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For the medieval emperor, see Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor.

Frederick III
German Emperor, King of Prussia
Frederick III as crown prince
Reign	1888
Predecessor	William I
Successor	William II
Issue	William II Princess Charlotte Prince Heinrich Prince Sigismund Princess Viktoria Prince Waldemar Princess Sophie Princess Margarete
House	House of Hohenzollern
Father	William I
Mother	Augusta of Saxe-Weimar

Frederick III (Frederick William Nicholas Charles; October 18, 1831 – June 15, 1888), (German: Friedrich III., Deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen) was German Emperor and King of Prussia, ruling for 99 days until his death in 1888.

Early life

Frederick William (as he was known before he assumed the throne) was born in the New Palace at Potsdam. His father, Prince William of Prussia was a younger brother of King Frederick William IV of Prussia. Prussia at the time was no more than an average military state, recovering at the time from the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars. His mother, Princess Augusta of Saxe-Weimar, had been brought up in a very different atmosphere from her husband. Weimar, unlike Prussia, was the first German state to grant its subjects a constitution. His parents marriage was also not a love match. Frederick's parents were quite ill-suited to one another. His father had been in love with Princess Catherine Radziwill, a minor Princess of the Polish aristocracy. He was forced to give her up due to her unequal rank and marry a dynastically suitable Princess. This he did out of duty. Princess Augusta was well known across Europe for her liberal views. It is not surprising therefore that Frederick's adult memories were always of a lonely childhood in a home dominated by his ill-matched parents. He had one sister Luise, later Grand Duchess of Baden, to whom he was very close.

Education

The Hohenzollern family traditionally valued a military education. It was Frederick's mother that insisted that her son be educated according to liberal ideas. Therefore his education was closely supervised and extremely thorough. He was a talented student and was particularly good at foreign languages. He became fluent in English and French and also studied Latin as well as History, Geography, Physics, Music and Religion. Frederick was also good at gymnastics and became very good rider as required of a Prussian Prince. Like all Hohenzollern Princes he became familiar from a particularly young age with the military traditions of the dynasty. At the age of ten, in accordance with family tradition, he received his commission as second lieutenant in the First Infantry Regiment of Guards, and was invested with the Hohenzollern Order of the Black Eagle. As a Prussian Prince, Frederick was expected to become actively involved as a military commander and strategist. He later, breaking with Hohenzollern tradition, spent time studying history, literature and law at the University at Bonn. His future father-in-law, Prince Albert, had studied there.

Marriage and Family

As early as 1851, there were plans to marry Frederick William to Princess Victoria ("Vicky") of Great Britain and Ireland, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. At the christening of the future King Edward VII, Frederick's uncle, King Frederick William IV of Prussia was godfather and had also dangled the Princess Royal on his knee. The royal dynasty in England was predominantly German. There was little English blood in Queen Victoria and none in her husband Prince Albert. The idea of Frederick marrying the Princess Royal was considered to be a very good idea by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Nobody welcomed the prospect of closer connections with Britain more than Princess Augusta. Prince William had been indifferent to the idea and had hoped for a marriage with a Russian Grand Duchess. King Leopold I of Belgium, uncle of both Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, had long treasured the idea of Baron Stockmar of a marriage alliance between Britain and Prussia. Prince Albert hoped that the marriage would lead to the liberalisation and modernisation of Prussia. An announcement of the betrothal of the young couple occurred in April 1856. The wedding would not take place until January 25, 1858. The couple were married in the Chapel of St.James Palace, London. To mark the occasion, Frederick was promoted to Major-General the Prussian First Infantry Regiment of Guards. The marriage was a great love match. The rigorously educated Vicky, also known as the Princess Royal shared her husband's liberal views. The couple had eight children during their marriage: William in 1859, Charlotte in 1860, Henry in 1862, Sigismund in 1864, Victoria in 1866, Waldemar in 1868, Sophie in 1870 and Margarete in 1872. Sadly both Princes Sigismund and Waldemar died in childhood. Frederick's eldest son, William, suffered from a withered arm due to his difficult breech birth which nearly killed both mother and son. Relations between both parents and William would prove to be difficult as the years went by.

Crown Prince

On January 2 1861, Frederick William's father became King William I of Prussia, and Frederick William himself became Crown Prince at the age of twenty-nine. It was a role he was destined to play until the long overdue death of his father on March 9, 1888. The accession of the king did not usher in the new era for which Frederick and the liberal elements in Prussia had hoped. The new King was an obstinate old soldier who not likely to change his conservative ideas at the age of sixty-four. Frederick very nearly became Emperor in September, 1862 when his father threatened to abdicate over an impasse between himself and the Reichstag over reducing the length of compulsory military service required by soldiers. Frederick was appalled that an abdication would "constitute a threat to the dynasty, country and Crown." The crisis passed and William I did not abdicate. On December 14, 1861, Frederick's father-in-law, and fellow liberal died. The elections in Prussia in December 1861 had produced a greatly increased liberal majority. Frederick declared himself in complete agreement with the "essential liberal policy for internal and foreign affairs." He was severely reproached by his father. As a result of major disagreements, Frederick with the permission of the king, was pleased to go frequently to England with his family where Queen Victoria allowed him to deputise for her on numerous occasions. The arrival of Bismarck, who had driven like a steamroller through all opposition , as chief minister of the king, set Frederick on a collision course with his father on policy and led to his exclusion from affairs of state for the rest of the reign. A united Germany was not to be achieved through liberal and peaceful means but through Bismarck's policy of blood and iron.

