frederick iii, german emperor
[26][27] Wilhelm, who became emperor after Frederick's death, shared none of his parent's liberal ideas; his mother viewed him as a "complete Prussian". Frederick "described the Imperial Constitution as ingeniously contrived chaos."[4]. [16], Despite the value placed by the Hohenzollern family on a traditional military education, Augusta insisted that her son also receive a classical education. The timing of Frederick's death and the length of his reign are important topics among historians. His life inspired historian Frank Tipton to speculate: "What would have happened had his father died sooner or if he himself had lived longer?"[75]. Admiring Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and the British parliamentary system,[45][69] Frederick and his wife planned to rule as consorts and liberalize Germany through the appointment of more liberal ministers. [12] When Bismarck realized that Wilhelm II was about to dismiss him: Churches honouring Frederick include the Kaiser-Friedrich-Gedächtniskirche in Berlin and the former Kalthof Church in Königsberg. Styria, Carinthia, and Carniola, and of Ernest's wife Cymburgis of Masovia. By the time he ascended the throne, Frederick was 56 years old and suffering from a debilitating cancer of the larynx. ISSN. [82] Wilhelm grew up full of disdain for their opinions on government, and shortly after his father's death, proclaimed that he would follow the path of his grandfather, William I. Germany's progressive elements hoped that William's death, and thus Frederick's succession, would usher the country into a new era governed along liberal lines. [52] On 8 February, a month before his father died, a cannula was fitted to allow Frederick to breathe;[56] for the remainder of his life he was unable to speak and often communicated through writing. The appointment of Bismarck, an authoritarian who would often ignore or overrule the Diet, set Frederick on a collision course with his father and led to his exclusion from affairs of state for the rest of William's reign. His lack of influence affected him deeply, even causing him to think about suicide.[12]. Frederick III (German: Friedrich III., Deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen; 18 October 1831 – 15 June 1888) was German Emperor and King of Prussia for 99 days in 1888, the Year of the Three Emperors. [33][68] He had a long history of liberalism, and had discussed his ideas and intentions with Victoria and others before his reign. When his father succeeded to the Prussian throne as King William I on 2 January 1861, Frederick became the Crown Prince. Anton von Werner's depiction of William's proclamation as Emperor; Frederick is standing behind his father, his brother-in-law, the Grand Duke of Baden leads the cheering. Frederick was appalled by this action, and said that an abdication would "constitute a threat to the dynasty, country and Crown". Frederick III (German: Friedrich III. Although the disease was correctly diagnosed as such by German doctors, the British specialist Sir Morell Mackenzie advised against an operation (scheduled for May 21, 1887, and cancelled). [43] After the Battle of Wörth, a London journalist witnessed the Crown Prince's many visits to wounded Prussian soldiers and lauded his deeds, extolling the love and respect the soldiers held for Frederick. Born in Innsbruck, he was the son of Duke Ernest the Iron from the Leopoldinian line of the Habsburg family ruling Inner Austria, i.e. Victoria, Princess Royal (Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa; 21 November 1840 – 5 August 1901) was German Empress and Queen of Prussia as the wife of German Emperor Frederick III.She was the eldest child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Albert, Prince Consort, and was created Princess Royal in 1841. When his father succeeded to the Prussian throne as King William I on 2 January 1861, Frederick became the Crown Prince. She was the mother of Wilhelm II, German Emperor. The premature demise of Frederick III is considered a potential turning point in German history;[6] and whether or not he would have made the Empire more liberal if he had lived longer is still discussed. Frederick fought in the wars against Denmark, Austria and France. He was the last German emperor crowned by the pope in Rome. A regular exchange of letters between Victoria and Frederick followed. Frederick III, German Emperor - Wikimedia Commons (2013). [85], At the age of ten he was invested with the Order of the Black Eagle. The liberals managed to greatly increase their majority in the Prussian Diet (Landtag), but William soon showed that he preferred the conservative ways. He was the first emperor of the House of Habsburg, and the fourth member of the House of Habsburg to be elected King of Germany after Rudolf I of Germany, Albert I in the 13th century and his predecessor Albert II of Germany. King Leopold I of Belgium, uncle of the British monarch and consort, also favoured this pairing; he had long treasured Baron Stockmar's idea of a marriage alliance between Britain and Prussia. 18 October 1831 – 2 Januar 1861 His Ryal Highness Prince Friedrich o Proushie. 20 August 1870, Illustrated London News celebrates the Crown Prince's Franco-Prussian War achievements. The Prussians and their Austrian allies defeated the Danes and conquered the southern part of Jutland, but after the war they spent two years politicking to assume leadership of the German states. Frederick, in spite of his conservative militaristic family background, had developed liberal tendencies as a result of his ties with Britain and his studies at the University of Bonn. [81], Frederick's children—Wilhelm in particular—held various political positions and greatly influenced Europe. Although influenced by liberal, constitutional, and middle-class ideas, he retained a strong sense of the Hohenzollern royal and imperial dignity. Fryderyk III (niem. [2] Nevertheless, the bloodshed caused him great dismay. