Wilhelm I of Germany is proclaimed Kaiser Wilhelm in the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles (France) towards the end of the Franco-Prussian War. Wilhelm already had the title of German Emperor since the constitution of 1 January 1871, but he had hesitated to accept the title.

William I: The Architect of a United Germany

William I, known in German as Wilhelm Friedrich Ludwig (22 March 1797 – 9 March 1888), played a pivotal role in shaping 19th-century Europe. A distinguished member of the esteemed House of Hohenzollern, he served as King of Prussia from 2 January 1861 and achieved the momentous title of German Emperor from 18 January 1871 until his death in 1888. His reign marked the definitive end of fragmented German states and the dawn of a unified German Empire, making him the first head of state of this powerful new entity.

From Regent to Emperor: William's Ascent to Power

William's path to the throne was not immediate. He first assumed de facto head of state responsibilities for Prussia in 1858, when he was appointed regent for his elder brother, King Frederick William IV. Frederick William IV had suffered a series of debilitating strokes, rendering him mentally incapacitated and unable to rule effectively. Upon his brother's passing three years later, on 2 January 1861, William formally ascended to the Prussian throne as King William I.

The Unification of Germany: A Partnership with Bismarck

The defining achievement of William's reign was the unification of Germany. This monumental undertaking was realized under his strong leadership and, crucially, through his long-standing partnership with Otto von Bismarck, his shrewd and determined Minister President. Together, William and Bismarck orchestrated a series of strategic military victories – the Second Schleswig War (1864), the Austro-Prussian War (1866), and the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871) – which gradually consolidated Prussian dominance and brought the various German states into a single federal entity. The proclamation of the German Empire took place in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles on 18 January 1871, a symbolic moment marking the culmination of centuries of nationalist aspirations.

A King's Reservations: Balancing Power with Principle

Despite his unwavering support for Bismarck as his chief political architect, William I was not merely a figurehead. He held strong reservations about some of Bismarck's more controversial and reactionary policies. For instance, William expressed discomfort with Bismarck's anti-Catholic stance, particularly during the "Kulturkampf" (cultural struggle) of the 1870s, which involved state-sponsored measures to reduce the influence of the Catholic Church. He also took issue with Bismarck's often autocratic and tough handling of subordinates, preferring a more collegial approach. This nuanced relationship highlights William's own independent moral compass and his role in moderating Bismarck's more extreme tendencies, thereby contributing to the stability of the nascent empire.

Personality and Legacy: Wilhelm the Great

In stark contrast to the often domineering and iron-willed Bismarck, William I was widely described as polite, gentlemanly, and possessing a dignified demeanor. While staunchly conservative in his political outlook, he displayed a notable openness to certain classical liberal ideas, particularly concerning economic development and administrative reform within the state. This made him a more adaptable and less rigid ruler than his ambitious grandson, Wilhelm II, who would succeed him. Posthumously, during Wilhelm II's reign, William I became affectionately known as Wilhelm der Große (Wilhelm the Great) in Germany, a testament to his enduring legacy as the unifier and first Emperor of the modern German nation.

Who was William I?
William I was the King of Prussia from 1861 and the first German Emperor from 1871 until his death in 1888, belonging to the illustrious House of Hohenzollern.
What was William I's primary achievement?
His primary achievement was the unification of Germany and the establishment of the German Empire in 1871, largely accomplished through his strategic partnership with Minister President Otto von Bismarck.
Did William I always agree with Bismarck?
No, despite their successful collaboration, William I held reservations about some of Bismarck's more controversial policies, such as his anti-Catholic "Kulturkampf" and his perceived harshness towards subordinates.

The Evolution of German Constitutions: From Confederation to Empire

The constitutional landscape of Germany underwent significant transformations in the lead-up to and immediate aftermath of the German Empire's establishment in 1871. One pivotal document, often referred to as the Constitution of the German Confederation (German: Verfassung des Deutschen Bundes) or the November Constitution (Novemberverfassung), came into effect on 1 January 1871. This particular constitution was not a completely new creation but rather a slightly modified version of the Constitution of the North German Confederation, which had been in force since 1867. It is crucial not to confuse this document with the much earlier constitutional laws of the German Confederation of 1815, a loose association of German states established after the Napoleonic Wars and dissolved in 1866.

