Christian Sepp Reads in Gilching from Caroline. Bavaria's First Queen

Caroline of Bavaria: A Queen Returns to Literary Memory

To celebrate the 250th birthday of Queen Caroline of Bavaria, the Volkshochschule Gilching invites you to a historical reading with author and historian Christian Sepp. The focus is on his biography Caroline. Bavaria's First Queen, which brings to light a long-forgotten figure through newly uncovered sources.

A Reading Between Court History and Personal Testimony

Caroline of Baden was born on July 13, 1776, in Karlsruhe and later became Bavaria's first queen. Christian Sepp approaches her biography not through rigid images of rulers, but through letters, family relationships, and the political tensions of an era in transition. This creates a multifaceted portrait of a woman whose life intertwines European history, Bavarian state history, and personal experience.

Over 500 Letters as a Key to a Forgotten Queen

The foundation of the book consists of more than 500 letters from Caroline to her husband, King Max I. Joseph of Bavaria. These written testimonies were long considered lost. Christian Sepp has comprehensively analyzed them for the first time in the secret family archive of the House of Wittelsbach, thereby unlocking an extraordinary source base for his biography.

The letters provide direct access to Caroline's voice, her thoughts, and her world. At the same time, they shed light on the marriage of the first Bavarian royal couple, who belonged to different denominations: Max Joseph was Catholic, Caroline was Protestant. Their marriage contract ensured her, among other things, a court preacher and a space for worship services.

Religious Tolerance, Art, and Social Responsibility

A special emphasis of the reading lies on Caroline's cultural-historical significance. On June 2, 1799, she celebrated the first Protestant church service on old Bavarian soil at Nymphenburg Palace. This event marked the beginning of a new era of religious tolerance in Bavaria.

As a patron of the arts, Caroline also emerges prominently in Christian Sepp's portrayal. She drew herself, supported young artists, and provided, for example, the painter Margarethe Geiger with commissions at the Munich court. The biography thus connects political history, women's history, art history, and the intimate perspective of personal letters.

Christian Sepp and the Art of Historical Biography

Christian Sepp studied Modern History, Medieval History, and Political Science at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. Since 2013, he has worked as a historian and author. His other books focus on significant women from the House of Wittelsbach, including Ludovika, Sisi's mother, and Sophie Charlotte, Sisi's passionate sister.

Sepp's style combines scholarly source work with narrative clarity. His biographies make historical contexts accessible without losing the complexity of the material. For Caroline. Bavaria's First Queen, he received the audience award of the litera bavarica 2025. Literary critiques particularly appreciate the connection of source-based research, vivid language, and a differentiated view of the European turning point around 1800.

A Literary Experience at vhs Gilching

The reading atmosphere at vhs Gilching promises a concentrated author encounter with a historical figure whose letters make history personally tangible. Voice, language, and narrative selection lead into the world of the Bavarian royal house, to religious conflicts, family bonds, and the cultural impact of an extraordinary queen.

The event takes place on Friday, October 23, 2026, in Room 105 of vhs Gilching. Registration is possible via vhs Gilching or the bookstore Leselust. A box office will be available for last-minute attendees.

Conclusion: Discover Caroline of Bavaria Live

This reading combines historical research, literary artistry, and Bavarian memory culture. Visitors will experience Christian Sepp as an knowledgeable storyteller and encounter Caroline of Bavaria through letters that have hardly been accessible until now. Those who wish to understand history not just as a sequence of dates but as a living experience of human decisions will find an impressive evening in Gilching.

Official Channels of Christian Sepp:

• Instagram: no official profile found
• Facebook: no official profile found
• Website: https://christian-sepp.de/
• Publisher: https://allitera-verlag.de/buch/caroline/

Sources:

• Christian Sepp – Event Notice for the Reading in Gilching
• vhs Gilching – Culture Week and Event Details
• Gilchinger Art and Culture Week – Reading on Caroline of Bavaria
• Christian Sepp – Biography and Publications
• Christian Sepp – Caroline. Bavaria's First Queen
• Allitera Verlag – Caroline. Bavaria's First Queen