Kaiser William I
(William I of Germany, Wilhelm Friedrich Ludwig, Kaiser William I)
1797–1888
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As the second son of Frederick William III, William was not expected to succeed his father as monarch, and he therefore received only a minimal education. He left home to fight in the Prussian army against the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte, engaging both in battles on the front and in diplomatic missions. Later, in the Revolutions of 1848, he quelled a revolt aimed at his older brother, King Frederick William IV. Unfortunately, ten years later, the king suffered a stroke that left him mentally handicapped. He passed away soon after, leaving the throne open to William I. As king of Prussia, William appointed the brilliant statesman Otto von Bismarck to the office of Prime Minister, a position that answered only to the king. With Bismarck in charge of state, and the great general Helmuth von Moltke at the head of the Prussian forces, Prussia embarked on a series of successful wars with Denmark, Austria, and finally France. In each case Bismarck planned for war with the object of increasing Prussian territory, but managed to trick his opponent into declaring war, so as to avoid the appearance of aggression. After gaining the strategic territory of Alsace-Lorraine during the Franco Prussian War, William the First founded the Federation of German States and was proclaimed "German Emperor."
Not everyone appreciated the rulings of the Emperor; two assassination attempts were carried out in the same year, one by an anarchist and another by a radical socialist. The latter’s actions in particular led to the creation of the Anti-Socialist Law, laws that deprived the Social Democratic party of its legal rights, forbade all workers’ or socialist organizations, and confiscated suspicious literature. Despite these threats, however, the Socialist party only increased in influence, and following the Emperor’s death and Bismarck’s resignation, pressures from the working class led the government to repeal the new laws.
Key events during the life of William I:
| Born in Berlin | |
| Joined the army and fought in the Napoleonic Wars | |
| Saved brother Frederick William IV from a revolt | |
| Brother died, William became king | |
| Proclaimed German Emperor | |
| Two assassination attempts lead to the creation of the Anti-Socialist Laws | |
| Died | |
| Anti-Socialist Laws were repealed |
Other Resources
| German Confederation in | Germany: Peeps at History by John Finnemore |
| William I, United Germany in | The History of Germany by Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall |
| Old Empire and the New in | Historical Tales: German by Charles Morris |
| The Expansion of Germany in | Nations of Europe and the Great War by Charles Morris |
| Founding the German Empire in | Growth of the British Empire by M. B. Synge |
| King William I. in | The History of Prussia by John S.C. Abbott |
| The Germanic Empire in | The History of Prussia by John S.C. Abbott |
| Book Links |
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Image Links | ||
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 King William I of Prussia proclaimed German in Famous Men of Modern Times |
Emperor William in Bismarck and the Foundation of the German Empire |
 King William of Prussia proclaimed Emperor of Germany in Bismarck and the Foundation of the German Empire |
 Sarcophagus of Emperor William I., Charlottenburg in Bismarck and the Foundation of the German Empire |
 Long live his Imperial Majesty Emperor William I!' in The History of Germany |
 Emperor William First. in Emperor William First |
 The cornflower wreaths. in Emperor William First |
 The two Emperors. in Emperor William First |
 The Emperor's Death Bed in Emperor William First |
| Prussian statesman and mastermind of German Unification. Strategically provoked wars against Austria and France. | |
| Helmuth von Moltke | Military mastermind of the Austro-Prussian, and Franco-Prussian Wars. |
| Nephew of Napoleon, elected emperor of France after revolution of 1848. Deposed after disastrous Franco-Prussian War. | |
| Empress of Austria who was influential in 19th century society and known as a free spirit. | |
| Stepson of Napoleon, who accompanied him on all his early campaigns. Later Prince of Italy. | |
| Queen of Prussia who inspired Germany to resist Napoleon. Greatly honored in Prussia. |