William I, German Emperor

William I or Wilhelm I[2] (German: Wilhelm Friedrich Ludwig; 22 March 1797 – 9 March 1888) was King of Prussia from 2 January 1861 and German Emperor from 18 January 1871 until his death in 1888. A member of the House of Hohenzollern, he was the first head of state of a united Germany. He was de facto head of state of Prussia from 1858, when he became regent for his brother Frederick William IV, whose death three years later would make him king.

Wilhelm I
The Emperor in 1884
German Emperor
Reign	18 January 1871 – 9 March 1888
Proclamation	18 January 1871, Versailles
Predecessor	Monarchy established
Successor	Frederick III
Chancellor	Otto von Bismarck
King of Prussia
Reign	2 January 1861 – 9 March 1888
Coronation	18 October 1861
Predecessor	Frederick William IV
Successor	Frederick III
Prime Ministers	See list Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern Prince Adolf zu Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen Otto von Bismarck Albrecht von Roon
Holder of the Bundespräsidium of the North German Confederation[1]
In office	1 July 1867 – 31 December 1870
Chancellor	Otto von Bismarck
Born	22 March 1797 Kronprinzenpalais, Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, Holy Roman Empire
Died	9 March 1888(1888-03-09) (aged 90) Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin, German Empire
Burial	16 March 1888 Charlottenburg Palace
Spouse	Augusta of Saxe-Weimar ​ ​ (m. 1829)​
Issue	Frederick III, German Emperor Louise, Grand Duchess of Baden
Names German: Wilhelm Friedrich Ludwig English: William Frederick Louis
House	Hohenzollern
Father	Frederick William III of Prussia
Mother	Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Religion	Lutheran (Prussian United)
Signature
Military career
Allegiance	Kingdom of Prussia  German Confederation
Service/branch	Prussian Army (active service)
Years of service	1809–1858 (active service)
Rank	Generalfeldmarschall (active service)
Unit	1st Guards Regiment
Commands held	Stettiner Gardelandwehrbataillon Fortress Mainz
Battles/wars	War of the Sixth Coalition Battle of Bar-sur-Aube Battle of Paris (1814) Hundred Days Battle of Ligny Battle of Waterloo Revolutions of 1848 Franco-Prussian War Battle of Sedan Siege of Paris (1870–1871)
Awards	Iron Cross

Prussian Royalty
House of Hohenzollern
William I
Children Frederick III Louise, Grand Duchess of Baden
v t e

Under the leadership of William and his minister president Otto von Bismarck, Prussia achieved the unification of Germany and the establishment of the German Empire. Despite his long support of Bismarck as minister president, William held strong reservations about some of Bismarck's more reactionary policies, including his anti-Catholicism and tough handling of subordinates. In contrast to the domineering Bismarck, William was described as polite, gentlemanly and, while staunchly conservative, more open to certain classical liberal ideas than his grandson Wilhelm II, during whose reign he was known as Wilhelm the Great (German: der Große).