Elector Max Emanuel, who was hoping to become the next emperor,
had the New Palace built as his future residence. Originally
planned as a four-wing complex, it was begun in the winter of
1700/01 under the well-known court architect Henrico Zuccalli.
Elector Max Emanuel on horseback, painting by Martin Maingaud
The unfortunate outcome of the Spanish War of Succession, which
forced Max Emanuel into exile in 1704, brought the building work
to a halt after scarcely more than the shell of the main wing
had been built. It was not until the elector returned from his
Paris exile in 1715 that the work could be resumed. Because of
the financial situation in the country, however, the original
plan consisting of a cour d'honneur complex with massive side
wings, further pavilions and the Old Palace on the west side was
gradually simplified. Finally all that remained of the large-
scale design was the monumental main tract – the New Palace –
without the wings that would have connected it to the Old
Palace. Portrait of Josep