List of Prussian monarchs

Monarchy of Prussia
Monarchy of Prussia
König von Preußen
	Royal Coat of arms
	Last ruler; Wilhelm II
Details
Style	His Majesty
First monarch	Albert (as Duke)
Last monarch	Wilhelm II
Formation	10 April 1525
Abolition	9 November 1918
Residence	Königsberg Castle; Stadtschloss, Berlin (last)
Appointer	Hereditary
Pretender(s)	Georg Friedrich

The monarchs of Prussia were members of the House of Hohenzollern who were the hereditary rulers of the former German state of Prussia from its founding in 1525 as the Duchy of Prussia. The Duchy had evolved out of the Teutonic Order, a Roman Catholic crusader state and theocracy located along the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. The Teutonic Knights were under the leadership of a Grand Master, the last of whom, Albert, converted to Protestantism and secularized the lands, which then became the Duchy of Prussia.

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The Duchy was initially a vassal of the Kingdom of Poland, as a result of the terms of the Prussian Homage whereby Albert was granted the Duchy as part of the terms of peace following the Prussian War. When the main line of Prussian Hohenzollerns died out in 1618, the Duchy passed to a different branch of the family, who also reigned as Electors of Brandenburg in the Holy Roman Empire. While still nominally two different territories, Prussia under the suzerainty of Poland and Brandenburg under the suzerainty of the Holy Roman Empire, the two states are known together historiographically as Brandenburg-Prussia.

Following the third Northern War, a series of treaties freed the Duchy of Prussia from vassalage to any other state, making it a fully sovereign Duchy in its own right. This complex situation (where the Hohenzollern ruler of the independent Duchy of Prussia was also a subject of the Holy Roman Emperor as Elector of Brandenburg) laid the eventual groundwork for the establishment of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1701. For diplomatic reasons, the rulers of Prussia called themselves King in Prussia from 1701 to 1772. They still nominally owed fealty to the Emperor as Electors of Brandenburg, so the "King in Prussia" title (as opposed to "King of Prussia") avoided offending the Emperor. Additionally, calling themselves "King of Prussia" implied sovereignty over the entire Prussian region, parts of which were still part of Poland.

As the Prussian state grew through several wars and diplomatic moves throughout the 18th century, it became apparent that Prussia had become a Great Power in its own right. By 1772, the pretense was dropped, and the style "King of Prussia" was adopted. The Prussian kings continued to use the title "Elector of Brandenburg" until the end of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, reflecting the legal fiction that their domains within the empire were still under the ultimate overlordship of the Emperor. Legally, the Hohenzollerns ruled Brandenburg in personal union with their Prussian kingdom, but in practice they treated their domains as a single unit. The Hohenzollerns gained de jure sovereignty over Brandenburg when the empire dissolved in 1806, and Brandenburg was formally merged into Prussia.

In 1871, in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War, the German Empire was formed, and the King of Prussia, Wilhelm I was crowned German Emperor. From that point forward, though the Kingdom of Prussia retained its status as a constituent state of the empire (by far the largest and most powerful), all subsequent Kings of Prussia also served as German Emperor, and that title took precedence.

More information Name, Lifespan ...

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Albert	(1490-05-17)17 May 1490 – 20 March 1568(1568-03-20) (aged 77)	10 April 1525	20 March 1568	Grand Master of Teutonic Knights, granted the title of Duke of Prussia	Hohenzollern
Albert Frederick	(1553-05-07)7 May 1553 – 27 August 1618(1618-08-27) (aged 65)	20 March 1568	27 August 1618	Son of Albert	Hohenzollern
John Sigismund	(1572-11-08)8 November 1572 – 23 December 1619(1619-12-23) (aged 47)	27 August 1618	23 December 1619	Son in law and second cousin thrice removed of Albert Frederick, also Elector of Brandenburg	Hohenzollern
George William	(1595-11-13)13 November 1595 – 1 December 1640(1640-12-01) (aged 45)	23 December 1619	1 December 1640	Son of John Sigismund, also Elector of Brandenburg	Hohenzollern
Frederick William the Great Elector	(1620-02-16)16 February 1620 – 29 April 1688(1688-04-29) (aged 68)	1 December 1640	29 April 1688	Son of George William, also Elector of Brandenburg	Hohenzollern
Frederick I	(1657-07-11)11 July 1657 – 25 February 1713(1713-02-25) (aged 55)	29 April 1688	18 January 1701	Son of Frederick William, also Elector of Brandenburg	Hohenzollern

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More information Name, Lifespan ...

