The Kaiser is Dead. Long Live the Kaiser
June 2nd, 1914
Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin, Germany.
The newly crowned Kaiser Heinrich of Germany stands solemnly alone above his father's tomb. His father had ruled Germany for over twenty-six years. His reign had seen reform, family betrayal, and a failed coup, which could've thrust Germany into civil war or dissolve the newly unified state.
Not far from where his father lay was the tomb of his grandfather Kaiser Wilhelm I. Heinrich remembered the day they put his grandfather to rest in the palace. His father and grandfather had been nearly opposites in both personality and political philosophy. Wilhelm I had always been a very stern, very conservative man, and had ruled that way. Frederick was an aspired to liberalize all of Germany. Despite an early, and by all accounts, a successful military career in the wars against France and Austria, Frederick had always expressed his disdain for war. Fredrick had been enticed by the wave of liberalism that had spread in West Germany during the mid-1800s and studied at the liberal University of Bonn. His wife Princess Victoria, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria of England, had solidified his beliefs even further. She had a very strong impact on her husband’s beliefs and is likely the reason Heinrich had modeled the constitution of 1891 on that of Britain’s Constitutional Monarchy. Together they were perhaps the most liberal royal couple in continental Europe. When his grandfather Wilhelm Germany gained the most liberal monarchs in Europe.
Heinrich thought back on the day of his father’s coronation, and the look of disdain on his elder brother Wilhelm face. A few months later, as his energetic Father laid out his vision for a more liberal Germany Wilhelm, Wilhelm had said to him “Our grandfather had united the German peoples under Prussia. He had fought for our place in the sun and had won it. Now our father may lead us back into darkness, so that neither you nor I may continue grandfather’s vision.” At the time Heinrich had thought little of his brother’s remarks. He had known the relationship between his brother and his parents had strained in recent years, however, Wilhelm's later actions would seem inconceivable at the time.
“Your Majesty” Prime Minister Richter stood behind. “My apologies for disturbing you at a time like this, but I’m afraid we have urgent matters to discuss.
(Tomb of Kaiser Fredrick I)
June 2nd, 1914
Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin, Germany.
The newly crowned Kaiser Heinrich of Germany stands solemnly alone above his father's tomb. His father had ruled Germany for over twenty-six years. His reign had seen reform, family betrayal, and a failed coup, which could've thrust Germany into civil war or dissolve the newly unified state.
Not far from where his father lay was the tomb of his grandfather Kaiser Wilhelm I. Heinrich remembered the day they put his grandfather to rest in the palace. His father and grandfather had been nearly opposites in both personality and political philosophy. Wilhelm I had always been a very stern, very conservative man, and had ruled that way. Frederick was an aspired to liberalize all of Germany. Despite an early, and by all accounts, a successful military career in the wars against France and Austria, Frederick had always expressed his disdain for war. Fredrick had been enticed by the wave of liberalism that had spread in West Germany during the mid-1800s and studied at the liberal University of Bonn. His wife Princess Victoria, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria of England, had solidified his beliefs even further. She had a very strong impact on her husband’s beliefs and is likely the reason Heinrich had modeled the constitution of 1891 on that of Britain’s Constitutional Monarchy. Together they were perhaps the most liberal royal couple in continental Europe. When his grandfather Wilhelm Germany gained the most liberal monarchs in Europe.
Heinrich thought back on the day of his father’s coronation, and the look of disdain on his elder brother Wilhelm face. A few months later, as his energetic Father laid out his vision for a more liberal Germany Wilhelm, Wilhelm had said to him “Our grandfather had united the German peoples under Prussia. He had fought for our place in the sun and had won it. Now our father may lead us back into darkness, so that neither you nor I may continue grandfather’s vision.” At the time Heinrich had thought little of his brother’s remarks. He had known the relationship between his brother and his parents had strained in recent years, however, Wilhelm's later actions would seem inconceivable at the time.
“Your Majesty” Prime Minister Richter stood behind. “My apologies for disturbing you at a time like this, but I’m afraid we have urgent matters to discuss.
(Tomb of Kaiser Fredrick I)