Frederick III, German Emperor

For the medieval emperor, see Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor.
Frederick III
German Emperor; King of Prussia
Frederick III as crown prince
Frederick III as crown prince
Reign March 9 – June 15, 1888
Predecessor William I
Successor William II
Consort Victoria, Princess Royal
Issue
William II
Charlotte, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen
Prince Henry
Prince Sigismund
Princess Victoria
Prince Waldemar
Sophie, Queen of the Hellenes
Princess Margaret
Royal house Hohenzollern
Royal anthem Heil dir im Siegerkranz (unofficial)
Father William I
Mother Augusta of Saxe-Weimar
Born October 18, 1831(1831-10-18)
Potsdam, Prussia
Died June 15, 1888 (aged 56)
Potsdam, German Empire

Frederick III (German: Friedrich III., Deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen; October 18, 1831 – June 15, 1888) was German Emperor and King of Prussia for 99 days in 1888 during the Year of the Three Emperors. Frederick William Nicholas Charles (German: Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Karl), known informally as Fritz,[1] was the only son of Emperor William I, and was raised in his family's tradition of military service. Although celebrated as a young man for his leadership and successes during the Second Schleswig, Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian wars,[2][3] he nevertheless professed a hatred of warfare, and was praised by friends and enemies alike for his humane conduct. Following the unification of Germany in 1871 his father, then King of Prussia, became the German Emperor, and on William's death at the age of 90 on March 9, 1888, the throne passed to Frederick. However, having by then been the Crown Prince for twenty-seven years, Frederick had already exceeded the average Prussian's life expectancy,[4] and he was also suffering from cancer of the larynx. Frederick III died on June 15, 1888, aged 57, following unsuccessful medical treatments for his condition.

Frederick married Princess Victoria, daughter of Queen Victoria of Great Britain. The couple were well matched; their shared liberal ideology led them to seek greater representation for commoners in the government. Frederick, in spite of his conservative militaristic family background, had developed liberal tendencies as a result of his ties with Britain and his studies at the University of Bonn. As the Crown Prince, he often opposed the conservative Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, particularly in speaking out against Bismarck's policy to unite Germany through force, and in urging for the power of the position of Chancellor to be curbed. Liberals in both Germany and Britain hoped that as emperor, Frederick III would move to liberalize the German Empire; however, his illness prevented him from effectively establishing policies and measures to achieve this, and such moves as he was able to make were later abandoned by his son and successor, William II.

The timing of Frederick's death, and the length of his reign, are important topics among historians. The reign of Frederick III is considered a potential turning point in German history;[5] many historians believe if Frederick succeeded to the throne sooner, he would have transformed Germany into a liberal state. They argue this would have averted the events preceding World War I. Other historians contend that Frederick's influence and political leanings were greatly exaggerated, noting that he tended to defer to his father and Bismarck when confronted, and would not have dared to challenge their conservatism even as ruler. They further argue that 19th-century Germany was a deeply conservative nation, and would have opposed the implementation of liberal policies.

Contents

Personal life

Early life and education

Frederick William was born in the New Palace at Potsdam in Prussia on October 18, 1831. He was a scion of the House of Hohenzollern, rulers of Prussia, the most powerful of the German states. Frederick's father, Prince William, was a younger brother of King Frederick William IV, and having been raised in the military traditions of the Hohenzollerns, developed into a strict disciplinarian. He fell in love with his cousin Elisa Radziwill, a Princess of the Polish nobility, but his parents felt Elisa's rank was not suitable for the bride of a Prussian Prince, and forced a more suitable match.[6] The woman selected to be his wife, Princess Augusta of Saxe-Weimar, had been raised in the more intellectual and artistic atmosphere of Weimar, which gave its citizens greater participation in politics and limited the powers of its rulers through a constitution;[7][8] Augusta was well known across Europe for her liberal views.[9] The pair did not have a happy marriage because of their differences,[7][8] and Frederick grew up in a troubled household, leaving him with memories of a lonely childhood.[7][10] He had one sister, Louise (later Grand Duchess of Baden) who was eight years his junior and very close to him.

