A question about the line of succession

Probably his uncle, Heinrich. He was a German Naval Officer and held close ties with his cousin in the UK (George VII)

Hmm... wait, wouldn't Otto von Bismarck just make the policy decisions? He was trying to minimalize the Kaiser down to figurehead anyway. It'll be much easier with the 7-year old Wilhelm III (as opposed to Wilhelm II, who openly challenged him).
 

Sumeragi

Banned
Hmm... wait, wouldn't Otto von Bismarck just make the policy decisions? He was trying to minimalize the Kaiser down to figurehead anyway. It'll be much easier with the 7-year old Wilhelm III (as opposed to Wilhelm II, who openly challenged him).
Yes, but I figure that a royal regent would be needed to make things official anyway.
 
Hmm... wait, wouldn't Otto von Bismarck just make the policy decisions? He was trying to minimalize the Kaiser down to figurehead anyway. It'll be much easier with the 7-year old Wilhelm III (as opposed to Wilhelm II, who openly challenged him).


It's not up to Bismarck. It's determined by Hohenzollern Family Law. Since they don't go in for women Regents, it will be Heinrich.

In this situation, Bismarck may carry on a few more years. However, even if ill-health doesn'f force him out around 1895, death certainly will in 1898.
 
I agree that Prince Henry is the only choice as regent, although given his popularity and common sense I could see a situation where Henry is offered the throne (prehaps the post of Emporer, whilst Williem remains ruler of Prussia).

Given that Germany was most worried about Russia it would be interesting to see a situation of Britain and France neutral in a Russian-German war.
 
I agree that Prince Henry is the only choice as regent, although given his popularity and common sense I could see a situation where Henry is offered the throne (prehaps the post of Emporer, whilst Williem remains ruler of Prussia).

He couldn't do it. According to the German Constitution the position of Emperor was connected to the King of Prussia. You couldn't abdicate from one throne without abdicating the other too.
 
He couldn't do it. According to the German Constitution the position of Emperor was connected to the King of Prussia. You couldn't abdicate from one throne without abdicating the other too.

I believe Wilhelm II attempted to abdicate to 'just' the King of Prussia at the onset of the Revolution. It might be possible to insert an ammendment refferring to the requirement for 'a member of the Royal House of Prussia, of sound mind and body and who is of age', particularly if it is felt that a strong Emperor is needed more than a direct heir.
 
I believe Wilhelm II attempted to abdicate to 'just' the King of Prussia at the onset of the Revolution.

For that to happen, you'd have to de jure dissolve the Empire, as the Emperorship was tied to the King of Prussia.

It might be possible to insert an ammendment refferring to the requirement for 'a member of the Royal House of Prussia, of sound mind and body and who is of age', particularly if it is felt that a strong Emperor is needed more than a direct heir.

Again, the Empire would have to reworked, and it would create a hornet's nest of constitutional problems later on (conflict between the Heinrichian and Wilhelmian Hohenzollerns anyone?). I think that this would be apparent, so Heinrich becomes the Regent and nothing more.
 
I believe Wilhelm II attempted to abdicate to 'just' the King of Prussia at the onset of the Revolution. It might be possible to insert an ammendment refferring to the requirement for 'a member of the Royal House of Prussia, of sound mind and body and who is of age', particularly if it is felt that a strong Emperor is needed more than a direct heir.

The problem is that legally he couldn't do it. In order to abdicate just one title he would have to renounce the entire constitution, and legally it would mean the end of the German Empire.
But I still see no reason why there would be any need for not accepting a regency when the German laws already accepted that arrangement. The German Constitution already stated that the king of Prussia would be the German Emperor. Therefore, all the problems regarding succession would obbey the Prussian Law, that is very clear regarding the chosing and the powers of the regent.

Just to make it clear, here is the German Constitution of 1871: http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/docpage.cfm?docpage_id=2780
The Article declaring the King of Prussia as the Emperor is the 11, where is also stated his powers.

And here is you have the Constitution of the Kingdom of Prussia: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Kingdom_of_Prussia
The important articles regarding this problem are these:
"Article 56: Regency

If the king is a minor, or is otherwise permanently prevented from ruling himself, the regency shall be undertaken by that agnate, who has attained his majority and stands next in succession to the crown. He shall immediately convoke the chambers, which, in united session, shall decide as to the necessity of the regency.
Article 57: Election of a Regent

If there be no agnate of age, and if no legal provision has previously been made for such a contingency, the Ministry of State shall convoke the chambers, which shall then elect a regent in joint session. And until the assumption of the regency by him, the Ministry of State shall conduct the government.
Article 58: Powers and Oath of Regent

The regent shall exercise the powers vested in the king in the name of the latter. After the establishment of the regency, he shall take the oath before the chambers in joint session to observe the constitution of the monarchy steadfastly and inviolably, and to rule in accordance with it and the laws.
Until this oath is taken, the whole Ministry of State for the time being shall remain responsible for all acts of the government."
 
Was the constitution of Empire explicit who the Regent for Empire should be, or that it should be the same as the Regent for Prussia?

It doesn't mention who should be the Imperial Regent. But it explicit mentions that the king of Prussia is the Emperor of Germany, so we can reasonably assume that who holds "the powers of" king of Prussia would also hold "the powers of" German Emperor.
 
Was the constitution of Empire explicit who the Regent for Empire should be, or that it should be the same as the Regent for Prussia?

The Constitution of the German Empire doesn't mention a Regency, but I don't see why the Regent wouldn't be the de facto leader of the Empire as well as Prussia.

It doesn't mention who should be the Imperial Regent. But it explicit mentions that the king of Prussia is the Emperor of Germany, so we can reasonably assume that who holds "the powers of" king of Prussia would also hold "the powers of" German Emperor.

Perhaps even the very fact that there is now a Prussian Regent acting as Imperial Regent might make Ministers ask that and have explicitly added?
 
Unless there is an identified need for change, the situation will run relatively smoothly with Heinrich as Regent and Willi as little Emperor. Only if the Regent turned out to be a megalomaniacal murdering flump would questions be asked as to who should be Regent. Heinrich just wasn't that sort of dude

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
Unless there is an identified need for change, the situation will run relatively smoothly with Heinrich as Regent and Willi as little Emperor. Only if the Regent turned out to be a megalomaniacal murdering flump would questions be asked as to who should be Regent. Heinrich just wasn't that sort of dude

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

Indeed, unless a problem would appear over Heinrich's governance then there is no need to change the Constitution.
 
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