The history of a united Imperial Germany (also known as the Second Reich, the Holy Roman Empire being the first) is relatively short, only starting in 1871.  In that year the Germans were victorious in their war with France.  It was in the halls of Versailles where the proclamation of the German Empire was made.  The King of Prussia was made the Emperor.  Germany only had three emperors.

Wilhelm I

Friedrich III

Wilhelm II

Wilhelm I became King (Koenig) of Prussia in 1861 and in 1871 was proclaimed Emperor (Kaiser) of a united Germany.  Wilhelm I died in 1888 and was succeeded by his son Friedrich III who died of throat cancer later that same year.   Wilhelm II became the third emperor to rule in 1888 and reigned until he abdicated in 1918.  Wilhelm II went into exile in the Netherlands and died there in 1941.

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