Prince Ludwig the Indestructible
Encyclopedia
Prince Ludwig the Indestructible is a fictional character
played by Hugh Laurie
in the BBC
sitcom
Blackadder II
. He appears in "Chains
", the final episode of Blackadder II, as a German
master of disguise who kidnaps Lord Blackadder
and Lord Melchett, in 1566 and imprisons them in his dungeon under the watch of German guards and a Spanish
inquisitorial co-conspirator
. From a real-world point of view, this is part of Hugh Laurie's continuous set of appearances in Blackadder, but the last of those in which he is only credited as a guest actor.
While Prince Ludwig does not appear nor get a mention in previous episodes, he claims to have encountered both Blackadder and Melchett many times in the past. Because of his mastery at concealing himself, he claims to do: "...a vewy good Mawy, Qween of Scotth". On meeting Blackadder, he claims to have been disguised as "Big Sally", a barmaid Blackadder knew at a pub in Dover
called The Old Pizzle he once frequented. It is revealed that Blackadder went to bed with Big Sally but was too drunk to perform. After some teasing by Ludwig, Blackadder responds that his best disguise is in fact the one he is doing now, "the fat-headed German chamberpot standing in front of me".
Due to the year in which the episode took place, it is possible that Ludwig is a fictional son of Maximilian II
.
He further claims to have met Melchett when diguised as a Cornish
sheep called Flossie, and it is suggested that Melchett had a sexual relationship with that sheep. He also claims to have worked as a stable boy in the English court during the Queen's
childhood, and held the horse that she used to "...kithth and fondle in the thtable yard". Later, in exchange for commuting
their death sentences
to a life in prison
, Blackadder and Melchett tell the Prince how to get close to the Queen
so he can kill her: by dressing up to look like Nursie
at a fancy-dress party. He does this, but Blackadder and Melchett escape and the former stabs him twice; although they told Ludwig that Nursie always went as a cow, Blackadder knew that Ludwig was a master of disguise while Nursie was merely a 'mad old woman with an udder fixation', so all that he would need to do was kill the one that looked like a cow.
However, Ludwig seemingly survives this attack, and, as shown in the episode's final shot, he has returned, disguised as the Queen, has seemingly murdered the entire Royal Court
, and thereafter rules as Queen of England for 37 years. Hugh Laurie's later character is also a monarch of German descent, suggestive perhaps of a familial relation between Ludwig and George, the Prince Regent
(as is the case for all other characters played by the same actors in Blackadder). However it is highly unlikely because the Prince Regent is the product of the Hanoverian succession.
Blackadder speculates that Ludwig's megalomania
cal tendencies may have been the result of childhood bullying. It seems Ludwig's mother forced him to wear shorts right up to his final year at school, and that he had greasy hair and acne, the mention of which he reacts to badly, especially the nickname 'Shorty-Greasy Spot-Spot'.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
played by Hugh Laurie
Hugh Laurie
James Hugh Calum Laurie, OBE , better known as Hugh Laurie , is an English actor, voice artist, comedian, writer, musician, recording artist, and director...
in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
Blackadder II
Blackadder II
Blackadder II is the second series of the BBC situation comedy Blackadder, written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from 9 January 1986 to 20 February 1986...
. He appears in "Chains
Chains (Blackadder)
"Chains" is the final episode of the BBC sitcom Blackadder II, the second series of Blackadder, which was set in Elizabethan England from 1558 to 1603. Power-mad and self-professed "master of disguise", Prince Ludwig the Indestructible kidnaps Lord Blackadder and Lord Melchett...
", the final episode of Blackadder II, as a German
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
master of disguise who kidnaps Lord Blackadder
Lord Blackadder
Edmund Blackadder, Lord Blackadder is the main character in the second series of the popular BBC sitcom Blackadder. He is played by Rowan Atkinson.The second series is set in Elizabethan England, and Edmund is a courtier to Queen Elizabeth I...
and Lord Melchett, in 1566 and imprisons them in his dungeon under the watch of German guards and a Spanish
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
inquisitorial co-conspirator
Spanish Inquisition
The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition , commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition , was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval...
. From a real-world point of view, this is part of Hugh Laurie's continuous set of appearances in Blackadder, but the last of those in which he is only credited as a guest actor.
While Prince Ludwig does not appear nor get a mention in previous episodes, he claims to have encountered both Blackadder and Melchett many times in the past. Because of his mastery at concealing himself, he claims to do: "...a vewy good Mawy, Qween of Scotth". On meeting Blackadder, he claims to have been disguised as "Big Sally", a barmaid Blackadder knew at a pub in Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
called The Old Pizzle he once frequented. It is revealed that Blackadder went to bed with Big Sally but was too drunk to perform. After some teasing by Ludwig, Blackadder responds that his best disguise is in fact the one he is doing now, "the fat-headed German chamberpot standing in front of me".
