Prince Wilhelm of Prussia was born in Berlin on the 27th of January 1859 as the first son of Crown prince Friedrich and princess Victoria of England. Through his grandmother, queen Victoria of England, W. is closely related to almost all the governing royal families of Europe.
In 1881 he marries Augusta-Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein. In 1888 Germany buries Kaiser Wilhelm l as well as his son Friedrich lll, after a reign of only 99 days.
Thus Wilhelm ll becomes King of Prussia and German Kaiser at the age of only 29.
He replaces his experienced counsellors by a 'Persönliches Regiment' and with his wayward political performance soon raises criticism at home and abroad.
In 1914 W. considers it his duty to support Austria when this ally comes into conflict with Serbia after the murder of the heir to the throne Franz-Ferdinand in Sarajewo.
Serbia is supported by Russia with France as an ally. By invading France through Belgium Germany also incurs the animosity of England that had guaranteed the neutrality of Belgium. When other nations enter into the conflict World War l is a fact. In 1917 the U.S. join the war and that is a turning point for Germany. The imminent defeat is seen as a personal failure of the Kaiser. The Imperial Navy rises in revolt and in Berlin the revolution breaks out. The allies want W. brought to trial as a criminal of war, but he flees to the neutral Netherlands, where he is granted political asylum. On the 29th of November 1918 he signs his abdication at Amerongen Castle, where he stayed during the first 18 months of his exile.
He is never to see Germany again. In accordance with his last will his bodily remains have been laid to rest in a mausoleum on the estate.
Special Exhibition - The Kaiser and archeology15th of April - 21st of September 2011
The Austrian empress Elisabeth (Sisi, 1837-1898) and the German Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941) were both fascinated by antiquity. On the Greek island of Corfu, they tried to turn that fascination into reality. Between 1889 and 1892, Sisi had her summer residence built: the Achilleion, named after the famous Greek hero Achilles. In 1907, nine years after Sisi's death, the German Kaiser bought the palace from her daughter Gisela.
Exhibition
'Sisi and Wilhelm II - Emperors on Corfu' (RMO Leiden) and ‘The Kaiser and archeology (Huis Doorn) show the great interest Sisi and Wilhelm had in the Ancient World. Against a backdrop of the classic Achilleion and the romantic landscape of Corfu, the exhibition at Huis Doorn presents a selection from the personal study collection of Kaiser Wilhelm. In addition, there are photo images of Wilhelm and his excavations on Corfu.
The Kaiser enjoyed modeling himself after the great Greek heroes. In addition, he was mesmerized by antiquity and archaeology, he led for example the excavation of a large archaic temple on Corfu.
Visit our exhibition in Doorn and learn more about this cultural side of the Kaiser.
Emperor Wilhelm II
Opening times