King Johann Von Speckbohne XVIII

*"Listen to me,you twisted child!!! I am the king!!! The Kingdom is mine!! The realm is mine!! The people are mine!!"* - Ludwig's Dilemma (2/2)

## Reign Information

### Heir

Prince Klaus Von Speckbohne (1987-2021)Ludwig Von Koopa (2021) (Never officially made heir)

### Titles

Prince of the Bohnenkraut Kingdom (1933-1945)
Crown Prince of the Bohnenkraut Kingdom (1945-1987)
King of the Bohnenkraut Kingdom (1987-2021)

## General Information

### Hair Color

Blue (Young)
White (Present)

### Died

2021, Bohnenfrost Castle, Joke’s End, Bohnenkraut Kingdom

## Family

### Marriages

Gunthilda of the Creeper Kingdom (19??-1987)Sophia Eisenhower (1987-2004) ✝️

### Children

Prince Johann✝️
Princess Ingrid ✝️
Prince Friedrich ✝️
Prince Godwin ✝️
Ludwig Von Koopa

### Other Notable Relatives

King Johann Von Speckbohne XVII (Uncle)
Two unnamed elder brothers
Two unnamed elder sisters
King Klaus Von Speckbohne X (Brother)
King Bowser Koopa II (Third half-cousin)
King Delfino Von Speckbohne XIII (Distant Cousin)

## In Videos

### First Appearance

Son of Morton

**King Johann Von Speckbohne XVIII** was a former King of the Bohnenkraut Kingdom, the third cousin of Bowser through his great-grandmother Princess Luciana Koopa, and the biological father of Ludwig Von Koopa. He is the main antagonist in the two part *Bowser's Koopalings* episode "Ludwig's Dilemma"*.* He In Part 1, he was portrayed as a wise, king-like figure who was greatly admired by everyone, especially Ludwig, who saw him as the father he always wanted compared to Bowser, who he always believed sidelined him in favor of Bowser Jr. He also seemed to greatly miss his beloved wife Sophia, the mother of Ludwig. Unfortunately, as more information came to light, it was revealed to Ludwig that Johann was actually conspiring with Lord Fawful Friebrecher to eradicate the Bohnenkraut Kingdom's middle and low-class population alongside the tourists using the Oblivion Cannon, revealing his true villainous nature. Johann almost succeeded in his plans, however was ultimately defeated by Bowser, in which he spiraled into madness before being thrown into the Oblivion Cannon's thermal reactor, to his death.

## Backstory

### Early Childhood

Johann XVIII was born to King Johann Von Speckbohne XVI and his cousin-wife Queen Maiya Von Speckbohne of the Marine Kingdom. His parent's marriage was arranged by Johann's father, King Johann XV, who was also married to a cousin of his own and was very traditional, believing in keeping the bloodline pure. Johann XVIII was named Nikolaus Johann, and was the fifth child and third son of the couple, having two older brothers and two older sisters. He was born in 1933, the same year his grandfather Johann XV died and his father Johann XVI took up the crown. Unfortunately, when Nikolaus-Johann was only 3 years of age he fell sick, and seemed like he was likely to perish. However, Johann XVI had recently acquired the Green Star, and discovered its healing powers after stubbing his toe and realising it healed it. Knowing this, he took the Green Star to the young Nikolaus Johann on his deathbed, and used it to nurse him back to health, to the joy of the family.

### Mushroom World War II

Nikolaus-Johann was still a mere child when Mushroom World War II was going on, and was taken away to the Kaktus Kingdom in exile along with his mother and elder sisters while his father and elder brothers stayed behind in Bohennkraut Kingdom, the former of whom would lead its troops in the war, in hopes to keep the Green Star for himself rather than handing it to King Bowser Koopa I of the Koopa Kingdom. Johann XVI and his loyal chancellor Fawful favoured keeping the Green Star exclusive to the nobility and using its powers for not only healing but brutality, whereas Bowser I believed it was too powerful and should be kept under strict protection, only to be used sparingly. Nikolaus Johann's elder brothers perished in the war, while his youngest brother, Klaus, was likely born during this period. Johann XVI proved to be an incapable leader, however, and during failure after failure, begun to drive himself mad, and would constantly scream disrespectful words to his own troops. This eventually cumulated into the Bohnenkraut Kingdom's ultimate defeat in the hands of the Koopa Kingdom and many of their allies, however Johann XVI did not want to face arrest, thus abandoning his family and committing suicide by diving into Hoohoo Mountain's river with an iron block tied to his tail, with his body never being recovered. Shortly after this, Nikolaus Johann, his sisters and brother Klaus were returned to the Bohnenkraut Kingdom, under the care of their uncle, who was crowned King Johann Von Speckbohne XVII following a small election consisting of many cabinet members, likely because Nikolaus Johann and Klaus were considered too young to ascend to the throne and due to females not being to inherit the throne as a result of the realm being under salic law.