Frederick grew up during a tumultuous political period as the concept of liberalism in Germany, which evolved during the 1840s, was gaining widespread and enthusiastic support.[11] The liberals sought a unified Germany, and were constitutional monarchists who desired a constitution to ensure equal protection under the law, the protection of property, and the safeguarding of basic civil rights.[12] Overall, the liberals desired a government ruled by popular representation.[8] When Frederick was 17, these emergent nationalistic and liberal sentiments sparked a series of political uprisings across the German states and elsewhere in Europe. In Germany, their goal was to protect freedoms such as the freedom of assembly and freedom of the press, and to create a German parliament and constitution.[11][13] Although the uprisings ultimately brought about no lasting changes, liberal sentiments remained an influential force in German politics throughout Frederick's life.[14]

Despite the value placed by the Hohenzollern family on a traditional military education, Augusta insisted that her son receive a classical education as well.[10] Accordingly, Frederick was thoroughly tutored in both military traditions and the liberal arts. He was a talented student, particularly good at foreign languages, becoming fluent in English and French, and studying Latin. He also studied history, geography, physics, music and religion, and excelled at gymnastics; as required of a Prussian Prince, he became a very good rider.[15] Hohenzollern princes were made familiar with the military traditions of their dynasty at an early age; Frederick was ten when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the First Infantry Regiment of Guards, and invested with the Order of the Black Eagle. As he grew older he was expected to maintain an active involvement in military affairs,[16] but at the age of 18 he broke with family tradition and entered the University of Bonn. His time spent at the university, coupled with the influence of his less conservative family members, were instrumental in his embrace of liberal beliefs.[17]

Marriage and family

See also: Rulers of Germany family tree
Victoria, Princess Royal—eldest daughter of Queen Victoria—whom Frederick married in 1858

Royal marriages of the 19th century were arranged to secure alliances and to maintain blood ties among the European nations. As early as 1851, Queen Victoria of Great Britain and her consort Prince Albert were making plans to marry their eldest daughter Victoria, Princess Royal of Great Britain and Ireland, to Frederick. The royal dynasty in Britain was predominantly German; there was little British blood in Queen Victoria, and none in her husband.[18] The monarchs desired to maintain their family's blood ties to Germany, and Prince Albert further hoped that the marriage would lead to the liberalization and modernization of Prussia Kyle Clark. King Leopold I of Belgium, uncle of the British monarchs, also favoured this pairing; he had long treasured Baron Stockmar's idea of a marriage alliance between Britain and Prussia.[19] Frederick's father, Prince William, had no interest in the arrangement, hoping instead for a Russian Grand Duchess as his daughter-in-law.[18] However, Princess Augusta was greatly in favour of a match for her son that would bring closer connections with Britain.[1]

The betrothal of the young couple was announced in April 1856,[20] and their marriage took place on January 25, 1858, in the Chapel of St. James's Palace, London. To mark the occasion, Frederick was promoted to Major-General in the Prussian army. The newlyweds were compatible from the start, and their marriage was a loving one;[21][22] Victoria too had received a liberal education, and shared her husband's views. The couple had eight children: William in 1859, Charlotte in 1860, Henry in 1862, Sigismund in 1864, Victoria in 1866, Waldemar in 1868, Sophie in 1870 and Margaret in 1872. Sigismund died at the age of 2 and Waldemar at age 11,[23] and their eldest son, William, suffered from a withered arm—probably due to his difficult and dangerous breech birth, although it could have also resulted from a mild case of cerebral palsy.[24][25] William, who became emperor after Frederick's death, shared none of his parent's liberal ideas; his mother viewed him as a "complete Prussian".[26] This difference in ideology created a rift between William and his parents, and relations between them were strained throughout their lives.[26][27]

Political life

Crown Prince

William allowed Frederick few official duties, such as attending balls and socializing with dignitaries.

When his father succeeded to the Prussian throne as King William I on January 2, 1861, Frederick became the Crown Prince. Already twenty-nine years old, he would be Crown Prince for a further twenty-seven years. The new king was initially considered politically neutral; Frederick and Prussia's liberal elements hoped that he would usher in a new era of liberal policies. The liberals managed to greatly increase their majority in the Prussian Diet, but William soon showed that he preferred the conservative ways. On the other hand, Frederick declared himself in complete agreement with the "essential liberal policy for internal and foreign affairs".[28]

