Empire Rising: Spain

Chapter 50: Chapter 49: The Founding of the German Empire

After the peace treaty with France was signed, there was no longer any external interference in the unification of Germany.

However, turning the Kingdom of Prussia into the German Empire was not easy, as many states, including Bavaria, were concerned about their independence after Germany’s unification.

The new empire was destined not to be as loose as the Holy Roman Empire. If Bavaria lost its independence due to Germany’s unification, it would be difficult for King Ludwig II of Bavaria to accept.

After all, a Bavarian king without any power and a Bavarian king who currently holds real power may have the same title, but their influence in the entire German region is vastly different.

At this time, Prussia was not peaceful internally either.

Many nobles, including King William I of Prussia,

were not particularly enthusiastic about the establishment of the new empire.

Because once the empire was established, the once-proud Kingdom of Prussia would become part of the empire. The Hohenzollern family, as the imperial family, might abandon their long-standing tradition of extreme frugality and follow the extravagant ways of other European monarchs.

Such concerns were not without basis.

Although both the emperor and the king were independent rulers, being the King of Prussia and being the Emperor of Germany were entirely different.

Becoming the German Emperor would mean having completed the task of unifying the German region and becoming one of the only three emperors in Europe.

The newly established German Empire would inevitably become a stronger power, with a comprehensive national strength far surpassing its long-term enemy, Austria-Hungary, reaching the level of England and France.

With such achievements, it would be hard to ensure that the members of the Hohenzollern family would not become complacent and relax after the long tension, beginning to indulge in the luxury of the imperial family lifestyle.

However, for every opposition, there is agreement, especially from William I’s son, the Crown Prince Frederick William Nicholas Charles (father of William II).

This crown prince, born in 1831, was now nearly 40 years old.

In Europe, where the average life expectancy was only thirty to forty years, Crown Prince Frederick’s age was considered middle-aged or elderly.

Although there was no hope of succeeding to the throne in the short term, gaining a higher title through the establishment of the empire was something Crown Prince Frederick was willing to see.

After all, who would be content to remain a crown prince for a lifetime? In the event that William I lived too long, Crown Prince Frederick could only improve his title through the establishment of the empire.

Just how long could William I live? Born in 1797, William I historically did not pass away until 1888, living to the age of 91.

This was extremely rare in 19th-century Europe, and even in the 21st century, more than a hundred years later, it was considered long-lived.

As the son of William I, the fate of Crown Prince Frederick was quite tragic.

Historically, Crown Prince Frederick did not ascend to the throne until 1888, and due to throat cancer, he passed away after only 99 days as emperor, which earned him the nickname “the Hundred Days Emperor.”

Waiting from 1831 to 1888, a total of 57 years, the 57-year wait only leading to 99 days on the emperor’s throne, Crown Prince Frederick was undoubtedly the most tragic crown prince of the 19th century.

Of course, at present, Crown Prince Frederick had not been diagnosed with throat cancer and was in relatively good health.

Under the reasoned arguments of Crown Prince Frederick, William I eventually agreed to the establishment of the new empire.

But William I also made a requirement: he would only assume the title of emperor if other German monarchs proposed it.

If the Congress proposed William I to be emperor before other monarchs, William I would reject the Congress’s proposal.

The reason was simple. If the proposal to establish an empire came from the monarchs of other German states, it would prove that the German Empire was recognized by the states and had the people’s support.

But if it was proposed by Prussia’s own Congress, it would inevitably seem self-congratulatory, and William I’s legal standing might be shaky from the start.

Among the many German states, the largest state in Southern Germany, the Kingdom of Bavaria, was the most qualified to request William I’s coronation as emperor.

To expedite the establishment of the empire, Bismarck sent a letter to King Ludwig II of Bavaria, asking him to propose William I’s coronation as the German Emperor.

By this time, Bismarck had already agreed to allow Bavaria a certain degree of independence within the German Empire, and the King of Bavaria retained command of the Bavarian army in peacetime.

The Bavarian government also had a say in diplomatic matters, enjoyed financial privileges, and did not have to follow Prussian military regulations.

Bavaria could maintain its own special laws regarding marriage and citizenship, and retain its own postal and telegraph services.

This was already a huge concession to Bavaria, and after obtaining so many benefits and assurances, Ludwig II naturally would not oppose William I’s coronation.

Thus, at the public request of Ludwig II, William I formally agreed to establish the German Empire and was crowned as the German Emperor.

The empire’s founding site was chosen to be Versailles Palace in France. Ascending the throne in France held unique significance for all Prussians.

The predecessor of the empire, Prussia, had defeated the former European hegemon France, symbolizing the beautiful aspirations of Bismarck and William I for the nascent German Empire—replacing France as the new European hegemon.

In May 1870, under the hateful gazes of the French people, under the complicated eyes of the French Defense Government, under the passionate gazes of the Junker nobility, and amid the fervent shouts of the Prussian army, King William I of Prussia was officially crowned as the German Emperor, known as William I.

The coronation ceremony was not complicated, and only a few nobles from Prussia and some German states participated.

To prevent other powers from interfering with the results of the Franco-Prussian War, Bismarck and William I did not invite many of Europe’s powers, announcing the establishment of the German Empire only after the coronation ceremony.

Within the German territory, the people of Germany naturally cheered.

But in France, for the once-proud French, the feeling was not as pleasant.

The German Empire was founded by treading on the heads of the French, and as long as the German Empire existed, it would bring endless humiliation to the French.

The establishment of the German Empire clearly deepened the hatred between the Germans and the French, and the rivalry between the two most powerful land powers on the European Continent would affect the entire European situation, including Spain south of France.