Prussia Personalities

Frederick William III, King of Prussia. From 1792 to 1794 he fought against France during the French Revolution. In 1797 he succeeded to the throne and set about rebuilding the economy and the army, which had suffered during the reign of his father. During the war he promised his people a constitutional government. At the close of the war in 1815, he served as the lead delegate for Prussia to the Congress of Vienna. He later joined the Holy Alliance, going against his promises of a constitutional government, and participated in the alliance's repression of liberal movements in Europe. Within Prussia, he accomplished the reorganization of parts of the administrative system and consented the formation of the Zollverein, or customs union.

Frederick William IV, King of Prussia. He attempted to unite German states under Prussia rule. The son of Frederick William III, he gave indications of becoming a liberal monarch by increasing freedom of religion and relieving press censorship. In 1847, he convened the United Diet, which, although limited, was a step toward a popular representative assembly. In 1848 at the outbreak of German revolution, he at first acceded to the demands of his people, promising a constitution and agreeing to become the leader of a united Germany. In 1849 he refused the imperial crown and opted instead for a union of German states under Prussia leadership. In 1850, under the constitution, most of the governing power was vested in the king, suffrage was restricted, and membership in the parliament was considerably limited.

Prince Otto Edward Leopold von Bismarck. In 1836 he entered government service, which did not last long, initially. In 1847, driven by a thirst for power, he entered politics. As a extreme conservative, in 1848 rushed to Berlin in order to urge king Frederick William IV to squash the revolution. His advice was ignored, but his loyalty was rewarded.