The Bavarian Kings were the rulers of the Kingdom of Bavaria, which was established in the early 19th century. The most notable monarchs included King Ludwig I, known for his patronage of the arts, and King Ludwig II, famous for his fairy-tale castles like Neuschwanstein. The kingdom played a significant role in German history and culture. Bavaria became a kingdom in 1806 and was part of the German Empire from 1871 until the end of World War I in 1918. The monarchy was abolished after the war, leading to the establishment of the Free State of Bavaria within the Weimar Republic.