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Frederick I the Mercenary King^[1]	(1657-07-11)11 July 1657 – 25 February 1713(1713-02-25) (aged 55)	18 January 1701	25 February 1713	Son of Frederick William, also Elector of Brandenburg	Hohenzollern
Frederick William I the Soldier King	(1688-08-14)14 August 1688 – 31 May 1740(1740-05-31) (aged 51)	25 February 1713	31 May 1740	Son of Frederick I	Hohenzollern
Frederick II the Great	(1712-01-24)24 January 1712 – 17 August 1786(1786-08-17) (aged 74)	31 May 1740	17 August 1786	Son of Frederick William I	Hohenzollern
Frederick William II	(1744-09-25)25 September 1744 – 16 November 1797(1797-11-16) (aged 53)	17 August 1786	16 November 1797	Nephew of Frederick II, grandson of Frederick William I	Hohenzollern
Frederick William III	(1770-08-03)3 August 1770 – 7 June 1840(1840-06-07) (aged 69)	16 November 1797	7 June 1840	Son of Frederick William II	Hohenzollern
Frederick William IV	(1795-10-15)15 October 1795 – 2 January 1861(1861-01-02) (aged 65)	7 June 1840	2 January 1861	Son of Frederick William III; also President of the Erfurt Union (1849–1850)	Hohenzollern
Wilhelm I	(1797-03-22)22 March 1797 – 9 March 1888(1888-03-09) (aged 90)	2 January 1861	9 March 1888	Brother of Frederick William IV, son of Frederick William III; also President of the North German Confederation (1867–1871) and German Emperor (from 1871)	Hohenzollern
Frederick III	(1831-10-18)18 October 1831 – 15 June 1888(1888-06-15) (aged 56)	9 March 1888	15 June 1888	Son of Wilhelm I; also German Emperor; only Prussian monarch to rule for less than one year	Hohenzollern
Wilhelm II	(1859-01-27)27 January 1859 – 4 June 1941(1941-06-04) (aged 82)	15 June 1888	9 November 1918 (abdicated) ^[2]	Son of Frederick III; also German Emperor; also last King of Prussia and last German Emperor	Hohenzollern

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William II (9 November 1918 – 4 June 1941)
Frederick William (4 June 1941 – 20 July 1951)
Louis Ferdinand (20 July 1951 – 26 September 1994)
George Frederick (26 September 1994 – present)

Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg

Albrecht III Achilles, Elector of Brandenburg

John Cicero, Elector of Brandenburg

Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg

Frederick I
of Ansbach
and Bayreuth
1460–1536

Sophia
Jagiellon
1464–1512

Albert
1490-1525-1568

Anna Marie
of Brunswick-
Lüneburg
1532–1568

Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg

Sophie of
Brandenburg-
Ansbach-
Kulmbach
1485–1537

Frederick II
of Legnica
1480–1547

Casimir of
Brandenburg-
Bayreuth
1481–1527

Susanna
of Bavaria
1502–1543

Hedwig of
Münsterberg
and Oleśnica
1508–1531

George of
Brandenburg-
Ansbach
1484–1543

Emilie
of Saxony
1516–1591

Albert
Frederick
1553-1568-1618

Marie Eleonore
of Cleves
1550–1608

John George
of Brandenburg
1525-1598

Sophie
of Legnica
1525–1546

Marie of
Brandenburg-
Kulmbach
1519–1567

Frederick III,
Elector
Palatine
1515–1576

William I
of Nassau-
Dillenburg
1487–1559

Anna Maria of
Brandenburg-
Ansbach
1526–1589

George Frederick
regent
1539-1577-1603

Anna Sophia
of Prussia
1527–1591

Eleanor
of Prussia
1583–1607

Joachim
Frederick of
Brandenbrug
regent
1546-1605-1608

Catherine of
Brandenburg-
Küstrin
1549–1602

Louis VI,
Elector
Palatine
1539–1583

William I
of the
Netherlands
1533–1584

Elisabeth
of Nassau-
Dillenburg
1542–1603

Sabine of
Württemberg
1549–1581

John VI
of Nassau-
Dillenburg
1536–1606

Magdalene of
Brandenburg
1582–1616

Anna
of Prussia
1576–1625

John Sigismund
1572-1618-1619
regent
1611–1618

Anna Maria of
the Palatinate
1561–1589

Frederick IV,
Elector
Palatine
1574–1610

Louise Juliana
of Nassau
1576–1644

John Albert I
of Solms-
Braunfels

John VII
of Nassau-
Siegen
1561–1623

John VII of
Mecklenburg
1558–1592

Anne Eleonore
of Hesse-
Darmstadt
1601–1659

George
William
1595-1619-1640

Elizabeth
Charlotte
of the Palatinate
1597–1660

Frederick V
Elector
Palatine
1596–1632

Frederick
Henry of
Orange
1584–1617

Amalia
of Solms-
Braunfels
1602–1675

Maurice of
Hesse-Kassel
1572–1632

Juliane
of Nassau-
Siegen
1587–1643

George William
of Saxe-
Lauenburg
1624–1705

Ernest
Augustus
of Hanover
1629–1698

Sophia of the
Palatinate
1630–1714

Frederick
William
1620-1640-1688

Louise
Henriette
of Orange
1627–1667

John Albert of
Mecklenburg
1590–1636

Sophia
Dorothea
of Celle
1666–1726

George I
of Great
Britain
1660–1727

Sophia
Charlotte
of Hanover
1688–1705

Frederick I
1657-1688-1713

Catherine
of Sweden
1584–1638

John Casimir
of Kleeburg
1589–1652

Caroline
of Ansbach
1683–1737

George II of
Great Britain
1683–1760

Sophia
Dorothea
of Hanover
1687–1757

Frederick
William I
1688–1713-1740

Louis IX
of Hesse-
Darmstadt
1719–1790

Eleonora
Catherine of
Zweibrücken
1626–1692

Frederick
of Hesse-
Eschwege
1617–1655

Elisabeth
Sophie of
Mecklenburg
1613–1676

Frederick,
Prince of Wales
1707–1751

Augusta of
Saxe-Gotha
1719–1772

Charles Louis
Frederick of
Mecklenburg
1708–1752

Elisabeth
Albertine
of Saxe-
Hildburghausen
1713–1761

Christine
of Hesse-
Eschwege
1648–1702

Ferdinand
Albert I of
Brunswick-
Wolfenbüttel
1636–1687

George III of
the United
Kingdom
1738–1820

Charlotte of
Mecklenburg-
Strelitz
1744–1818

Charles II of
Mecklenburg-
Strelitz
1741–1816

Antoinette of
Brunswick-
Wolfenbüttel
1696–1762

Ferdinand
Albert II of
Brunswick-
Wolfenbüttel
1680–1735

Amalie
of Hesse-
Darmstadt
1754–1832

Augustus
William of
Prussia
1722–1758

Luise of
Brunswick-
Wolfenbüttel
1722–1780

Frederick II
the Great
1712-1740-1786

Elisabeth
Christine
of Brunswick-
Wolfenbüttel
1715–1797

Philippine
Charlotte
of Prussia
1716–1801

Charles I of
Brunswick-
Wolfenbüttel
1713–1780

Louise
of Hesse-
Darmstadt
1757–1830

Caroline
of Baden
1776–1841

William IV
of the United
