queen, Lola nonetheless possessed queenly power. Under her influence, the Bavarian government beckoning to her desires. The liberal reforms she encouraged targeted Jesuits. She so succeeded in alienating the group, in fact, they fought back, labelling her a Venus and attacking her virtue. Opposition to Ludwig’s government wasn’t aided by her seemingly unwarranted influence. In 1848, as revolutionary fever swept Europe, Ludwig was forced to abdicate in favour of his son, Maximilian.