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==Biografia==
Windthorst nacque al [[maniero]] di [[Kaldenhof]] in quella che oggi è la cittadina di [[Ostercappeln]], nel territorio dell'ex [[Diocesi di Osnabrück|principato vescovile di Osnabrück]], [[secolarizzazione|secolarizzato]] nel 1803 sotto l'[[elettorato di Hannover]]. La sua famiglia era [[cattolica]] ed aveva in passato servito in ruoli d'importanza i vescovi-principi. Suo padre morì nel 1822, quando Ludwig aveva dieci anni. Studiò presso il [[Gymnasium Carolinum]] di [[Osnabrück]] e dal 1830 studiò [[legge]] alle università di [[Gottinga]] e [[Heidelberg]]. InfluencedInfluenzato byda the rise ofideali [[Liberalism in Germanyliberalismo|liberalismliberalisti]] duringnel theperiodo del ''[[Vormärz]]'' erae anddal the 1832 [[Hambach Festival]] as well as by the Catholic theologianteologo [[Georg Hermes]], Windthorst triedunì tola bringsua hisfede Catholiccattolica confessionagli inideali accordancedi withlotta theper idealsla of libertylibertà, civilper rightsi anddiritti nationalcivili e l'unità unitynazionale.
[[Image:Windthorst-Gedenkstaette.jpg|thumb|upright|MemorialMonumento ata Windthorst a Kaldenhof]]
Nel 1836, Windthorst aprì un suo [[studio legale]] a Osnabrück: la sua abilità gli conferì presto grande popolarità, tanto che nel 1842 divenne presidente del consiglio cittadino dei cattolici. Anche se in condizioni di inferiorità sociale, i cattolici erano rimasti fedeli alla [[Casa di Hannover]] nell'insurrezione di Gottinga del 1837 contro il re [[Ernesto Augusto I di Hannover|Ernesto Augustuo I]], e per questo, nel 1848, Windthorst divenne giudice della suprema corte d'appello (''Oberappellationsgericht'') di [[Celle]] in rappresentanza del [[regno di Hannover]]. La rivoluzione del marzo [[1848]] gli aprì —come per molti suoi contemporanei— la strada per la vita pubblica, e sebbene avesse mancato l'elezione al [[parlamento di Francoforte]], fu eletto alla camera bassa del parlamento di Hannover nel 1849. Si schierò con il cosiddetto partito della [[Grande Germania]], opponendosi alla ricostituzione della [[confederazione germanica]] sotto la guida della [[Prussia]]. Combattè contro le opposizioni liberali e democratiche e contro la [[secolarizzazione]] dell'istruzione.
In 1836, Windthorst settled down as an advocate in Osnabrück: his abilities soon procured him a considerable practice, and he was appointed president of the Catholic consistory in 1842. Though socially disadvantaged, the Catholics had remained loyal to the ruling [[House of Hanover]] during the 1837 insurrection of the [[Göttingen Seven]] against King [[Ernest Augustus I of Hanover|Ernest Augustus I]], and in 1848 Windthorst received an appointment at the supreme court of appeal (''Oberappellationsgericht'') for the [[Kingdom of Hanover]] at [[Celle]]. The [[Revolutions of 1848 in the German states|March Revolution]] opened for him—as for so many of his contemporaries—the way to public life and though he failed to gain a mandate for the [[Frankfurt Parliament|Frankfurt Assembly]], he was elected representative for his native district in the second chamber of the reformed Hanoverian parliament in 1849. He belonged to what was called the [[German question|Greater German]] party, and opposed the project of reconstituting [[German Confederation|Germany]] under the leadership of the [[Kingdom of Prussia]]. He defended the government against the liberal and democratic opposition; and, at this time, he began his struggle against the secularization of schools, which continued throughout his life.
InNel 1851, hedivenne waspresidente electeddel president of the chamber andparlamento, inpoi theministro samedi year[[giustizia]], ministerprimo ofcattolico justice,a thericoprire firstun Catholiccosì whoalto hadufficio heldnel soregno highdi an office in HanoverHannover. AsPromosse minister,un'importante heriforma carrieddella throughgiustizia an—già importantda judicialtempo reform—whichin hadpreparazione— beenma preparedfu bypoi hiscostretto predecessor—buta haddimettersi toper retirela fromsua officeopposizione becauseal heripristino wasdei opposedprivilegi to the reactionary measures for restoring the influence and privileges of the nobility. Though he was always an enemy to liberalismdell'[[aristocrazia]], hisriprendendo naturalla independencecarica of character prevented him from acquiescing in the reactionary measures of the king. Innel 1862, heper againpoi waslasciarla appointeddi minister,nuovo butallorchè withil othersre ofnon hisapprovò colleagues,alcune heriforme resigned when the king refused his assent to a measure for extendingin themateria franchisefinanziaria. Windthorst tookrimase noneutrale partdurante in the criticalla [[guerra Austro-Prussian WarPrussiana]]; contrarycontrariamente toal theparere opiniondi oftanti manysuoi of his friendsamici, afterdopo thel'annessione annexationdi ofHannover Hanover byalla Prussia, heaccettò acceptedil the"fatto ''fait accompli''compiuto", took the oath of allegiance, and was elected a member both of the Prussian parliament and of the North German [[diet (assembly)|diet]].
At Berlin, he found a wider field for his abilities. He acted as representative of his exiled king in the negotiations with the Prussian government concerning his private property, and opposed the sequestration, and for the first time was placed in a position of hostility to [[Otto von Bismarck]]. He was recognized as the leader of the Hanoverians and of all those above who opposed the revolution. He took a leading part in the formation of the [[Centre Party (Germany)|party of the Center]] in 1870–1871, but he did not become a member of it, for he feared that his reputation as a follower of the king of Hanover would injure the party; that is, until the leaders formally requested that he join them.
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