Heads of Prussia

Kings of Prussia

1797-1842: Frederick William III

-with end of War of the French Revolution (1792-1804) slow alignment out of Austria

-under Chancellor Hardenburg Prussia is brought into conciliatory policies with its Polish population

-establishment of Grand Duchy of Posen

-succeeds

-in Second French War (1821-32) Russia invades Prussia in name of establishing Heads of Russia > 1822-1827 Alexander as "Liberator of Poland"

-ends up bloody as all hell and invasion is really sloppy work

-with death of Alexander Russian troops pull out and Prussia's popularity among Poles increases as a result

-however, Prussia is badly screwed in this war

-engages in a period of reform

1842-1849: Frederick William IV †

-enters into French Wars > Third French War (1847-54) on opposite side to Austria

-assassinated by German nationalist who deems him race traitor for this

1849-1924: Frederick Charles I

-son of Frederick William IV

-only son, three elder siblings were sisters

-comes to throne at age of 11

-which means reactionary mother (from Westphalia) and reactionary uncle runs regency for him

-in war successfully takes over Austrian Galicia in alliance with Hungary

-by the time he comes to age in 1859 has rebelled against stifling mother and uncle

-wants to be a great constitutionalist monarch at first

-but not quite that way for much of his reign

-issues decree for formation of Landtag with budget control

-with limited but broad suffrage

-restores broad autonomies for Polish people

-with French Wars > Fourth French War (1880-4) declares war in name of preserving old German institutions

-fails after Russian invasion

-as a result of this humiliation does not enter in French Wars > Fifth French War (1892-5)

-Prussia sees continued reform in this era

-with Russia's Wars > Young Russian Revolution (1902-8) decides to support Baltenland

-as part of vengeance and as buffer

-despite a great deal of controversy over its unsubtle Baltic German supremacy

1924-1967: Frederick III

-grandson of last monarch

-father having predeceased

-comes to throne at age of 19

-no children