Emperor of the Germans | |
---|---|
Coat of arms of Germany | |
Incumbent | |
Frederick IV since 26 September 1994 | |
Details | |
Style | His Imperial Majesty |
Heir apparent | Carl Friedrich, German Crown Prince |
First monarch | Wilhelm I |
Formation | 18 January 1871 |
Residence | Stadtschloss, Berlin |
The German Emperor (German: Deutscher Kaiser) is the head of state and hereditary ruler of the German Empire.
Germany has a parliamentary system of government in which the Chancellor is the nation's leading political figure and de facto chief executive. However, the Emperor has a role which, while not an executive post, is more than ceremonial. The Emperor has extensive discretion regarding the way they exercise their official duties. The Emperor gives direction to general political and societal debates and has some important "reserve powers" in case of political instability (such as those provided for by Article 81 of the Constitution). Under Article 59 of the Constitution, the Emperor represents the Empire in matters of international law, concludes treaties with foreign states on its behalf and accredits diplomats. Furthermore, all federal laws must be given Imperial Assent by the Emperor before they can come into effect, but usually the Emperor only vetoes a law that he believes to violate the constitution.
The Emperor, by his actions and public appearances, represents the state itself, its existence, its legitimacy, and unity. The Imperial Office involves an integrative role and the control function of upholding the law and the constitution. It is a matter of political tradition – not legal restrictions – that the Emperor generally does not comment routinely on issues in the news, particularly when there is some controversy among the political parties. This distance from day-to-day politics and daily governmental issues allows the Emperor to be a source of clarification, to influence public debate, to voice criticism, offer suggestions and make proposals.
The 6th and current Emperor is Frederick IV, who acceded to the throne on 26 September 1994 upon the death of his grandfather, Louis I.
List of German Emperors
This list is under construction
Name Reign |
Portrait | Arms | Birth Parentage |
Marriage(s) Issue |
Death | Claim |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
William I William Frederick Louis 1 January 1871 – 9 March 1888 |
22 March 1797 Kronprinzenpalais Son of Crown Prince Frederick William of Prussia and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz |
Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Charlottenburg Palace 11 June 1829 2 children |
9 March 1888 Charlottenburg Palace aged 90 |
Proclamation | ||
Frederick III Frederick William Nicholas Charles 9 March 1888 – 15 June 1888 |
18 October 1831 New Palace, Potsdam Son of William I and Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach |
Victoria, Princess Imperial Ellingham Palace 25 January 1858 8 children |
15 June 1888 New Palace, Potsdam aged 56 |
Son of William I | ||
William II Frederick William Victor Albert 15 June 1888 – 4 June 1941 |
27 January 1859 Kronprinzpalais Son of Frederick, German Crown Prince and Victoria, Princess Imperial |
Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein Berlin 27 February 1881 7 children |
4 June 1941 Stadtschloss aged 82 |
Son of Frederick III | ||
William III Frederick William Victor Augustus Ernest 4 June 1941 – 20 July 1951 |
6 May 1882 Marmorpalais Son of William, German Crown Prince and Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein |
Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Berlin Cathedral 6 June 1905 6 children |
26 July 1951 Stadtschloss aged 69 |
Son of William II | ||
Louis I Louis Ferdinand Victor Edward Albert Michael Hubert 20 July 1951 – 26 September 1994 |
9 November 1907 Marmorpalais Son of William, German Crown Prince and Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia Potsdam 21 October 1938 7 children |
26 September 1994 Bremen aged 86 |
Son of William III | ||
Frederick IV George Frederick Ferdinand 26 September 1994 – present |
10 June 1976 Bremen Son of Louis Ferdinand, German Crown Prince and Countess Donata of Castell-Rüdenhausen |
Princess Sophie of Isenburg Church of Peace, Potsdam 27 August 2011 4 children |
Living age 47 |
Grandson of Louis I |
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