Due to the year in which the episode took place, it is possible that Ludwig is a fictional son of Maximilian II
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death...
.
He further claims to have met Melchett when diguised as a Cornish
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
sheep called Flossie, and it is suggested that Melchett had a sexual relationship with that sheep. He also claims to have worked as a stable boy in the English court during the Queen's
Queenie
"Queenie" is a caricature of the historical figure Queen Elizabeth I of England, played by Miranda Richardson in Blackadder II, the second series of the BBC historical sitcom Blackadder, which was set in Elizabethan England...
childhood, and held the horse that she used to "...kithth and fondle in the thtable yard". Later, in exchange for commuting
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
their death sentences
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
to a life in prison
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
, Blackadder and Melchett tell the Prince how to get close to the Queen
Queenie
"Queenie" is a caricature of the historical figure Queen Elizabeth I of England, played by Miranda Richardson in Blackadder II, the second series of the BBC historical sitcom Blackadder, which was set in Elizabethan England...
so he can kill her: by dressing up to look like Nursie
Nursie
Nursie is a fictional character in the second series of the popular BBC sitcom Blackadder II. She was played by Patsy Byrne and appeared in all six episodes. She also appeared in two of the Blackadder specials; Blackadder's Christmas Carol and Blackadder: Back & Forth...
at a fancy-dress party. He does this, but Blackadder and Melchett escape and the former stabs him twice; although they told Ludwig that Nursie always went as a cow, Blackadder knew that Ludwig was a master of disguise while Nursie was merely a 'mad old woman with an udder fixation', so all that he would need to do was kill the one that looked like a cow.
However, Ludwig seemingly survives this attack, and, as shown in the episode's final shot, he has returned, disguised as the Queen, has seemingly murdered the entire Royal Court
Noble court
The court of a monarch, or at some periods an important nobleman, is a term for the extended household and all those who regularly attended on the ruler or central figure...
, and thereafter rules as Queen of England for 37 years. Hugh Laurie's later character is also a monarch of German descent, suggestive perhaps of a familial relation between Ludwig and George, the Prince Regent
George (Blackadder character)
George was a supporting character that appeared in various adaptations of the BBC sitcom Blackadder, played by Hugh Laurie. Each series saw a different incarnation of the character, because each was set in a different period of history. He was most prominently featured in the third and fourth series...
(as is the case for all other characters played by the same actors in Blackadder). However it is highly unlikely because the Prince Regent is the product of the Hanoverian succession.
Blackadder speculates that Ludwig's megalomania
Megalomania
Megalomania is a psycho-pathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of power, relevance, or omnipotence. 'Megalomania is characterized by an inflated sense of self-esteem and overestimation by persons of their powers and beliefs'...
cal tendencies may have been the result of childhood bullying. It seems Ludwig's mother forced him to wear shorts right up to his final year at school, and that he had greasy hair and acne, the mention of which he reacts to badly, especially the nickname 'Shorty-Greasy Spot-Spot'.
Quotations
- Ludwig: Forgive me, Herr Blackadder. I have been neglecting my duties as a host. Please accept my apple-ogies.
- Ludwig: If he had inconwenienced you, I was going to offer you his tongue.
Blackadder: Believe me, sir, if he had inconwenienced me, you would no longer have a tongue with which to make such an offer.
Ludwig: Let me assure you, Blackadder, if I no longer had a tongue with which to make such an offer, you would no longer have a tongue with which to tell me that if I had inconwenienced you, I would no longer have a tongue with which to offer you his tongue.
- Ludwig: Ze Master of Disguise vill become ze be Master of ze Vorld.
- Blackadder: Were you ever bullied at school?
Ludwig:What do you mean?...
Blackadder: I mean, all this ranting and raving about power. There must be some reason for it.
Ludwig: Nonsense. No, ven I vas a boy, having dirty hair spots was a sign of maturity...
Blackadder: I thought so! And I bet your mother made you wear shorts all the way up to your final year.
Ludwig: Shut up! Shut up! When I am King of England, no one will ever dare call me Shorty Greasy Spot Spot again!
- Ludwig: Ah! Qveen Elizabeth. We meet again!
Queenie: Um, I don't think so, actually.
Ludwig: Yes! You remember when you were young, and your father used to take you riding on a magnificent grey pony that you used to kiss and fondle in the stable yard?.
Queenie: Yes.
Ludwig: I, I was the tall and attractive German stable lad who held him.
Queenie: No!
Ludwig: Yes!
Queenie: You?
Ludwig: Uh-huh.
Queenie: Shorty-Greasy-Spot-Spot?
Ludwig: NO! NO, NO, NO! You will - all of you - regret the day that you ever mocked my complexion! I shall return and wreak my rewengie!
- Ludwig: (In disguise as Queenie) Now this is a disguise I'm really going to enjoy. If I can just get the voice right.