Kingdom
1765–1837

Sophie
Antoinette
of Brunswick-
Wolfenbüttel
1724–1802

Frederica
Louisa of
Hesse-
Darmstadt
1751–1805

Frederick
William II
1744-1786-1797

Elizabeth
Christine of
Brunswick-
Woldenbüttel
1746–1840

Augusta
of Great
Britain
1737–1813

Charles
William of
Brunswick-
Wolfenbüttel
1735–1806

Francis of
Saxe-Coburg-
Saalfeld1750–1806

Frederick
William III
1770-1797-1840

Louise of
Mecklenburg-
Strelitz
1776–1810

Charles
Frederick of
Saxe-Weimar-
Eisenach
1783–1853

Caroline of
Brunswick-
Wolfenbüttel
1768–1821

George IV of
the United
Kingdom
1762–1830

Frederick
of York and
Albany
1763–1827

Frederica
Charlotte
of Prussia
1767–1820

Edward
of Kent and
Strathearn
1767–1820

Victoria of
Saxe-Coburg-
Saalfeld
1786–1861

Emich Carl
of Leiningen
1763–1814

Ernerst I of
Saxe-Coburg
and Gotha
1784–1844

Louise of
Saxe-Gotha-
Altenburg
1800–1831

William I
the Great
1797-1861-1888

Augusta
of Saxe-
Weimar-
Eisenach
1811–1890

Caroline
Matilda
of Great
Britain
1751–1775

Frederick
William IV
of Prussia
1795-1840-1861

Elisabeth
Ludovika
of Bavaria
1801–1873

Victoria of
the United
Kingdom
1819–1901

Albert of
Saxe-Coburg
and Gotha
1819–1861

Louise
Augusta
of Denmark
1771–1843

Frederick
Christian II
of Schleswig-
Holstein
1765–1814

Feodora of
Leiningen
1807–1872

Ernest I of
Hohenlohe-
Langenburg
1794–1860

Victoria of
the United
Kingdom
1840–1901

Frederick III
1831-1888-1888

Louise
Sophie of
Danneskiold-
Samsøe
1796–1867

Christian
August II of
Augustenburg
1798–1869

Adelheid of
Hohenlohe-
Langenburg
1835–1900

Frederick VIII
of Schleswig-
Holstein
1829–1880

Frederick
Francis II of
Mecklenburg-
Schwerin
1823–1883

Augusta
Reuss of
Köstritz
1822–1862

Alexander II
of Russia
1818-1855-1881

Maria of
Hesse and
by Rhine
1824–1880

Augusta
Victoria of
Schleswig-
Holstein
1858–1921

William II
1859-1888-1918-1941
in pretence
1918–1941

Frederick
Francis III of
Mecklenburg
Schwerin
1851–1897

Marie of
Mecklenburg-
Schwerin
1854–1920

Vladimir
Alexandrovich
of Russia
1847–1909

Maria
Alexandrovna
of Russia
1853–1920

Alfred of
Saxe-Coburg
and Gotha
1844–1900

Wilhelm
in pretence
1882-1941-1951

Cecilie of
Mecklenburg-
Schwerin
1886–1945

Kirill
Vladimirovich
of Russia
1876–1938

Victoria
Melita of
Saxe-Coburg
and Gotha
1876–1936

Louis
Ferdinand
in pretence
1907-1951-1994

Kira
Kirillovna
of Russia
1909–1967

Donata
of Castell-
Rüdenhausen
1950–2015

Louis
Ferdinand
of Prussia
1944–1977

Georg
Friedrich
in pretence
1976-1994-

[1]
Spencer, Charles, Blenheim, Chapter 22: Vindication, p.316
[2]
Statement of Abdication of William II (28 November 1918)

Bibliography

Hull, Isabel V. (2004), The Entourage of Kaiser Wilhelm II, 1888–1918.
Horne, Charles F. (2009), Source Records of the Great War, Kessinger Publishing, ISBN 978-1104855536, archived from the original on 2023-01-25, retrieved 2016-03-23

House of Hohenzollern

[1] [1]
Spencer, Charles, Blenheim, Chapter 22: Vindication, p.316

[2] [2]
Statement of Abdication of William II (28 November 1918)

[1]

[2]

Bibliography

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List of Prussian monarchs

Bibliography

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Duchy of Prussia (1525–1701)

Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918)

Timeline

Pretenders to the Prussian throne since 1918

Family tree

See also

References

External links

Monarchy of Prussia
König von Preußen
Royal Coat of arms

Last ruler Wilhelm II


Details
Style	His Majesty
First monarch	Albert (as Duke)
Last monarch	Wilhelm II
Formation	10 April 1525
Abolition	9 November 1918
Residence	Königsberg Castle Stadtschloss, Berlin (last)
Appointer	Hereditary
Pretender(s)	Georg Friedrich