German Emperor William I

Born in Berlin in 1797, William I was the second son of King Frederick William III of Prussia. He served in the wars against Napoleon when he was young and spent much of his life in the Prussian army, building the military reputation that shaped his public image.

He became regent for his brother Frederick William IV in 1858 and then king of Prussia in 1861. During his reign, Prussia fought decisive wars against Denmark, Austria, and France; these victories helped bring the German states together under Prussian leadership. In 1871, at Versailles, he was proclaimed the first German emperor.

William I worked closely with Otto von Bismarck, whose political skill was crucial to German unification. Though often seen as more cautious and traditional than his chancellor, he remained a respected symbol of the new empire until his death in 1888.