Wilhelm I 1797-1888
Seventh King of Prussia and first German emperor

The second son of Frederick William III, he was born in Berlin. In 1814 he entered Paris with the allies. During the king's absence in Russia he directed Prussian military affairs. In 1829 he married Princess Augusta of Saxe-Weimar and became heir presumptive (1840). During the Revolution of 1848 his attitude towards the people made him very unpopular. He was obliged to leave Prussia for London, but he returned to subdue disaffection in Baden (1849). He was appointed regent (1858) for his ailing brother, Frederick William IV, and when he succeeded in 1861, he made plain his intention of consolidating the throne and strengthening the army. A few months after his accession he narrowly escaped assassination. Despite parliamentary disapproval, Prince Bismarck was placed at the head of the ministry, with Albrecht von Roon (1803-79) as War Minister. In 1864 Prussia and Austria defeated Denmark and in 1866 Prussia defeated Austria in the struggle for supremacy over the German states. In 1870 France and Prussia went to war; France was defeated. In 1871 Wilhelm was proclaimed German emperor. An Austro-German alliance of 1871 was strengthened (1873) by the adhesion of the tsar. The rapid rise of socialism in Germany led to severe repressive measures, and in 1878 two attempts were made on the emperor's life by socialists, and another in 1883. Though jealous of his royal prerogatives, he was unassuming in character.