Wilhelm II, German Emperor
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== Early life == | == Early life == | ||
| - | [[Image:Wilhelm21870.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:Wilhelm21870.jpg|thumb|150px|Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1870]] |
Wilhelm II was born in Berlin, then capital of kingdom of Prussia, to prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia and his wife, Victoria, Princess Royal of the United Kingdom, on January, 27 1859. He was queen Victoria's first grandchild. Due to a complicated breech birth, the young Hohenzollern had to live with a shorter left arm, which he desperately tried to hide during his long life, like carrying a pair of white gloves to make his arm seeming longer. Educated on Kassel Friedrichgymansium and at the University of Bonn, the second in the line of succession of Prussia was noticed for his quick intelligence and interests in science and technology, unfortunately overshadowed by a cantankerous temper and a suspected megalomania, as he was believing in the monarchy by the grace of God. His exposition at a young age to the Prussian military aristocratic society also made a deep impression on the young man. | Wilhelm II was born in Berlin, then capital of kingdom of Prussia, to prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia and his wife, Victoria, Princess Royal of the United Kingdom, on January, 27 1859. He was queen Victoria's first grandchild. Due to a complicated breech birth, the young Hohenzollern had to live with a shorter left arm, which he desperately tried to hide during his long life, like carrying a pair of white gloves to make his arm seeming longer. Educated on Kassel Friedrichgymansium and at the University of Bonn, the second in the line of succession of Prussia was noticed for his quick intelligence and interests in science and technology, unfortunately overshadowed by a cantankerous temper and a suspected megalomania, as he was believing in the monarchy by the grace of God. His exposition at a young age to the Prussian military aristocratic society also made a deep impression on the young man. | ||
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== The New Course == | == The New Course == | ||
| - | [[Image:YoungerKaiser.JPG|thumb| | + | [[Image:YoungerKaiser.JPG|thumb|150px|Wilhelm II at these times]] |
The new Kaiser soon went into conflict with the old Iron Chancellor: the young man was impatient and dreaming of vigorous and rapid expansion for the German Empire, added to rivalry with the almighty British Empire, while Bismarck had made everything to provide friendly terms of Germany with the whole Europe as a major power. Taking advantage of a parliamentarian dispute about social laws and with the support of Bismarck's rivals, the Kaiser forced the father of the German Empire to resign in 1890. | The new Kaiser soon went into conflict with the old Iron Chancellor: the young man was impatient and dreaming of vigorous and rapid expansion for the German Empire, added to rivalry with the almighty British Empire, while Bismarck had made everything to provide friendly terms of Germany with the whole Europe as a major power. Taking advantage of a parliamentarian dispute about social laws and with the support of Bismarck's rivals, the Kaiser forced the father of the German Empire to resign in 1890. | ||
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== The Place under the Sun == | == The Place under the Sun == | ||
| - | [[Image:Wilhelm1923.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:Wilhelm1923.jpg|thumb|150px|The post-Weltkrieg Kaiser: a peaceful old man]] |
== Personal life == | == Personal life == | ||
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=== Marriages === | === Marriages === | ||
| - | [[Image:FirstEmpress.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:FirstEmpress.jpg|thumb|150px|Empress Augusta Viktoria]] |
| - | [[Image:Hermine.JPG|thumb| | + | [[Image:Hermine.JPG|thumb|150px|Empress Hermine]] |
In February, 27 1881, Wilhelm II married the eldest daughter of Duke Friedrich VIII of Schleswig-Holstein, the ''Princess Auguste Viktoria Friederike Luise Feodora Jenny of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg'', who was known as '''Empress Augusta-Viktoria''' (born on October, 22 1858). They had seven children together, and the Empress died on April, 11 1921, in the last years of the Weltkrieg, certainly depressed by the devastating war. | In February, 27 1881, Wilhelm II married the eldest daughter of Duke Friedrich VIII of Schleswig-Holstein, the ''Princess Auguste Viktoria Friederike Luise Feodora Jenny of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg'', who was known as '''Empress Augusta-Viktoria''' (born on October, 22 1858). They had seven children together, and the Empress died on April, 11 1921, in the last years of the Weltkrieg, certainly depressed by the devastating war. | ||
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=== Children === | === Children === | ||