### Johann XVII's Reign

Johann XVII effectively adopted Nikolaus Johann, as well as his sisters and brother Klaus. While he took care of them, Nikolaus Johann often grew annoyed and angry at his uncle for disciplining him properly in ways his father did not, and grew much closer to Lord Fawful Friebrecher. During this period, Fawful & Johann XVII were already falling out over disagreements of how to handle a flu pandemic, in which Fawful suggested executing the sick, outraging Johann XVII enough to remove him from his position as chancellor. Nikolaus Johann deeply sympathized with this, and grew closer to his father's former chancellor.

He begun spending a lot of time in the Koopa Kingdom during this time, in which he also met another significant member of his life, a woman named Sophia Eisenhower. The two met at Mushroom City Tower, and begun a deep relationship, despite Sophia having been divorced twice. This outraged Johann XVII, who wanted to continue holding support from the other Kingdoms, and had Nikolaus Johann married to his cousin Princess Gunthilda of the Creeper Kingdom instead. This marriage was loveless and Nikolaus Johann couldn't stand even being in the same room as her due to her appalling looks and poor manners. This caused him to grow even closer to Fawful, who ultimately knew if Nikolaus Johann took the throne he'd be eventually restored to his rightful position as chancellor.

### Rise to the Throne

Johann XVII mysteriously passed away in the year 1987. The fact that he still had yet to produce an heir was strange, however as his neices and nephews were effectively his adopted children this wasn't seen as too much of an anomaly. The cause of his death was unclear, however the timing most definitely benefitted both Fawful and Nikolaus Johann, who consequently became king of the Bohnenkraut Kingdom. He chose to reign under the name King Johann Von Speckbohne XVIII, to honour his lineage.

### Reign As King

As a result of Johan XVII not being able to interfere anymore, Johann XVIII divorced Gunthilda, and instead married Sophia, who became Queen Sophia Von Speckbohne. People tried criticising this decision, however with Fawful being at the height of his influence again, he quickly shut down any major voices speaking out against the king. Johann & Sophia had five children together, and in Part 1 of "Ludwig's Dilemma" Johann initially stated that their first four children were still-born. This was later revealed to be a lie however, as they were in reality murdered by Fawful's loyal subordinate Midbus under the orders of Fawful & Johann. Johann describes them as "monstrosities," implying they either didn't listen to their father or were physically deformed in some way. During the time of their fifth egg being laid, however, Sophia was in the Koopa Kingdom taking care of business. The egg was likely close to hatching, and as they had already decided on the name Ludwig, they knew it was male. She never made it back to the Bohnenkraut Kingdom, however. Initially, it was stated by Johann XVIII that she and some of the people accompanying her were murdered by some troops that apparently had gone rogue, initially leading Ludwig to believe he was stolen by Koopa Troop members and sent to Bowser. What actually happened, however, was shown in Part 2, in which a Magikoopa named Reinhold discovered Johann's troops themselves were preparing to murder Sophia, and return the egg to Johann without her. Reinhold interferred, and took Sophia and her egg away, telling her about Johann & Fawful's conspiracy, horrifying her. They travelled to the Koopa Kingdom, knowing of the two Kingdom's rivalry, and Ludwig's egg was brought to King Bowser Koopa II and his wife Princess Peach Toadstool, whom agreed to take the egg and raise it themselves. Johann himself believed the egg must escaped with Sophia however, and later Sophia & Reinhold were both captured. Reinhold was executed instantly, and his body was seen in the Bohnenburg Castle Sewers in Part 2 of "Ludwig's Dilemma". Queen Sophia was demanded to give away the location of the egg, but she refused to tell Johann, and was also executed as a result. Her body was also discovered by Ludwig in the Bohnenburg Castle Sewers in an advanced state of decomposition, causing him to weep for his mother. She, Reinhold and Ludwig's elder siblings were avenged later that episode.

## In Bowser's Koopalings

He first appeared in a cameo at the end of "Son of Morton", receiving the news that Ludwig was actually alive and well in the Koopa Kingdom. He properly debuted in Part 1 of "Ludwig's Dilemma", where he met Ludwig alongside Larry, Morton, Lemmy & Travis at a Border Station. He showed kindness to them and seemed thrilled at the arrival of his son, whom he believed was dead. Unfortunately, before Ludwig could be officially made his heir, he discovered that his father actually supported Fawful's plans to eradicate the Bohnenkraut Kingdom's commoners and tourists, mainly due to his hatred of the peasentry and foreign visitors and the festivities they enjoy, all of which he believed ruined his once great Kingdom. Ludwig was horrified at this, and begged Johann to put a stop to Fawful's plans, however Johann did not budge and instead attempted to have Ludwig killed.

