William I

William I was King of Prussia from 1861 and the first German emperor from 1871 until his death in 1888. His reign encompassed German unification under Prussian leadership.

Connect

German Empire: The German nation-state founded in 1871 under Prussian leadership and ruled by a federal monarchy. William I became its first emperor after Prussia's victory over France.
Otto von Bismarck: Prussian statesman who unified Germany and served as its first chancellor from 1871 to 1890. William appointed him minister president in 1862 and later made him imperial chancellor.
Frederick William III of Prussia: King of Prussia from 1797 to 1840 and father of William I. William grew up as the second son of this cautious Prussian king.
German Confederation: A loose association of German states established in 1815 and dissolved in 1866. It preceded the Prussian-led nation-state created during William's reign.
German unification: The process that united the German states into a nation-state in 1871. His kingship provided the Prussian crown around which unification was achieved.
Helmuth von Moltke the Elder: Prussian field marshal who led the General Staff through the wars of German unification. His military planning helped deliver the victories that strengthened William's rule.
Frederick William IV of Prussia: King of Prussia from 1840 to 1861 and William I's elder brother. His incapacity led William to serve as regent before inheriting the crown.
Austro-Prussian War: The 1866 war in which Prussia defeated Austria and excluded it from German affairs. Its outcome cleared the way for Prussian leadership of German unification.
Franco-Prussian War: The 1870–1871 war between France and Prussia and its German allies. Victory in this war accelerated unification and preceded William's imperial proclamation.
Albrecht von Roon: Prussian general and statesman who organized army reforms as minister of war. Roon's reforms enabled the military expansion William supported despite parliamentary opposition.