| - | [[Image:Kaiserandsons.JPG|thumb| | + | [[Image:Kaiserandsons.JPG|thumb|150px|The Kaiser and his sons]] |
1. '''[[Kronprinz Wilhelm]]''' (born ''Friedrich Wilhelm Victor August Ernst'' on May, 6 1882), official heir to his father as '''German Kaiser''' and '''King of Prussia'''. Married Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, had six children. | 1. '''[[Kronprinz Wilhelm]]''' (born ''Friedrich Wilhelm Victor August Ernst'' on May, 6 1882), official heir to his father as '''German Kaiser''' and '''King of Prussia'''. Married Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, had six children. | ||
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=== During his free time === | === During his free time === | ||
| - | [[Image:Stadtschloss.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:Stadtschloss.jpg|thumb|150px|Stadtschloss Palace, the Kaiser's official residence]] |
The Kaiser lives, like all his predecessors, in the Stadtschloss Palace in Berlin. In the summer, he is used to spend his vacations near the [[Norway|Norwegian]] coasts on one of his private yachts. | The Kaiser lives, like all his predecessors, in the Stadtschloss Palace in Berlin. In the summer, he is used to spend his vacations near the [[Norway|Norwegian]] coasts on one of his private yachts. | ||
Revision as of 15:25, 20 October 2007
Wilhelm II von Hohenzollern (born Friedrich Wilhelm Albert Viktor in Berlin, Prussia, 27 January 1859) is the third and current German Emperor (Kaiser) and ninth King of Prussia since 15 June 1888. Current head of state of Germany and of the Hohenzollern dynasty, son of the short-lived Kaiser Friedrich III, he is also the father of the Kronprinz Wilhelm, Prince Eitel Friedrich, King Adalbert of Flanders-Wallonia, Prince August-Wilhelm, Prince Oskar and Princess Viktoria Luise; and, at least, the uncle of King Vladimir of White Russia.
Considered as some sort of "Male Victoria" and "Father of Mitteleuropa", the old and authoritarian Kaiser is also considered as one of the symbols of German hegemony over the world, prepared by his own dreams of "Place under the Sun".
Contents |
Early life
Wilhelm II was born in Berlin, then capital of kingdom of Prussia, to prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia and his wife, Victoria, Princess Royal of the United Kingdom, on January, 27 1859. He was queen Victoria's first grandchild. Due to a complicated breech birth, the young Hohenzollern had to live with a shorter left arm, which he desperately tried to hide during his long life, like carrying a pair of white gloves to make his arm seeming longer. Educated on Kassel Friedrichgymansium and at the University of Bonn, the second in the line of succession of Prussia was noticed for his quick intelligence and interests in science and technology, unfortunately overshadowed by a cantankerous temper and a suspected megalomania, as he was believing in the monarchy by the grace of God. His exposition at a young age to the Prussian military aristocratic society also made a deep impression on the young man.
His grandfather, Wilhelm I, the first German Emperor, died on March, 9 1888, and was replaced by Wilhelm's father, the Kronprinz, ruling under the name of Friedrich III. Unfortunately, the Kaiser was already fighting against an incurable throat cancer, and he died on June, 15, after only 99 days of reign. He became Wilhelm II, King of Prussia and German Emperor, with one of his heroes as Reichkanzler, Otto von Bismarck himself.
The New Course
The new Kaiser soon went into conflict with the old Iron Chancellor: the young man was impatient and dreaming of vigorous and rapid expansion for the German Empire, added to rivalry with the almighty British Empire, while Bismarck had made everything to provide friendly terms of Germany with the whole Europe as a major power. Taking advantage of a parliamentarian dispute about social laws and with the support of Bismarck's rivals, the Kaiser forced the father of the German Empire to resign in 1890.
The Shadow-Kaiser
The Place under the Sun
Personal life
Parents
Wilhelm was the eldest child of then Prussian Kronprinz Friedrich von Hohenzollern, later Kaiser Friedrich III, son of Wilhelm I of Prussia, and of the Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, eldest daugther of queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Thus, Wilhelm II was related to many dynasties throughout Europe. Raised in the Prussian military society, Wilhelm was called by his mother, who was insisting to call his childs in her birth language, in "William". Some said it was determinant in his feelings full of conflicts towards England. Wilhelm had also a lot of admiration for his father, seeing him as a hero of the unification wars, but his feelings became more ambivalent then he came into contact with his father's political opponents. The Kaiser also tried to foster a cult to his namesake greatfather, calling him "Wilhelm the Great".
