Frederick III, German Emperor

Reign: 1888 – 1888
Life: 1831–1888

Upon Wilhelm's death at the age of ninety on 9 March 1888, the thrones passed to Frederick, who had been German Crown Prince for seventeen years and Crown Prince of Prussia for twenty-seven years. Frederick was suffering from cancer of the larynx when he died at the age of 56, following unsuccessful medical treatments for his condition. Frederick married Victoria, Princess Royal, the oldest child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Despite his family's conservative and militaristic background, Frederick had developed liberal tendencies as a result of his ties with Britain and his studies at the University of Bonn. As crown prince, he often opposed the conservative Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, particularly in speaking out against Bismarck's policy of uniting Germany through force, and in urging that the power of the executive be curbed to the benefit of the Reichstag. Liberals in both Germany and Great Britain hoped that as emperor, Frederick would move to institute democratic reforms in the German Empire.

During Frederick III, German Emperor's reign, William III of the Netherlands ruled Netherlands, Franz Joseph I of Austria ruled Austria, and Emperor Meiji ruled Japan.

Want to learn more? Further reading

Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600–1947 by Christopher Clark

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The World During Their Reign

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

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Go deeper on Frederick III, German Emperor

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Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600–1947

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The ninety-nine-day emperor, liberal hopes extinguished and the accession of Wilhelm II.

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A modern life of Prussia's most famous king, useful context for the whole Hohenzollern line.
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