The emperor (German: Kaiser) was the head of state of German Empire (Kaiserreich) from 1871, the unification of Germany, to 1918, when Wilhelm II abdicated after World War I. There were three emperors in that time: Wilhelm I, Friedrich III, and Wilhelm II, all members of the House of Hohenzollern. The emperor also doubled as the King of Prussia (and took his numerical title from its kings as well, hence Friedrich III), as well as the president of the federated monarchies (the kings of Bavaria, Württemberg, Saxony, the grand dukes of Baden, Mecklenburg, Hesse, as well as other principalities, duchies and of the free cities of Hamburg, Lübeck and Bremen).
| Emperor | Reign |
| Wilhelm I | 1871-1888 |
| Friedrich III | March 9-June 15, 1888 |
| Wilhelm II | 1888-1918 |
In a few Harry Turtledove timelines, the Kaiserreich continued past 1918, and was ruled by a succession of emperors.
Curious Notions
In one alternate visited by Crosstime Traffic, Germany won the equivalent of World War I, and the emperor eventually became the de facto ruler of the world.
| Emperor | Reign |
| Wilhelm II
|
1888-1941 |
| Wilhelm III (presumed) File:WilhelmIII.jpg |
1941-1951 |
Wilhelm IV (presumed)
|
1951-after 1956 |
| Successors unnamed |
Note
While a "Wilhelm IV" is identified as having reigned in the text, his biography is never discussed. That there was a Wilhelm IV requires that Wilhelm III did reign at some point.
Had the House of Hohenzollern continued ruling, Crown Prince Wilhelm would have reigned as "Wilhelm III". His son, Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, was killed during World War II, a war that did not take place in the Curious Notions timeline. Thus, the administrators feel comfortable with identifying the Crown Prince as Wilhelm III and his son as Wilhelm IV. In addition, while dates are sketchy, it is strongly implied that Wilhelm IV was reigning in 1956, which is consistent with this figure's age.
Southern Victory
Under the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Germany soundly defeated its enemies in the Great War and emerged as the dominant power in Europe. Wilhelm's death and the ascension of his son helped trigger the Second Great War, but again, Germany emerged victorious, and Wilhelm III reigned over a victorious Germany and a more precarious peace.
| Emperor | Reign |
| Wilhelm II
|
1888-1941 |
| Wilhelm III | 1941-1951 (presumed) |
Note
The identity of Wilhelm II's successor is the subject of some debate, and there may be a substantial gaffe in the text. See Inconsistencies in Turtledove's Work#Inconsistencies in Southern Victory and the Wilhelm III page, for the proposed identities of this monarch, and the reasons supporting the moderators' verdict.
Other Emperors
In "Uncle Alf", where Germany won a brief war in 1914 (but not in the same scenario as in Curious Notions), Wilhelm II is still reigning in 1929.
See Also
- Führer of the Greater German Reich, the office Adolf Hitler held in his capacity of the head of state and government of Germany from 1934 to 1945. Harry Turtledove has created several lines of Führer in multiple works.
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