Because William was a dogmatic soldier and unlikely to change his ideas at the age of sixty-four,[29] he regularly clashed with the Diet over policies. In September 1862, one such disagreement almost led to Frederick being crowned and replacing his father as king; William threatened to abdicate when the Diet refused to fund his plans for the army's reorganization. Frederick was appalled by this action, and said that an abdication would "constitute a threat to the dynasty, country and Crown".[30] William reconsidered, and instead appointed Otto von Bismarck as Minister-President. The appointment of Bismarck, an authoritarian who often ignored or overruled the Diet, set Frederick on a collision course with his father and led to his exclusion from affairs of state for the rest of William's reign. Frederick insisted on bloodless "moral conquests", unifying Germany by liberal and peaceful means, but it was Bismarck's policy of blood and iron that prevailed.[17]

Frederick was severely reproached by his father for his liberal ideas, so he spent a large portion of time in England where Queen Victoria frequently allowed him to represent her at ceremonies and social functions.[31]

August 20, 1870, Illustrated London News celebrates the Crown Prince's Franco-Prussian War achievements.

Frederick experienced his first combat in the Second Schleswig War. Appointed to supervise the supreme German Confederation commander Field Marshall Wrangel and his staff, the Crown Prince tactfully managed disputes between Wrangel and the other officers. The Prussians and their Austrian allies defeated the Danes and conquered the southern part of Jutland, but after the war they spent two years politicking to assume leadership of the German states. This culminated in the Austro-Prussian War, and although Frederick had opposed a war against Austria, he accepted command of one of Prussia's three armies, with General Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal as his chief of staff. The timely arrival of his II Army was crucial to the Prussian victory in 1866 at the decisive Battle of Königgrätz, which won the war for Prussia.[32] After the battle, William presented Frederick with the Order Pour le Mérite for his personal gallantry on the field and leadership of the II Army.[2] A few days before Königgrätz, Frederick had written to his wife, expressing his hope that this would be the last war he would have to fight. On the third day of the battle he wrote to her again: "Who knows whether we may not have to wage a third war in order to keep what we have now won?"[33]

Four years later Frederick was in action again, this time during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, in which he commanded the III Army, consisting of troops from the southern German states.[34][35] He was praised for his leadership after defeating the French at the battles of Wörth and Wissembourg,[35] and met with further successes at the Battle of Sedan and during the Siege of Paris. Frederick's humane treatment of his country's foes earned him their respect and the plaudits of neutral observers.[36] After the Battle of Wörth, a London journalist witnessed the Crown Prince's many visits to wounded Prussian solders and lauded his deeds, extolling the love and respect the soldiers held for Frederick. Following his victory, Frederick had remarked to two Paris journalists, "I do not like war gentlemen. If I should reign I would never make it."[3] One French journalist remarked that "the Crown Prince has left countless traits of kindness and humanity in the land that he fought against."[36] For his behaviour and accomplishments, the London Times wrote a tribute to Frederick in July 1871, stating that "the Prince has won as much honour for his gentleness as for his prowess in the war".[36]

German Empire and brief reign

Anton von Werner's depiction of William's proclamation as Emperor; Frederick (top step, with hand raised) leads the cheering

In 1871, following Prussia's victories, the German states were united into the German Empire, with William as the Emperor and Frederick as heir to the new German monarchy. Bismarck, now Chancellor, disliked Frederick and distrusted the liberal attitudes of the Crown Prince and Princess. Often at odds with his father's and Bismarck's policies and actions, Frederick sided with the country's liberals[37] in their opposition to the expansion of the empire's army.[38] His protests against William's rule peaked at Danzig, where at an official reception in the city he loudly denounced Bismarck's restrictions on freedom of the press.[39] Consequently, Frederick was excluded from positions of political power throughout his father's reign. Retaining his military portfolio, he continued to represent Germany and its Emperor at ceremonies, weddings, and celebrations, such as Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887.[40] The Crown Prince also became involved in many public works projects, such as the establishment of schools and churches in the area of Bornstädt near Potsdam.[41][42] To assist his father's effort to turn Berlin, the capital city, into a great cultural centre, he was appointed Protector of Public Museums; it was largely due to Frederick that considerable artistic collections were acquired, housed in Berlin's new Kaiser Friedrich Museum (later known as the Bode Museum) after his death.[43]

