Christian Wulff yesterday became Germany's first post-war president to go on trial, facing corruption charges for accepting more than €700 (£590) for a hotel stay and meals during an Oktoberfest beer festival when he was a state premier.

Mr Wulff, once seen as one of the country's brightest political talents, served just 20 months as president before he resigned in disgrace last year over accusations he accepted favours before his election in 2010.

Mr Wulff, 54, a former ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, denied the allegations, saying he hoped to clear his name with a victory in court after rejecting an offer from state prosecutors to settle the case with an out-of-court payment.

"This is certainly not an easy day for me," Mr Wulff told reporters on his way into the court in Hanover, the capital of Lower Saxony where he was the state premier from 2003 to 2010. "I'm quite confident that I'll be able to clear away the last remaining charges against me."

Mr Wulff's fall from the pinnacle of German politics to the Hanover courtroom dock has fascinated Germans, becoming the subject of countless talk shows and films.

It was also an embarrassment to Ms Merkel, who hand-picked Mr Wulff as candidate for president in 2010 and stuck with him as the controversy grew to fever pitch.

The scandal also hurt Ms Merkel's Christian Democrats and contributed to her party's defeat in the Lower Saxony regional election in January.