Abstract

Early 19th century Bavarian state and its scientific institutions were not able to enforce important scientific enterprises and expeditions out of Europe like other European states did. Except the zoological, anthropological and mostly botanical researches of the Bavarian naturalists Spix and Martius (1817‐1820), who accompanied an Austrian expedition to Brazil enabled through the support of the first Bavarian king Maximilian I. Joseph, caused some attention by the international scientific community. The results of this expedition determined in certain ways the further scientific development in Bavaria during several decades. Another remarkable attempt to strengthen scientific progress by the financial support of explorations and expeditions since 1850 traced back to king Maximilian II., who tried to push Bavaria into a leading position among the middle european states just in the matters of science. The death of Maximilian II. in 1864 caused a big lack in supporting scientific enterprises up to the turn of the century. At the earliest in that time other institutions and social forces were able to take over this charges.