Germany's progressive elements hoped that William's death, and thus Frederick's succession, would usher the country into a new era governed along liberal lines.[38][44] The conservative William, however, lived a long life, dying at the age of 90 on March 9, 1888. By that time Frederick was 57 years old and suffering from a debilitating cancer of the larynx. He viewed his illness with dismay, crying "To think I should have such a horrid disgusting illness ... I had so hoped to have been of use to my country."[45] He received conflicting medical advice regarding treatment.[46] In Germany, Doctor Ernst von Bergmann proposed to remove the larynx completely, but his colleague, Doctor Rudolf Virchow, disagreed;[47] such an operation had never been performed without the death of the patient.[48] The British doctor Sir Morell Mackenzie, who had diagnosed the cancer,[49] advised a tracheotomy, to which Frederick and his wife agreed. On February 8, a month before his father died, a cannula was fitted to allow Frederick to breathe;[50] for the remainder of his life he was unable to speak and often communicated through writing.[51] During the operation, Dr. Bergmann almost killed him by missing the incision in the windpipe and forcing the cannula into the wrong place. Frederick started to cough and bleed, and Bergmann placed his forefinger into the wound to enlarge it. The bleeding subsided after two hours, but Bergmann's actions resulted in an abscess in Frederick's neck, producing pus which gave the new Emperor discomfort for the remaining months of his life.[50] Later, Frederick would ask "Why did Bergmann put his finger in my throat?"[50] and complain that "Bergmann ill-treated [me]".[50]

Kaiser-Friedrich-Mausoleum (Potsdam): Frederick is entombed in this sarcophagus, which bears his likeness on top

In spite of his illness, Frederick did his best to fulfil his obligations as Emperor. Immediately after the announcement of his accession, he took the ribbon and star of his Order of the Black Eagle from his jacket and pinned it on the dress of his wife; he was determined to honor her position as Empress.[52] As the German Emperor, he officially received Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway, and attended the wedding of his son Prince Henry to his niece Princess Irene. However, Frederick reigned for only 99 days,[53] and was unable to bring about much lasting change.[54] An edict he penned before he ascended to the throne that would limit the powers of the chancellor and monarch under the constitution was never put into effect,[55] although he did force Robert von Puttkammer to resign as Prussian Minister of the Interior on June 8, when evidence indicated that Puttkammer had interfered in the Reichstag elections. Dr. Mackenzie wrote that the Emperor had "an almost overwhelming sense of the duties of his position".[56] In a letter to Lord Napier, Empress Victoria wrote "The Emperor is able to attend to his business, and do a great deal, but not being able to speak is, of course, most trying."[57] Frederick had the fervour but not the time to accomplish his desires, lamenting in May 1888, "I cannot die ... What would happen to Germany?"[58] Frederick III died on June 15, 1888, and was succeeded by his 29-year-old son William II. Frederick is buried in a mausoleum attached to the Friedenskirche in Potsdam.[59] After his death, he was referred to by the British Prime Minister William Gladstone as the "Barbarossa of German liberalism".[60] Empress Victoria went on to continue spreading Frederick's thoughts and ideals throughout Germany, but no longer had power within the government.[61]

Legacy

Frederick believed a country should not act against the popular opinion of its inhabitants.[39][62] He had a long history of liberalism, and had discussed his ideas and intentions with Victoria and others before his reign. Admiring Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and the British parliamentary system,[38][63] Frederick and his wife planned to rule as consorts and liberalize Germany through the appointment of more liberal ministers.[64] They intended to severely limit the office of Chancellor,[55] and reorganize Germany to include many elements of British liberalism. Many historians, including William Harbutt Dawson and Erich Eyck, consider that Frederick's early death put an end to the development of liberalism within the German empire.[7] They believe that, given a longer reign and better health, Frederick might indeed have transformed Germany into a more liberal democratic country, and prevented its militaristic path toward war.[53][65][66] Dr. J. McCullough claims that Frederick would have averted World War I—and by extension the resulting Weimar Republic[66]—while other historians such as Michael Balfour go even further by postulating that, as the end of World War I directly affected the state of the world's development, the liberal German Emperor might also have prevented the outbreak of World War II.[67] Author Michael Freund states outright that both world wars would have been averted had Frederick lived longer.[68] However, his father lived for over 90 years, and Frederick ascended to the throne as a sick, elderly man on the threshold of death. Unable to influence policy at the height of his power, health, and popularity following his military successes, Frederick was again unable to do so during his reign. His life inspired historian Frank Tipton to speculate: "What would have happened had his father died sooner or if he himself had lived longer?"[69]

United States magazine Puck mourned the passing of the liberal monarch, Frederick III.