Military Commander

Crown Prince Frederick formed a partnership with General Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal, his Chief of Staff, through whom he was able to command victorious armies in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. His timely arrival was crucial to the Prussian victory at Sadowa. Once the fighting was over the king presented Frederick as a mark of personal gallantry on the field with the Order Pour le Merite. A few days before Koniggratz, Frederick had written to his wife hoping that this would be the last war he would have to fight. On the third day of the battle he wrote again to her, "Who knows whether we may not have to wage a third war in order to keep what we have now won?" His lack of faith in Bismarck was to prove correct in the future. As commander, Frederick also had great victories in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, where he commanded the III Army at Wissembourg, Wœrth, Sedan and during the Siege of Paris.

Heir to the German Empire

When the German states united as a single German Empire in 1871, Frederick William became heir to the new German monarchy with his father as Emperor. Never liked by the powerful German Chancellor Bismarck, who distrusted him and his wife's liberalism, Frederick William was always kept out of any real position of power throughout his father's reign. Nobody could have forseen when his father became Emperor that he would live until 1888. Frederick William was left without responsibilities. He did do a lot of good establishing schools and churches in the area of Bornstaedt near Potsdam. Emperor William, in an effort to raise Berlin as the capital into a cultural city, appointed Frederick to the position of Protector of Public Museums. It was largely due to his work and that of William Bode, Director of Berlin galleries, that considerable artistic collections were acquired. After his death these collections were housed in the new Kaiser Friedrich Museum later known as the Bode Museum in Berlin. Frederick continued to undertake military and representational duties when required such as attending Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in London in 1887. "For a while Fritz's life was little more than a chronicle of foundation stone laying, travelling to weddings and celebrations in all corners of the continent and family visits to his wife's relations in England or alternatively to her sister Alice at the humble palace in Darmstadt." One highlight during this period was the happy celebration of his silver wedding anniversary on January 25, 1883.

Illness and brief reign

By the time his father died aged 91 on March 9, 1888, Frederick had developed incurable cancer of the larynx , which was finally diagnosed on 12 November 1887 by the British doctor Morell Mackenzie (later knighted by Queen Victoria). On learning of his illness Frederick said, "To think I should have such a horrid disgusting illness ... I had so hoped to have been of use to my country". Due to a rivalry between the local German doctors and the British doctors favoured by him and his wife, difficulties occurred over the proposed treatment of the patient. German Doctor Bergam proposed to remove the larynx completely. His colleague Dr.Virchow disagreed. Such an operation had never been successfully performed without the death of the patient. Therefore both the Emperor and Empress naturally preferred the treatment suggested by Mackenzie. A cannula was fitted on 8 February to allow the Emperor to breathe. This operation is called a tracheotomy. The Emperor Frederick was unable to speak for the remainder of his life, and communicated through writing. The German Dr.Bergman almost killed the Emperor by clumsily dealing with the cannula missing the incision in the windpipe and forcing the cannula into the wrong place. This caused the Emperor to cough and cough and streams of blood appeared. Not satisfied with the damage he had caused, Bergman then proceeded to place his forefinger into the wound to enlarge it. The bleeding subsided after two hours. The Emperor wrote, "Why did Bergman put his finger in my throat? and later, "Bergman ill-treated me." Bergman's interference resulted in an abcess in the patient's neck creating pus which made the condition more serious. Years later to prove to his medical students that he could have saved Frederick III by removing his larynx, his patient died under the knife.

In spite of his illness the Emperor was determined to fulfil his obligations as Emperor. Minutes after writing out the announcement of his accession, he removed from his jacket the ribbon and star from his own Order of the Black Eagle and pinned it on the dress of his wife. He was determined, though gravely ill, to honour the position of his wife as Empress. He also managed to receive Queen Victoria and the Swedish King and attend the wedding of his son Prince Henry of Prussia to his niece Princess Irene of Hesse. Frederick III, who ruled for only 99 days, was a liberal and a great admirer of the British constitution. Tragically he was no longer able to realize his plans. He did however force Robert von Puttkammer to resign on 8 June when evidence appeared that he had used his agents to interfere in the Reichstag elections. Dr.Morell Mackenzie wrote of the Emperor that he had "an almost overwhelming sense of the duties of his position." Writing to Lord Napier, the new Empress Victoria wrote of her husband, "The trial laid upon us is a very heavy one, .. and it is not easy to meet it with all the courage and the energy necessary - One tries to keep a stout heart, and hopes on, that things might improve! The Emperor is able to attend to his business, and do a great deal, but not being able to speak is, of course, most trying." Finally on June 15, Frederick III died and was succeeded by his 29 year old son Wilhelm II. He is buried in a magnificent tomb under a recumbent marble effigy in a mausoleum attached to the Friedenskirche (Peace Church) in Postdam.

