Helene Sedlmayr (1813 – 1898) was a shoemaker’s daughter. From 1830 to 1831, she worked as an assistant in a toy store called Auracher’s. Helene got noticed by king Ludwig I of Bavaria while delivering toys to his children. He commissioned a portrait of her from Joseph Stieler in Old Munich costume for his Gallery of Beauties.
Ludwig was a known playboy. His architect and confidant Leo von Klenze kept a dossier of the king’s conquests which listed the names of over 50 girls.
Ludwig is said to have wooed Helene with the words “Don’t have such a searching and inquiring glance. You cheeky, loveliest beauty, look at me and trust me.”
Ludwig was so crazy about Helene, that it was feared the affair would embarrass the royal court. After all, she was a mere shoemaker’s daughter. So to protect the king’s reputation Helene Sedlmayr was betrothed to his valet Hermes Miller.
The couple had 10 children – 9 sons and a daughter. There was tongue-in-cheek rumor though that Helene was the de facto long-term mistress (one of many) of the king, as all of her sons coinsidently had Ludwig’s long, red hair 🙂