Other historians, including Wilhelm Mommsen and Arthur Rosenberg, oppose the idea that Frederick could have, or would have, liberalized Germany.[7] They believe that he would not have dared to oppose both his father and Bismarck to change Germany's course; a natural soldier, he was steeped in his family's strong military tradition, and had happily reported to his father since he joined the army at the age of ten.[1] Andreas Dorpalen notes that Frederick had complied with most of William's and Bismarck's policies early in his life, and would have been unlikely to change his behaviour.[63][70] According to Arthur Rosenberg, despite his liberal tendencies Frederick still firmly believed in Bismarck and his system,[71] with Dorpalen adding that in any case Frederick had too weak and ineffectual a character to have brought about real change, regardless of how long he reigned.[44][72] James J. Sheehan states that the political climate and party system of Germany during that period were too steeped in the old ways for Frederick to overcome with liberalization.[73] Dorpalen also observes that Frederick's liberal persona may have been exaggerated after his death, to keep the liberal movement strong in Germany,[74] and he points out that the many mistakes made by William II helped to paint his father in a more favorable light.[75]

Frederick's children—William in particular—held various political positions and greatly influenced Europe. Unlike his father, William had not personally experienced the horrors of war, and he enthusiastically embraced his family's military heritage, coming under Bismarck's tutelage. The Chancellor, who disapproved of Frederick's and Victoria's liberal ways, felt bound to increase the tensions between William and his parents.[76] William grew up full of disdain for their opinions on government, and shortly after his father's death, proclaimed that he would follow the path of his grandfather, William I. He made no reference to Frederick III.[77] William II abandoned all of his father's policies and ideas, and eventually led Germany into World War I.[7][75]

Titles, styles, honors and arms

Monarchical Styles of
German Emperor Frederick III, King of Prussia
Wappen Deutsches Reich - Reichsadler 1889.png
Reference style His Imperial and Royal Majesty
Spoken style Your Imperial and Royal Majesty
Alternative style Sire

Titles and styles

Honors

At the age of ten he was invested with the Order of the Black Eagle.[16] Following his victory at the Battle of Königgrätz, he received the Order Pour le Mérite for his leadership during the battle.[2]

Arms

Emperor Frederick III's arms were the Coat of Arms of the German Empire. These arms depicted a black eagle called the Reichsadler (English: "Eagle of the Empire" or "Empire's Eagle") with a crown that hovers over its head.

Ancestry

Issue

Name Birth Death Notes
William II January 27, 1859 June 4, 1941 married 1881, Princess Augusta Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein; had issue
Princess Charlotte July 24, 1860 October 1, 1919 married 1878, Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; had issue
Prince Heinrich August 14, 1862 April 20, 1929 married 1888, Princess Irene of Hesse and by Rhine; had issue
Prince Sigismund September 15, 1864 June 18, 1866 died aged 21 mos.
Princess Viktoria April 12, 1866 November 13, 1929 married 1890, Prince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe
Prince Waldemar February 10, 1868 March 27, 1879 died aged 11
Princess Sophie June 14, 1870 January 13, 1932 married 1889, Constantine I of Greece; had issue
Princess Margaret April 22, 1872 January 22, 1954 married 1893, Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse; had issue

