Blackwell Reference Online

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(1831–88), German Emperor and King of Prussia (March-June 1888). He was the eldest son of william i , first ruler of the german empire proclaimed in 1871. Frederick's education had imbued him with strong liberal principles, and these were reinforced by the influence of his wife (a daughter of Britain's Queen victoria ), whom he married in 1858 three years before becoming crown prince of Prussia. Although opposed to many of bismarck's policies, he always refused to become a focus for public criticism of his father's regime. He was a great patron of the arts, and also proved himself to be an outstanding soldier, notably in the austro-prussian war and the franco-prussian war . Frederick's accession was keenly anticipated by liberals, but he died of throat cancer before he could make much impact as emperor. He was succeeded by an altogether different character, in the form of his son WILLIAM II. ... log in or subscribe to read full text