William I, German Emperor

19th-century German Emperor and King of Prussia (1797–1888)

Fame66.0
Momentum2.5
Historical Figures rank#145

Source-basedStable

Fame66.0
Momentum2.5
Historical Figures rank#145
Wikipedia78.1K

Lived 1797–1888, aged 91Germany

Germany Historical Figures

Wikipedia
83 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1797–1888
Aged 91
Awards
15
recognised works

Summary

Updated 2026-06-08

He was a second son who never expected the crown, then became the first emperor of a unified Germany — a warrior prince who crushed the revolutions of 1848, handed statecraft to Bismarck, and watched his empire pass through three rulers in a single year.

Biography

About

Born 22 March 1797, Wilhelm Friedrich Ludwig was the second son of Prince Frederick William and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, raised in the shadow of an elder brother and never slated for the throne. He fought with distinction in the War of the Sixth Coalition and rose through the Prussian Army's ranks. When his childless brother became King Frederick William IV in 1840, Wilhelm turned heir presumptive; after helping crush the Revolutions of 1848 — though briefly exiled to England — he was named Prince Regent in 1858 when his brother's stroke left him incapacitated. Crowned King of Prussia i…

Voice