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 MacDonogh, p. 17.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kollander, p. 79.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Illustrated London News
  4. ↑ Dyos, p. 20.
  5. ↑ Tipton, p.175
  6. ↑ Van der Kiste, p. 10.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Dorpalen, p. 2.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Kollander, p. 1.
  9. ↑ Van der Kiste, p. 11.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Van der Kiste, p. 12.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Palmowski, p. 43.
  12. ↑ Sperber, p. 64.
  13. ↑ Sperber, p. 128-129.
  14. ↑ Röhl, p. 554.
  15. ↑ Mueller-Bohn, p. 44.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Mueller-Bohn, p. 14.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Nichols, p. 7.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Van der Kiste, p. 15.
  19. ↑ Van der Kiste, p. 16.
  20. ↑ Van der Kiste, p. 31.
  21. ↑ MacDonogh, pp. 17–18.
  22. ↑ Van der Kiste, p. 43.
  23. ↑ Kollander, p. 21.
  24. ↑ Röhl, p.12.
  25. ↑ MacDonogh, p. 22.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Röhl, p. 101.
  27. ↑ Röhl, p. xiii.
  28. ↑ Van der Kiste, p. 68.
  29. ↑ Van der Kiste, p. 61.
  30. ↑ Pakula, p. 168.
  31. ↑ Pakula, p. 69.
  32. ↑ Lord, p. 125.
  33. ↑ Pakula, p. 98.
  34. ↑ Howard, p. 60.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Kollander, p. 92.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 Kollander, p. 109.
  37. ↑ Dorpalen, p. 6.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 Dorpalen, p. 1.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Dorpalen, p. 11.
  40. ↑ Van der Kiste, pp. 130–31.
  41. ↑ Mueller-Bohn, p. 420.
  42. ↑ Van der Kiste, p. 89.
  43. ↑ Van der Kiste, p. 128.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Sheehan, p. 217.
  45. ↑ Pakula, p. 448.
  46. ↑ Pakula, p. 479.
  47. ↑ Sinclair, p. 195
  48. ↑ Sinclair, p. 206
  49. ↑ Judd, p. 13.
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 Sinclair, p. 204
  51. ↑ Dorpalen, p. 27.
  52. ↑ Van der Kiste, p. 193.
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 Kitchen, p. 214.
  54. ↑ Cecil, p. 110.
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 Kollander, p. 147.
  56. ↑ Van der Kiste, p. 195.
  57. ↑ Van der Kiste, p. 196.
  58. ↑ Pakula, p. 484.
  59. ↑ Wanckel
  60. ↑ Kollander, p. xi.
  61. ↑ Kollander, p. 179.
  62. ↑ Dorpalen, p. 22.
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 Dorpalen, p. 3.
  64. ↑ Farago, p. 264.
  65. ↑ Chalat, p. 1307.
  66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 McCullough, p. 403.
  67. ↑ Balfour, p. v.
  68. ↑ Freund, p. 9.
  69. ↑ Tipton, p. 176.
  70. ↑ Dorpalen, p. 18.
  71. ↑ Rosenberg, p. 34.
  72. ↑ Dorpalen, p. 4.
  73. ↑ Sheehan, p. 216.
  74. ↑ Dorpalen, p. 30.
  75. ↑ 75.0 75.1 Dorpalen, p. 31.
  76. ↑ Feuchtwanger, p. 243.
  77. ↑ Kollander, p. 178.

References

Further reading

External links

Frederick III, German Emperor
Born: October 18 1831 Died: June 15 1888
German nobility
Preceded by
Wilhelm I		 German Emperor
King of Prussia
March 9 – June 15, 1888		 Succeeded by
Wilhelm II
Monarchs of Germany
Kingdom of Germany (843-1806)
Louis II • Carloman • Louis III • Charles III • Arnulf • Louis the Child • Conrad I • Henry I • Otto I • Otto II • Otto III • Henry II • Conrad II • Henry III • Henry IV • Henry V • Lothair III • Conrad III • Frederick I • Henry VI • Philip • Otto IV • Frederick II • Conrad IV • Rudolf I • Adolf • Albert I • Henry VII • Louis IV • Charles IV • Wenceslaus • Rupert • Sigismund • Albert II • Frederick III • Maximilian I • Charles V • Ferdinand I • Maximilian II • Rudolph II • Matthias • Ferdinand II • Ferdinand III • Leopold I • Joseph I • Charles VI • Charles VII • Francis I • Joseph II • Leopold II • Francis II
 Coat of Arms of Germany.svg
Confederation of the Rhine (1806-1813)
German Confederation (1815-1848)
Francis II • Ferdinand I
German Empire (1849)
Frederick William IV (emperor-elect)
German Union (1849-1850)
Frederick William IV
German Confederation (1850-1866)
North German Confederation (1867-1871)
German Empire (1871-1918)
Wilhelm I • Frederick III • Wilhelm II
Rulers of Prussia
Dukes of the Duchy of Prussia
Albert · Albert Frederick · John Sigismund · George William · Frederick William · Frederick
 Greater arms of Prussia (1873-1918)
Monarchs of the Kingdom of Prussia
Frederick I · Frederick William I · Frederick II · Frederick William II · Frederick William III · Frederick William IV · Wilhelm I · Frederick III · Wilhelm II
For the pretenders to the Prussian throne see here.