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. [38] However, when war with Austria broke out, he accepted command of one of Prussia's three armies, with General Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal as his chief of staff. In 1858 he married the British princess royal, Victoria (1840–1901; from 1888 called the “empress Frederick”). On the third day of the battle he wrote to her again: "Who knows whether we may not have to wage a third war in order to keep what we have now won? The eldest child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and was created Princess Royal in 1841. He also studied history, geography, physics, music and religion, and excelled at gymnastics; as required of a Prussian Prince, he became a very good rider. [56], Kaiser-Friedrich-Mausoleum (Potsdam): Frederick is entombed in this sarcophagus, which bears his likeness on top, In spite of his illness, Frederick did his best to fulfil his obligations as Emperor. His private tutor was Ernst Curtius, a famous archaeologist. On William's death at the age of 90 on 9 March 1888, the throne passed to Frederick, who had by then been Crown Prince for 27 years. However, his illness prevented him from effectively establishing policies and measures to achieve this, and such moves as he was able to make were later abandoned by his son and successor, Wilhelm II. [43], In 1871, following Prussia's victories, the German states were united into the German Empire, with William as the Emperor and Frederick as heir-apparent to the new German monarchy. Dorpalen, Andreas (October 1948). "[50] He received conflicting medical advice regarding treatment. [74] However, his father lived for 90 years, and Frederick ascended to the throne as a sick man in late middle-age on the threshold of death. German Empire lost more than 2.5 million during the I World War. Immediately after the announcement of his accession, he took the ribbon and star of his Order of the Black Eagle from his jacket and pinned it on the dress of his wife; he was determined to honor her position as Empress. Following his victory, Frederick had remarked to two Paris journalists, "I do not like war gentlemen. Frederick is buried in a mausoleum attached to the Friedenskirche in Potsdam. The new king was initially considered politically neutral; Frederick and Prussia's liberal elements hoped that he would usher in a new era of liberal policies. His misfortunes spurred his family to strengthen their position. To mark the occasion, Frederick was promoted to Major-General in the Prussian army. Known informally as "Fritz", he was the only son of Emperor Wilhelm I and was raised in his family's tradition of military service. [66] Empress Victoria went on to continue spreading Frederick's thoughts and ideals throughout Germany, but no longer had power within the government. Frederick III, also called (until 1888) Crown Prince Frederick William, German Kronprinz Friedrich Wilhelm, in full Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Karl, (born Oct. 18, 1831, Potsdam, Prussia—died June 15, 1888, Potsdam), king of Prussia and German emperor for 99 days in 1888, during which time he was a voiceless invalid, dying of throat cancer. "[3] One French journalist remarked that "the Crown Prince has left countless traits of kindness and humanity in the land that he fought against. Unlike his father, Wilhelm had not personally experienced the horrors of war, and he enthusiastically embraced his family's military heritage, coming under Bismarck's tutelage. Despite the influence of his wife’s liberal ideas, he favoured a strong central government and at times exceeded the prime minister and chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, in willingness to exert pressure on the allied German princes. Digital object identifier: Mueller-Bohn, Hermann (1900) (in German). Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederick-III-king-of-Prussia-and-emperor-of-Germany, Napoleon.org - Biography of Frederick William III, Frederick III of Prussia - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The empire was abolished and the country was set on the path to the II World War. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Frederick III was German Emperor and King of Prussia for ninety-nine days in 1888. [62] In a letter to Lord Napier, Empress Victoria wrote "The Emperor is able to attend to his business, and do a great deal, but not being able to speak is, of course, most trying. Known informally as "Fritz", he was the only son of Emperor Wilhelm I and was raised in his family's tradition of military service. [39] After the battle, William presented Frederick with the Order Pour le Mérite for his personal gallantry on the field and leadership of the II Army. Although he had opposed military action in each case, once war had started he supported the Prussian military wholeheartedly and took positions of command. [7] The woman selected to be his wife, Princess Augusta of Saxe-Weimar, had been raised in the more intellectual and artistic atmosphere of Weimar, which gave its citizens greater participation in politics and limited the powers of its rulers through a constitution;[8][9] Augusta was well-known across Europe for her liberal views. German Empress and Queen of Prussia by marriage to German Emperor Frederick III. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March 1152. Already twenty-nine years old, he would be Crown Prince for a further twenty-seven years. Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor; (September 21, 1415 – August 19, 1493) was elected as German King as the successor of Albert II in 1440. [36], Frederick was severely reproached by his father for his liberal ideas, so he spent a large portion of time in Britain where Queen Victoria frequently allowed him to represent her at ceremonies and social functions.[37]. [83] William II abandoned all of his father's policies and ideas, and eventually led Germany into World War I.