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(1795–1861), King of Prussia (1840–61). Under frederick william iii , Prussia had cooperated with Austria in the suppression of liberal-national movements, and the accession of his idealistic and mercurial son, Frederick William IV, promoted hopes of a change of policy. These were unfounded, for the latter was a firm believer in Divine Right monarchism , with no time for popular sovereignty or paper constitutions. Although keen to promote german unification , his vision of it involved a revived medieval empire. As Germany was swept by widespread revolution in the spring of 1848 (see revolutions of 1848–9), he was forced to concede a more liberal constitution and a reform of the german confederation under Prussian leadership. In March, he demonstrated considerable firmness when popular demonstrations led to clashes between soldiers and citizens outside the royal palace at Berlin, appeasing public opinion by ordering the army to withdraw, donning the national colors, and paying homage to the dead. But he subsequently sacked his liberal ministers and restricted still further the already conservative constitution he had conceded. When eventually offered the leadership of a new federal German state by the frankfurt parliament early in 1849, he rejected what he termed a “crown of shame,” declaring that he must be selected by fellow-monarchs, not by popular will. He subsequently ... log in or subscribe to read full text