The Path to a Unified Constitution: Incorporating the South

The 1871 Constitution of the German Confederation was specifically designed to incorporate the agreements reached between the North German Confederation and several key South German states. These agreements, known as the November Treaties of 1870, formalized the accession of Baden and Hesse-Darmstadt. Notably, Bavaria and Württemberg, while eventually joining the unified empire, had negotiated special conditions for their entry, such as retaining their own railway and postal systems, and even control over their armies in peacetime, which were later reflected in the final Imperial Constitution. The new text of the constitution appeared in the Bundesgesetzblatt des Norddeutschen Bundes (North German Federal Law Gazette) on 31 December 1870, becoming legally effective the very next day.

Early Imperial Elections and Subsequent Constitutional Changes

Following the enactment of this constitution, new elections to the Reichstag, the federal parliament, were held on 3 March 1871. Significantly, these elections marked the first time that the South German states, including Bavaria and Württemberg, participated, underscoring the broader national scope of the nascent empire and the principle of universal male suffrage. However, the lifespan of this January 1st constitution was brief. On 16 April 1871, it was superseded by a new, more comprehensive constitution, which became effective on 4 May 1871 and remained in force throughout the duration of the German Empire until its dissolution in 1918 following World War I.

Distinguishing Key Constitutional Texts of the Era

To fully grasp the intricate constitutional development during this pivotal period, it is essential to distinguish between four distinct but related constitutional texts that played a role in the formation of the German Empire:

The Continuity of the Political System and the Significance of Article 80

Across all four of these constitutional texts, the fundamental political system remained remarkably consistent, characterized by a strong federal structure with a powerful Emperor (Kaiser) and a bicameral legislature comprising the Reichstag (elected by universal male suffrage) and the Bundesrat (Federal Council, representing the states). The primary changes introduced in these successive documents related almost exclusively to the agreements negotiated with the South German states regarding their accession to the Confederation, which necessitated adjustments, such as alterations to the number of delegates each state sent to the Bundesrat. Constitutional historian Ernst Rudolf Huber famously described the constitution of 1 January 1871 as a "Monstrum," a term reflecting the somewhat convoluted and legally "messy" way in which the transitional steps towards full unification were executed through a series of treaties and constitutional amendments rather than a single, clean break.

The constitution of 1 January 1871 represented an important transitional step from the North German Confederation to the German Empire. These transformations were not about creating an entirely new state ex nihilo, but rather concerned the formal accession of the South German states into an existing federal structure. Consequently, the North German Confederation was essentially renamed to the German Empire, and some of its existing organs received updated titles to reflect the expanded national scope. Despite its relatively short official lifespan before being replaced by the April constitution, the constitution of 1 January 1871 retained lasting significance for the German Empire, particularly due to its Article 80. This crucial article, which notably was not repeated in the subsequent constitution of 16 April 1871, ensured that many existing North German laws automatically came into force also in the newly incorporated South German states, contributing significantly to legal uniformity and the coherence of the burgeoning empire.

What was the "November Constitution" of 1871?
The November Constitution, enacted on January 1, 1871, was an interim constitution for the German federal state. It was a slightly modified version of the North German Confederation's constitution, designed to legally incorporate the recently acceded South German states.
How many distinct German constitutions existed around 1871?
There are four distinct constitutional texts to be aware of during this period: the 1867 North German Confederation Constitution, an intermediate text integrated into the November treaties, the 1870/1871 "German Confederation" constitution (which already named the Empire), and the final "Constitution of the German Empire" from April 1871 (often called the Bismarcksche Reichsverfassung).
Why was the 1 January 1871 constitution considered significant despite its short duration?
Despite being superseded quickly, the 1 January 1871 constitution was significant because its Article 80 ensured that many existing North German laws automatically extended their validity to the newly incorporated South German states, providing crucial legal continuity and uniformity across the unified German Empire.