Death of Friedrich Wilhelm IV and Accession of Wilhelm I

Background. Friedrich Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia since 1840, suffered several strokes beginning in 1857, leaving him incapacitated. His brother Wilhelm served as regent after 1858, marking the end of Frederick William's ideal of government. The regency charter signed in 1858 established Wilhelm's authority, setting the stage for the succession.

Succession. Wilhelm I ascended the Prussian throne on 2 January 1861 following his brother's death. He had been Prince Regent since 1858, initially temporarily but permanently after October. Wilhelm swore an oath to preserve the Prussian constitution, contrary to his brother's advice, signaling a shift in governance.

Context. The death occurred at Sanssouci, a historical building in Potsdam near Berlin. The transition from Frederick William IV's reign to Wilhelm I's marked the end of the former's political ideals. The regency period had already heralded a 'New Era' in Prussia, distancing the monarchy from the previous constitutional approach.