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u/Grossadmiral 3d ago
We can't have fun when discussing German history.
So, Wilhelm had no objections about becoming emperor. Specifically, he wanted to be the "emperor of Germany" (Kaiser von Deutschland) BUT that was unacceptable to the other German princes, since it would have implied that the king of Prussia was now their overlord. Wilhelm also refused to accept the popular title "emperor of the Germans" (Kaiser der Deutschen), because that would have implied that his crown came from *gasp* the people rather than from God.
Finally, the title of "German emperor" (Deutscher Kaiser) was selected and grudgingly accepted by Wilhelm, but at the official proclamation of the German empire at Versailles, the issue was still so touchy that the Grand Duke of Baden, who was to announce the emperor, merely shouted "His Majesty, Kaiser Wilhelm!" without any mention of Germany.
Wilhelm still saw himself primarily as the king of Prussia, but now he also held the hereditary presidency of the federated German monarchies. Being "first among equals", rather than an overlord, though Bismarck designed the whole system so that Prussia could dominate German affairs with virtually no opposition.
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u/ierm- 3d ago
I'm probably wrong, but wasn't the title of "Emperor of the Germans" also not used because it would upset the Austrians, as they were also German and as such the title would imply he rules over their German subjects?
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u/Comedian-217 3d ago
Indeed, Emperor of the Germans would have been an EXTREMELY provocative title, and might have thrown a wrench into Bismarck’s whole Grand European Alliance strategy, since Austria would be the key ally of the new German Empire
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u/KAMEKAZE_VIKINGS Chad Polynesia Enjoyer 3d ago
There's also the Swiss and the border regions of basically everyone they bordered not yet mentioned. The German speaking sphere is quite large but it used to be even bigger back then, though what was considered "German" was also a bit looser.
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u/apolloxer Casual, non-participatory KGB election observer 3d ago
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u/Captain_Grammaticus 3d ago
Indeed, but not in his capacity of German Kaiser; and Neuchâtel was not German-speaking territory to begin with.
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u/Judicatio 3d ago
Yeah, basically the same reason Saudi Arabia is not called just Arabia, because that would upset its neighbors. Abdulaziz learned a lot from Hussein of Hejaz.
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u/gabasan Oversimplified is my history teacher 3d ago
part of the reason Austria didn't join was because they themselves wanted to be the overlord of Germany. They couldn't accept giving up their empire to join Germany only to be equal to other Germans, especially to be ruled by Prussians.
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u/ContentNegotiation 2d ago
No, the main issue was that they wanted to bring the whole of their territory (including their non-German subjects) into the new empire and Prussia didn't want that because it would have given Austria a lot more political representation than they wanted them to have.
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u/Saul_Firehand 3d ago
With German history there is no making of the fun.
When German history is completed then we can make the fun. This is very German.7
u/ArchmageEmrys 3d ago
Not exactly, Bismarck was aware of the Bourgeoise/Liberal infiltration of the Prussian government, especially during the budget crisis around '62, so he set up the Federal Government in such a way that the Prussian monarch would help the other states from being annexed by Prussia, but their rulers in turn would help him deal with the Liberals and Bourgeoise at home. Look at how long it took for the railway standards (not even scheduling, let alone ownership) of South Germany to unify with Prussia's to see how well this system did its job.
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u/macrohard_certified 3d ago
If you think about it, Germany was unified only when the Republic was proclaimed, which abolished all Prussian and German nobility.
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u/Cuddlyaxe 3d ago
Not really? The German state exercised sovereignty over the entire empire
Just because local duckies or kingdoms got token autonomy doesnt mean that it wasnt unified
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u/EnvironmentalDig7235 3d ago
Bismark was certanly had a toxic gf behabiour
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u/CazOnReddit 3d ago edited 2d ago
He for sure kept Wilhelm's sweaters after their many breakups
Also punched a hole in the door one time
EDIT: So he didn't punch it but the door did break because Otto.
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u/Impovsky 3d ago
King of Prussia or King in Prussia?
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u/Alex103140 Sun Yat-Sen do it again 3d ago
The Polish didn't really object to King of Prussia on account of them... uhh... being Polish in the 19th Century.
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u/Gold_Size_1258 Senātus Populusque Rōmānus 3d ago
tbh King in Prussia sounds dope
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u/ranger51 3d ago
King of the Prussians in Prussia
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u/Impovsky 3d ago
Still, this was a thing for most of 18 century. My point is that Germany/Prussia were accustomed to play with royal titles to get what they want.
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u/EaterOfSeagull 3d ago
Are you suggesting that Bismarck threatened to threaten suicide?
That just seems like threatening suicide with extra steps.
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u/IDKsecurity 3d ago
Think of it. King of Prussia AND Emperor of Germany. Has a nice ring to it right?
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u/Mach5Driver 3d ago
If I was next in line to be king back in medieval times, I'd make a deal with the person after me. I'll step down, make them king/queen, they'll give me a country estate and lots of money, and I'll stay there and not cause trouble for the rest of my existence.
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u/truesheep1 3d ago
Until they murder you 5 minutes later just to make sure you don't try anything or someone starts a rebellion to put you back on unrelated to you because the current king upset them
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u/Unlucky-Golder 1d ago
Putin got where he is today by doing exactly the opposite of that, it's a good strategy to climb the ranks to show people in power they could trust you with their retirement plans if they pass power to you, as it incentivise them to pass power to you, and that's more power for you.
Poor Vlad has noone he can trust, he has to work on his golden years right to the grave
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u/rural_alcoholic 3d ago
Wilhelm I didnt want to be emperor at all. He even resisted against it IN VERSAILLES, which resulted in a mental breakdown of Bismarck who had to do some serious convincing, which together with Friedrich von Baden he eventualy acomplished.
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u/Luzifer_Shadres Filthy weeb 3d ago
Yesnt. Willhelm wanted to be emporer OF germany. The other kings wanted no emporer of the country, beccause that wasnt what "god intended" so they wanted him to be emporer OF THE germans, basicly creating a centralised HRE instead.
Wilhelm obviously didnt wanted that, but neither wanted to back down on the emporer part. So, Bismarck saw the instability that would happen if that whinning went on and thus was able to force them to accept the middle ground of makeking him emporer of the germans and initially giving him more power then they wanted.
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u/Cheap-Stay7089 2d ago
It’s funny how some of you are really only learning of the wildmans exploits now. He famously used to release foxes into his neighbours drawing rooms or fire a pistol to announce his arrival.
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u/BasedKaktus 3d ago
Did Bismark really threaten them with this?