List of monarchs of Prussia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Monarchy of Prussia
König von Preußen
Royal Coat of arms
Wilhelm I
Details
Style	His Majesty
First monarch	Albert (as Duke)
Last monarch	Wilhelm II
Formation	10 April 1525
Abolition	9 November 1918
Residence	Königsberg Castle Stadtschloss, Berlin (last)
Appointer	Hereditary
Pretender(s)	Georg Friedrich

The monarchs of Prussia were the rulers of a powerful German state called Prussia. These rulers were all part of the House of Hohenzollern, a famous royal family. They led Prussia from when it began as the Duchy of Prussia in 1525 until it became part of the German Empire and later ended in 1918.

Prussia started as a religious state ruled by the Teutonic Order, a group of Catholic knights. Their last leader, Albert, changed his religion to Protestantism. He then turned the land into a non-religious state called the Duchy of Prussia.

At first, the Duchy of Prussia was like a smaller state under the control of the Kingdom of Poland. This was part of a peace deal after a war. In 1618, the main family line of Prussian rulers ended. So, the Duchy went to another part of the Hohenzollern family. This branch also ruled Brandenburg, another state within the Holy Roman Empire. Even though Prussia and Brandenburg were technically separate, people often called them Brandenburg-Prussia.

After some wars and treaties, the Duchy of Prussia became fully independent. This was a bit tricky because the ruler of independent Prussia was also the ruler of Brandenburg, which was still under the Holy Roman Emperor. This complicated situation led to the creation of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1701. For a while, the rulers called themselves "King in Prussia." This was to avoid upsetting the Holy Roman Emperor, as they still had some loyalty to him for Brandenburg. Also, calling themselves "King of Prussia" would have meant they ruled all of the Prussian region, but parts of it were still controlled by Poland.

As Prussia grew stronger through wars and smart political moves, it became a major European power. By 1772, the rulers officially started calling themselves "King of Prussia." They kept the title "Elector of Brandenburg" until 1806. This was a way of showing that their lands within the Holy Roman Empire were still technically under the Emperor's rule. But in reality, they treated all their lands as one big state. When the Holy Roman Empire ended in 1806, Brandenburg officially became part of Prussia.

In 1871, after the Franco-Prussian War, the German Empire was formed. The King of Prussia at that time, Wilhelm I, also became the first German Emperor. From then on, even though Prussia was still the biggest and most powerful state within the German Empire, the title of German Emperor was more important. All future Kings of Prussia were also German Emperors.

Dukes of Prussia (1525–1701)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Albert	(1490-05-17)17 May 1490 – 20 March 1568(1568-03-20) (aged 77)	10 April 1525	20 March 1568	Grand Master of Teutonic Knights, granted the title of Duke of Prussia	Hohenzollern
Albert Frederick	(1553-05-07)7 May 1553 – 27 August 1618(1618-08-27) (aged 65)	20 March 1568	27 August 1618	Son of Albert	Hohenzollern
John Sigismund	(1572-11-08)8 November 1572 – 23 December 1619(1619-12-23) (aged 47)	27 August 1618	23 December 1619	Son in law and second cousin thrice removed of Albert Frederick, also Elector of Brandenburg	Hohenzollern
George William	(1595-11-13)13 November 1595 – 1 December 1640(1640-12-01) (aged 45)	23 December 1619	1 December 1640	Son of John Sigismund, also Elector of Brandenburg	Hohenzollern
Frederick William the Great Elector	(1620-02-16)16 February 1620 – 29 April 1688(1688-04-29) (aged 68)	1 December 1640	29 April 1688	Son of George William, also Elector of Brandenburg	Hohenzollern
Frederick I	(1657-07-11)11 July 1657 – 25 February 1713(1713-02-25) (aged 55)	29 April 1688	18 January 1701	Son of Frederick William, also Elector of Brandenburg	Hohenzollern

Kings of Prussia (1701–1918)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Frederick I the Mercenary King	(1657-07-11)11 July 1657 – 25 February 1713(1713-02-25) (aged 55)	18 January 1701	25 February 1713	Son of Frederick William, also Elector of Brandenburg	Hohenzollern
Frederick William I the Soldier King	(1688-08-14)14 August 1688 – 31 May 1740(1740-05-31) (aged 51)	25 February 1713	31 May 1740	Son of Frederick I	Hohenzollern
Frederick II the Great	(1712-01-24)24 January 1712 – 17 August 1786(1786-08-17) (aged 74)	31 May 1740	17 August 1786	Son of Frederick William I	Hohenzollern
Frederick William II	(1744-09-25)25 September 1744 – 16 November 1797(1797-11-16) (aged 53)	17 August 1786	16 November 1797	Nephew of Frederick II, Grandson of Frederick William I	Hohenzollern
Frederick William III	(1770-07-03)3 July 1770 – 7 June 1840(1840-06-07) (aged 69)	16 November 1797	7 June 1840	Son of Frederick William II	Hohenzollern
Frederick William IV	(1795-10-15)15 October 1795 – 2 January 1861(1861-01-02) (aged 65)	7 June 1840	2 January 1861	Son of Frederick William III; also President of the Erfurt Union (1849–1850)	Hohenzollern
Wilhelm I	(1797-03-22)22 March 1797 – 9 March 1888(1888-03-09) (aged 90)	2 January 1861	9 March 1888	Brother of Frederick William IV, Son of Frederick William III; also President of the North German Confederation (1867–1871) and German Emperor (from 1871)	Hohenzollern
Frederick III	(1831-10-18)18 October 1831 – 15 June 1888(1888-06-15) (aged 56)	9 March 1888	15 June 1888	Son of Wilhelm I; also German Emperor; only Prussian monarch to rule for less than one year	Hohenzollern
Wilhelm II	(1859-01-27)27 January 1859 – 4 June 1941(1941-06-04) (aged 82)	15 June 1888	9 November 1918 (abdicated)	Son of Frederick III; also German Emperor; also last King of Prussia and last German Emperor	Hohenzollern

Timeline of Prussian Rulers

People Claiming the Prussian Throne Since 1918

After 1918, the monarchy in Prussia ended. However, some members of the Hohenzollern family have still claimed the title of head of the family. They are known as "pretenders" to the throne.

• William II (9 November 1918 – 4 June 1941)
• Frederick William (4 June 1941 – 20 July 1951)
• Louis Ferdinand (20 July 1951 – 26 September 1994)
• George Frederick (26 September 1994 –present)

See also