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 | |||||
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![]() 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 | |||||
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 90) Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin, German Empire | (aged||||
Burial | 16 March 1888 | ||||
Spouse | |||||
Issue | |||||
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House | Hohenzollern | ||||
Father | Frederick William III of Prussia | ||||
Mother | Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz | ||||
Religion | Lutheran (Prussian United) | ||||
Signature | ![]() | ||||
Military career | |||||
Allegiance | ![]() ![]() | ||||
Service/ | ![]() (active service) | ||||
Years of service | 1809–1858 (active service) | ||||
Rank | Generalfeldmarschall (active service) | ||||
Unit | 1st Guards Regiment | ||||
Commands held |
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Battles/wars | |||||
Awards | Iron Cross |
Prussian Royalty |
House of Hohenzollern |
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William I |
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).