It's important to realize that the German Empire's federal components were not all geographically contiguous. The Duchy of Brunswick had a puzzle-like borders in the middle of the empire. Therefore the Kingdom of Bavaria claiming parts outside of its territorial core was not an unprecedented move on Ludwig III’s part. The ultimate goal of Ludwig was the control over the Rhine by controlling strategic points along the river culminating in Antwerp.

Ludwig III was something of an odd monarch with a passion for dairy farming. He also enjoyed lording the Wittelsbach’s historical pedigree over Kaiser Wilhelm II. As such, it is difficult to parse out how serious he was in making these demands, or if a victorious German Prussian would accede to them.

Source Körner, Hans-Michael. Geschichte des Königreichs Bayern. München: Beck, 2006.