William I becomes Prince Regent of Prussia (1858)

William I became Prince Regent of Prussia in 1858 following his brother Frederick William IV's incapacitating stroke. The regency transitioned from temporary to permanent in October 1858, culminating in William's succession as King in 1861.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Frederick William IV suffered a stroke in 1857 and was left mentally disabled and incapacitated for the rest of his life. His brother William, who had already been acting as deputy for the king, was formally named Prince Regent a year after the stroke. The regency began only temporarily, before being placed on a permanent footing in October 1858.

Regency. After William's term as deputy had been extended three times, the ailing king signed a regency charter for his brother on 7 October 1858, based on an expert opinion from the royal personal physicians. From then the regency was permanent. William, against his brother's advice, swore an oath of office on the Prussian constitution and promised to preserve it "solid and inviolable".

Succession. Frederick William IV died on 2 January 1861, following further strokes. William ascended the throne as Wilhelm I, ending the regency period. This succession solidified William's position as the head of state.

People involved

Sources

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