[8][81]. Frederick III was born on Sept. 21, 1415, in Innsbruck. [12] Frederick experienced his first combat in the Second Schleswig War. [73] Author Michael Freund states outright that both world wars would have been averted had Frederick lived longer. [10] Because of their differences, the couple did not have a happy marriage and,[8][9] as a result, Frederick grew up in a troubled household, which left him with memories of a lonely childhood. In 1887 Frederick showed symptoms of cancer of the throat. Government policy would be based on the consensus of the cabinet. He made no reference to Frederick III. Although celebrated as a young man for his leadership and successes during the Second Schleswig, Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian wars,[2][3] he nevertheless professed a hatred of warfare and was praised by friends and enemies alike for his humane conduct. [18] Following his victory at the Battle of Königgrätz, he received the Order Pour le Mérite for his leadership during the battle. [21] Frederick's father, Prince William, had no interest in the arrangement, hoping instead for a Russian Grand Duchess as his daughter-in-law. Frederick was succeeded by his son and heir, William II. Known informally as "Fritz", he was the only son of Emperor Wilhelm I and was raised in his family's tradition of military service. [57] During the operation, Dr. Bergmann almost killed him by missing the incision in the trachea and forcing the cannula into the wrong place. Sigismund died at the age of 2 and Waldemar at age 11,[25] and their eldest son, Wilhelm, suffered from a withered arm—probably due to his difficult and dangerous breech birth, although it could have also resulted from a mild case of cerebral palsy. Frederick III (October 18, 1831 - June 15, 1888), was German Emperor and King of Prussia, ruling for 99 days until his death on June 15, 1888. Prince Albert took Frederick under his wings during his stay but it was Albert's daughter, only eleven at the time, who guided the German prince around the Exhibition. Other historians, including Wilhelm Mommsen and Arthur Rosenberg, oppose the idea that Frederick could have, or would have, liberalized Germany. [12], The betrothal of the young couple was announced in April 1856,[22] and their marriage took place on 25 January 1858 in the Chapel of St. James's Palace, London. [20] However, Princess Augusta was greatly in favour of a match for her son that would bring closer connections with Britain. A fact from this article was featured on Wikipedia's Main Page in the On this day section on June 15, 2019. [18] But, at the age of 18, he broke with family tradition and entered the University of Bonn where he studied history, law and governance and public policy. [12] Bismarck, now Chancellor, disliked Frederick and distrusted the liberal attitudes of the Crown Prince and Princess. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. I had so hoped to have been of use to my country. The new king was initially considered politically neutral; Frederick and Prussia's liberal elements h… The bleeding subsided after two hours, but Bergmann's actions resulted in an abscess in Frederick's neck, producing pus which gave the new Emperor discomfort for the remaining months of his life. [12] A few days before Königgrätz, Frederick had written to his wife, expressing his hope that this would be the last war he would have to fight. Known informally as "Fritz", he was the only son of Emperor Wilhelm I and … Following the unification of Germany in 1871 his father, then King of Prussia, became the German Emperor. As he grew older, he was expected to maintain an active involvement in military affairs. [58] As the German Emperor, he officially received Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom (his mother-in-law) and King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway, and attended the wedding of his son Prince Henry to his niece Princess Irene. About Frederick III, German Emperor Name/title: Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Karl Prince (Prinz) of Preußen. - Der 99-Tage-Kaiser" (in German). Already twenty-nine years old, he would be Crown Prince for a further twenty-seven years. Frederick III (German: Friedrich III., Deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen; 18 October 1831 – 15 June 1888) was German Emperor and King of Prussia for 99 days in 1888, the Year of the Three Emperors. [51][52][page needed] In Germany, Doctor Ernst von Bergmann proposed to remove the larynx completely, but his colleague, Doctor Rudolf Virchow, disagreed;[53] such an operation had never been performed without the death of the patient. [48] In 1878, when his father was incapacitated by injury from an assassination attempt, Frederick briefly took over his tasks but was soon relegated to the sidelines once again. [45] The Crown Prince also became involved in many public works projects, such as the establishment of schools and churches in the area of Bornstedt near Potsdam. Frederick William was born in the New Palace at Potsdam in Prussia on 18 October 1831. [12], Frederick grew up during a tumultuous political period as the concept of liberalism in Germany, which evolved during the 1840s, was gaining widespread and enthusiastic support. [8][11] He had one sister, Louise (later Grand Duchess of Baden), who was eight years his junior and very close to him. Omissions? Oster, Uwe A. Frederick "was the only member of the Prussian Crown Council to uphold the rights of the Duke of Augustenberg and oppose the idea of a war with Austria which he described as fratricide." "Zur Untätigkeit verdammt" (in German). [28] This difference in ideology created a rift between Wilhelm and his parents, and relations between them were strained throughout their lives.[28][29]. [12] Frederick was a talented student, particularly good at foreign languages, becoming fluent in English and French, and studying Latin. Frederick, the son of Duke Ernest of Austria, inherited the Habsburg possessions of Inner Austria (Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, and Gorizia) Frederick III, Holy Roman emperor from 1452 and German king from 1440 who laid the foundations for the greatness of the House of Habsburg in European affairs. Influence at all, these were opportunities to prove himself about much lasting change 64 ] Frederick! Prussian throne as King William I on 2 January 1861, Frederick reigned only. The House of Hohenzollern, rulers of Prussia, Oster, Uwe... Mackenzie wrote that the Emperor had `` an almost overwhelming sense of the Emperors... 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