Legacy

Template:House of Hohenzollern Many people have considered Frederick's early death particularly tragic, not only for himself but for the German nation, and later the whole world. Frederick III was a liberal and great admirer of the British constitution. Given a longer lifespan it is likely he would have moved the constitutional monarchy in Germany towards a more liberal democratic course. By contrast, his father lived over 91 years, making him wait quite a long time. Great hopes were set on him. Some have criticized him for complying with the policies of Bismarck and his father without giving stronger opposition. He was unable to do otherwise. Perhaps Frederick III realised what would happen after his death. He said in May 1888, "I cannot die .. What would happen to Germany?"

The attempts to raise his children in a different way could perhaps be considered a failure. His eldest son, politically most important, is a case in question. William II, his son and successor, turned against his father and especially his English mother, and adhered more to the militaristic and authoritarian ways of his grandfather William I, a course that tragically lead to World War I and the end of monarchy in Germany. Unlike his son, Frederick had served as an able military leader in several wars, and thus knew the cruelties firsthand. His other children were not all militaristic. His daughter Sophie of Prussia brought many liberal qualities as Queen Consort of Greece undertaking a great many humanitarian and educational projects. His other daughter Margaret, Princess of Hesse also held liberal viewpoints and greatly admired both her parents.

Ancestry

Issue

References

1. Frederick III German Emperor 1888 by John Van der Kiste, p.10
2. ibid
3. ibid, p.11
4. ibid, p.12
5. ibid
6. Kaiser Friedrich der Guetige, p.44
7. ibid, p.14
8. ibid
9. ibid, p.19
10. Frederick III by John Van der Kiste, p.15
11. ibid
12. ibid, p.16
13. ibid, p.31
14. ibid, p.43
15. ibid, p.61
16. An Uncommon Woman by Hannah Pakula, p.168
17. ibid
18. Frederick III by John Van der Kiste, p.68
19. ibid, p.69
20. ibidi, p.75
21. ibid, p.98
22. Kaiser Friedrich der Guetige, p.420
23. Frederick III, p.89
24. ibid, p.128
25. ibid, pp.130-131
26. Eclipse of Kings by Denis Judd, p.13
27. An Uncommon Woman by Hanna Pakula, p.448
28. ibid, p.479
29. The Other Victoria by Andrew Sinclair, p.195
30. ibid, p.206
31. ibid p.204
32. ibid
33. ibid
34. ibid
35. The English Empress by Egon Corti, p.307-308
36. by An Uncommon Woman by Hannah Pakula, p.504
37. Frederick III, p.171
38. ibid, p.193
39. Cambridge lllustrated History of Germany by Martin Kitchen, p.214
40. The Other Victoria by Andrew Sinclair, p.211
41. Frederick III by John Van der Kiste, p.195
42. ibid, p.196
43. Cambridge Illustrated History of Germany, p.214
44. An Uncommon Woman by Hannah Pakula, p.484

Books

• Corti, Egon (1957). The English Empress : A study in the relations between Queen Victoria and her eldest daughter, Empress Frederick of Germany. London: Cassell. p. 406. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Judd, Denis (1976). Eclipse of Kings. New York: Stein and Day. ISBN 0 8128 2064 I. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Kitchen, Martin (1996). Cambridge Illustrated History of Germany. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0 8128 2064 I. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Macdonagh, Giles (2000). The Last Kaiser. London: Phoenix Press. ISBN I 84212 478 I. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Mueller-Bohn, Hermann (1900). Kaiser Friedrich der Guetige. Berlin: Verlag Von Paul Kittel. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Pakula, Hannah (1998). An Uncommon Woman - The Empress Frederick. London: Phoenix. ISBN I 85799 853 7. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Sinclair, Andrew (1981). The Other Victoria - The Princess Royal and the Grand Game of Europe. London: Weidenfeld & Nicholson Ltd. ISBN 0 297 779887 7. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Van der Kiste, John (1981). Frederick III German Emperor 1888. Gloucester: Alan Sutton Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0 904387 77 1. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

External links

• http://www.deutsche-schutzgebiete.de/kaiser_friedrich.htm
• AN IMPERIAL TRAGEDY: Frederick III and the Letters of the Empress - on-line article about the illness and death of Frederick III

• 1831 births
• 1888 deaths
• Natives of Brandenburg
• German emperors
• Kings of Prussia
• House of Hohenzollern
• Field Marshals of Germany
• Field Marshals of Russia
• University of Bonn alumni
• Throat cancer deaths
• Knights of the Golden Fleece
• Knights of the Garter
• Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (military class)