Wilhelm II

Reign: 1888 – 1918
Life: 1859–1941

His fall from power marked the end of the German Empire as well as the Hohenzollern dynasty's 400-year rule over Prussia. In March 1888, Wilhelm's father, Frederick William, ascended the German and Prussian thrones as Frederick III. Frederick died just 99 days later, and his son succeeded him as Kaiser Wilhelm II. In March 1890, the young Kaiser dismissed longtime Chancellor Otto von Bismarck and assumed direct control over his nation's policies, embarking on a "New Course" to cement Germany's status as a leading world power. Likewise, he and his government did much to alienate the German Empire from most of Europe by initiating a massive naval build-up, contesting French control of Morocco, backing Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia and threatening Britain's access to the Persian Gulf by building a railway through Baghdad. By the second decade of the 20th century, Germany could rely only on significantly weaker nations such as Austria-Hungary and the declining Ottoman Empire as allies.

During Wilhelm II's reign, Franz Joseph I of Austria ruled Austria, Wilhelmina of the Netherlands ruled Netherlands, and Emperor Meiji ruled Japan.

Further reading: Kaiser Wilhelm II: A Concise Life by John C. G. Röhl

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Wilhelm II

The World During Their Reign

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Further Reading

Kaiser Wilhelm II: A Concise Life