German Monarchs

(Prussia/Austria/HRE/Germ
an Empire)
Lots of Guys Named Frederick
Below is a list of Prussian & Austrian rulers you need to know as well as some brief facts about their reigns. In all
cases, I have engaged in a great deal of omission for brevitys sake. There were rulers of Prussia before 1640, but
you are not likely to be asked about them. Nor are you likely to be asked about Prince George Frederick of
Prussia, the current Hohenzollern heir (who is my age!). In all cases, German names have been Anglicized; keep
that in mind during the test. Remember: Wilhelm I = William I. Also, do not confuse Elector Frederick William
with King Frederick William. Those monarchs in bold are tier-one people you absolutely have to know. Happy
studying!
Prussia/German Empire (1640-1918)
House of Hohenzollern, Electors of Brandenburg (1640 1701)
1640 1688 Frederick The Great Elector; helped establish Prussian Absolutism
William during the Thirty Years War.
1688 1701 Frederick III Imitated Louis XIV but sided with Britain during War of the
Spanish Succession & became King In Prussia.

House of Hohenzollern, Kings of Prussia (1701 1871)

1701 1713 Frederick I Same dude as Elector Frederick III, but is King Frederick I once
he gets the title in 1701.
1713 1740 Frederick The Soldiers King; Built up Prussian army; was tough on his
William I oldest son. Very frugal.
1740 1786 Frederick II Frederick the Great; One of the Enlightened Despots.
Conqueror of Silesia; patron of Voltaire.
1786 1797 Frederick Nephew of F the G (F2). Anti-Enlightenment. Presided over
William II final partitions of Poland, but left Prussia bankrupt and weak.
1797 1840 Frederick Lost at Austerlitz to Napoleon but later prevailed vs. his son-in-
William III law (Nicolas I of Russia) & gained land at the Congress of
Vienna.
1840 1861 Frederick Reactionary and Romanticist. Opposed German unification,
William IV deferred to Austria. Anti-Hegel, pro-fundamentalist Christian.
1861- 1871 William I Brother of FW4. Appointed Otto Von Bismarck Prime Minister;
let him run the country.

House of Hohenzollern, German Emperors (1871 1918)

1871 1888 William I Same guy as above. First German Emperor.
1888 Frederick III Ruled three months; died of cancer of the larynx
1888 1918 William II Born with lame arm. Fired Bismarck. WWI & Abdication
HRE/Austria (1519 1919)
This is a partial list of just a few Austrian Rulers. There are many, but only a few you need to
know so those are the ones included.

House of Habsburg, Holy Roman Emperors

1519 1556 Charles V HRE & King of Spain & Flanders, S. Italy, & Colonies in New
(the Universal World. Opposed Luther. Wars vs. Francis I of France. Abdicates,
Monarch) giving Spain to son Phillip II & HRE to brother.
1711 - 1740 Charles VI Issued Pragmatic Sanction in 1713, allowing daughter to
succeed him.
1740 1780 Maria War of the Austrian Succession & Seven Years War (both were
Theresa vs. Frederick the Greats Prussia over Silesia). Mother of Marie
Antoinette. First Partition of Poland.
1765 1790 Joseph II Co-ruler with his mother for a while. Enlightened Despot.
Continued his mothers reforms, pushed limited religious
tolerance.

House of Habsburg, Emperors of Austria (HRE abolished in 1806)

1835 1848 Ferdinand I Metternichs Emperor during later years in office. Forced to
abdicate in 1848 in favor of nephew
1848 1916 Franz Joseph Ruled through 19th Century Austrian decline; beginning of
WWI.
1916 1919 Charles I Final Austrian monarch. Canonized in 2005.