Marriages
In February, 27 1881, Wilhelm II married the eldest daughter of Duke Friedrich VIII of Schleswig-Holstein, the Princess Auguste Viktoria Friederike Luise Feodora Jenny of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, who was known as Empress Augusta-Viktoria (born on October, 22 1858). They had seven children together, and the Empress died on April, 11 1921, in the last years of the Weltkrieg, certainly depressed by the devastating war.
Taking advantage of the Kaiser's birthday in 1922, the recently widowed Princess Hermine Reuss of Greiz (born on December, 17 1887), was invited with her son to the Imperial Palace. The old Kaiser found the widow very attractive, despite the fact she was 30 years younger than him and had already five children. Despite the grumblings of his personal advisors and his children, the Kaiser married the woman on November, 9 1922, now known as Empress Hermine. They had no children.
Children
1. Kronprinz Wilhelm (born Friedrich Wilhelm Victor August Ernst on May, 6 1882), official heir to his father as German Kaiser and King of Prussia. Married Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, had six children.
2. Prince Eitel Friedrich (born Wilhelm Eitel Friedrich Christian Karl on July, 7 1883). Married Duchess Sophie Charlotte Holstein-Gottorp of Oldenburg, they had no children.
3. King Adalbert (born Adalbert Ferdinand Berengar Viktor on July, 14 1884), current king of Flanders-Wallonia. Married Adelheid Arna Karoline Marie Elisabeth of Saxe-Meiningen, had two living children. As king of another country, renounced to his rights to the Prussian throne.
4. Prince August Wilhelm (born August Wilhelm Heinrich Günther on January, 29 1887), controversial due to his links to the Pan-Germanist GDVP. Married Princess Alexandra Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, had a son.
5. Prince Oskar (born Oskar Karl Gustav Adolf on July, 27 1888), married morganically Countess Ina-Marie Helene Adele Elise von Bassewitz, had four children.
6. Prince Joachim (born Joachim Franz Humbert on December, 17 1890), king of Ireland for three months before Irish dictator Michael Collins abolished the monarchy imposed by the Germans. Diseappeared from political life after his failed tentative of suicide in 1920, due to his failed marriage. Married Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt, had one son.
7. Princess Viktoria Luise (born Viktoria Luise Adelheid Mathilde Charlotte on September, 13 1892), duchess of Brunswick. Married Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick, had five children.
During his free time
The Kaiser lives, like all his predecessors, in the Stadtschloss Palace in Berlin. In the summer, he is used to spend his vacations near the Norwegian coasts on one of his private yachts.
Titles
His Royal Highness Prince Wilhelm of Prussia (1859-1888)
His Imperial and Royal Highness The German Crown Prince, Crown Prince of Prussia (1888)
His Imperial and Royal Majesty The German Emperor, King of Prussia (1888-...)
Full title
His Imperial and Royal Majesty Wilhelm the Second, by the Grace of God, German Emperor and King of Prussia, Margrave of Brandenburg, Burgrave of Nuremberg, Count of Hohenzollern, Duke of Silesia and of the County of Glatz, Grand Duke of the Lower Rhine and of Posen, Duke in Saxony, of Angria, of Westphalia, of Pomerania and of Lunenburg, Duke of Schleswig, of Holstein and of Crossen, Duke of Magdeburg, of Bremen, of Guelderland and of Jülich, Cleves and Berg, Duke of the Wends and the Kashubians, of Lauenburg and of Mecklenburg, Landgrave of Hesse and in Thuringia, Margrave of Upper and Lower Lusatia, Prince of Orange, of Rugen, of East Friesland, of Paderborn and of Pyrmont, Prince of Halberstadt, of Münster, of Minden, of Osnabrück, of Hildesheim, of Verden, of Kammin, of Fulda, of Nassau and of Moers, Princely Count of Henneberg, Count of the Mark, of Ravensberg, of Hohenstein, of Tecklenburg and of Lingen, Count of Mansfeld, of Sigmaringen and of Veringen, Lord of Frankfurt.