Ludwig escaped through the Bohnenburg Castle Sewers however, and discovered Johann himself had called for the death of not only his mother but his four elder siblings as well. Johann pretended to his people that Ludwig had attended to Chuckola Fest and passed out drunk, which his subjects sympathised with, before announcing that the death was not in vain as they will soon be rid of the commoners and tourists, to which everyone in the room applauded. Ludwig returned to Joke's End and attempted to trick Johann into thinking he had a change of heart and was now willing to work with Johann, however Johann & Fawful did not buy this whatsoever, instead attacking Ludwig. He foresaw the Destruction of Karhar City, which saw the Oblivion Cannon obliterate an entire city, draining all the life force from it, horrifying Ludwig. Thankfully, before more of the plot could be carried out, Ludwig's adoptive brothers Larry, Roy, Morton, Lemmy, as well as his sister Wendy's crush Travis Hawke, took back the Green Star with help from Iggy's hacking, meanwhile Bowser had snuck into Joke's End disguised as a Snow Bro., and had called for reinforcements to arrive in Joke's End and arrest everyone involved in the plot. An enraged Johann attacked Bowser in a fit of blind rage, eventually wounding him in the chest with his powerful fire breathe. He then beat Ludwig in a fit of rage exclaiming himself as king, before ultimately being thrown into the Thermal Reactor of the Oblivion Cannon he helped create by Bowser, causing him to be incinerated.

## Appearance

He is a Koopa with lime skin, he has white hair, a dark blue head with two sharp horns, large white eyebrows, black eyes, and a pale green snout and mouth with several fangs . He has scaly, lime green skin, sharp claws on his hands and feet, and a spiked tail. He wears black spiked cuffs around his wrists and shoulders, as well as a spiked collar, and a spiked, scaly blue shell with a light lime casing and light orange rings around the spikes.

## Personality

Johann's characterisation in Part 1 of "Ludwig's Dilemma" is largely different from his true self. In "Son of Morton", he seems greatly happy to learn of the survival of his son. When he meets the group in Part 1, he shows kindness to the group, buying them sodas and showing them around the Kingdom, and allowing them to stay at Bohnenburg Castle for the night after being told by Morton that they live in a cake shop. He and Ludwig later bond over Bohnenkraut Kingdom history, in which he shows how invested he is in the Kingdom as well as how much he hates what its defeat in Mushroom World War II did to it. Here, he appears to be a wise, kind and king-like figure, and earns the respect of the Koopalings, and even though Larry is rude and angry at him due to his closeness with Ludwig, he remains calm and collected towards him, and even scolds Ludwig for snapping at Larry during one of Larry's tantrums. However, Part 2 later reveals a drastically different side of Johann. The minute he walks in and realises Ludwig has discovered his plan, he reveals his hatred for the common people of the Bohnenkraut Kingdom and the tourists, who he believes to be little more than low class scum who ruined a once great Kingdom. Ludwig is horrified by his father's true nature, and Johann isn't phased at all by Ludwig's pleas of mercy. He goes as far as to try and have his guards seize Ludwig, and becomes enraged when this fails. While he seems sad when believing Ludwig has perished in the sewers, he is primarily sad because he believed Ludwig would be a good king, showing no remorse for the deaths of his first four children. He remains controlled and manipulative for the majority of the episode, and outsmarts Ludwig when Ludwig attempts to trick him into believing he's switched sides, having Fawful's drones blast him with stunning lasers. He then watches the destruction of Karhar City in complete satisfaction, and awaits for the Cannon to reach Bohnenburg. However, when Ludwig then yells at Johann & Fawful for how stupid their plan is, and begins sighting all the logical holes in it, Fawful begins to cry while Johann bursts into rage, causing his mask of politeness to break and throwing his sceptre across the room and ordering for Ludwig to die. He begins to spiral out of control here, and grows angrier when Bowser reveals himself, his reinforcements arrive and Johann realises his plans are failing. He likely inherited said out of control madness from his father, Johann XVI, who was similarly shown yelling at his own troops in such a manner, and could not stand being told he was wrong or his plans were failing, showing the pair to be not only selfish but extremely arrogant yet oversensitive. He attacks Bowser in a fit of blind fury, however easily manages to best both Bowser and Ludwig in said fight, who often have to come to each other's aid. Johann is easily able to gain the upper hand, in which by this point he is completely enraged, stating "Now do you see what happens to those who dare oppose me?!" He once again reminds Ludwig of the fact that he could have been his heir, however Ludwig firmly states his place is with Bowser. This is the final straw for Johann, further emphasising his hatred for the Koopa Kingdom as well as his hatred to being denied. He beats Ludwig in a fit of rage and screams his authority at him, stating he believes the kingdom, the realm and even the people are his to control. Overall Johann is a smart but sadistic and tyrannical villain, going as far as to commit the worst crimes imaginable to get what he wants, while burying any implication that he's anything but a wise and just ruler underground, quite literally in the form of the Bohnenburg Castle Sewers.

## Trivia

* Similar to how Nintendo named Ludwig after German composer Ludwig Van Beethoven, FreezeFlame22 named Johann after another composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. His birth name Nikolaus also seems to be named after one of Ludwig Van Beethoven's brothers; Nikolaus.
* His death was greatly inspired by Emperor Palpatine’s death in *Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi*.