Proclamation of the German Empire
Proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor at Versailles in 1871.
On January 18, 1871, the German Empire was proclaimed, an event known as the Deutsche Reichsgründung. This followed the German states’ collective victory in the Franco-Prussian War. The southern German states of Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt (south of the Main line), Württemberg, and Bavaria had joined the Prussian-led North German Confederation on January 1, 1871, under the November Treaties of 1870. That same day, a new constitution took effect, expanding the federal German lands into the newly formed German Empire. The proclamation date, January 18, became a celebratory day, chosen to coincide with the 1701 coronation of Frederick I of Prussia. The ceremony occurred in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, while Paris was under siege by coalition troops and the German high command was based in Versailles.
The background involved the German question of whether a unified Germany would include Austria. Prussian Minister President Otto von Bismarck believed unification was only possible without Austria, as the Habsburg monarchy was tied to both German-speaking and Balkan Slavic states. The 1866 Austro-Prussian War dissolved the German Confederation via the Treaty of Prague, leading to a Prussian-dominated alliance system. After Prussia’s victory at Königgrätz, Bismarck formed the North German Confederation as a military alliance in August 1866, which became a state with a constitution a year later. In 1868, Spain’s Queen Isabella II was deposed in the Glorious Revolution. Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, backed by Bismarck, became a candidate for the Spanish throne. After his candidacy was accepted, Leopold withdrew under pressure from his father and King Wilhelm I, as France threatened war. French Emperor Napoleon III, unsatisfied, sent ambassador Vincent Benedetti to Bad Ems to demand an official apology and a permanent renunciation of the Hohenzollern claim to the Spanish throne, which Wilhelm refused (the Ems Dispatch). The French National Assembly approved war funds, and France declared war on Prussia on July 19, 1870. The southern German states sided with Prussia per defensive alliances. Victories over French armies in August and September 1870 led the southern princes to join the North German Confederation. On December 9 and 10, 1870, the Reichstag voted to offer the emperor’s title to the Prussian king and rename the country the German
- Date
- January 18, 1871
- Location
- Hall of Mirrors, Palace of Versailles, France
- Key Figure
- Otto von Bismarck (read the proclamation)
- Proclaimed Emperor
- Wilhelm I of Prussia
- Preceding Event
- Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)
- Constitutional Basis
- New Constitution of the German Confederation, effective January 1, 1871
Lore & Background
The proclamation followed the November Treaties of 1870, which brought southern German states—Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt (south of the Mainlinie), Württemberg, and Bavaria—into the North German Confederation on January 1, 1871. The new constitution took effect the same day, extending the federal lands into the German Empire. The date January 18 was chosen to coincide with the 1701 coronation of Frederick I of Prussia, founding the Kingdom of Prussia.
The ceremony in the Hall of Mirrors featured German troops parading, a worship service with the hymn 'Nun danket alle Gott,' and an elevated podium where Wilhelm I and princes stood. Bismarck read the proclamation, after which Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden, shouted 'His Majesty, Kaiser Wilhelm,' repeated three times. The title 'German Emperor' was avoided as Wilhelm would not accept it. Some rulers, including those of Hesse, Brunswick, and several principalities, were not represented.
Accounts from eyewitnesses, including Wilhelm I, Bismarck, and historian Albert von Pfister, describe a field altar instead of a throne, emphasizing religious and political tensions. Wilhelm stressed the religious nature, while Bismarck preferred a mood of religious retreat. The reports are considered more authentic than later portrayals between 1918 and 1945, which were influenced by the defeat of the 'Bismarck Empire' in World War I.
Reader's Guide
The Proclamation of the German Empire in 1871 was a pivotal event in European history, consolidating German states under Prussian hegemony after the Franco-Prussian War. It resolved the German question by excluding Austria, as pursued by Otto von Bismarck, and established a federal empire with a new constitution. The ceremony at Versailles, a symbol of French power, underscored the shift in continental dominance. The event's legacy includes the creation of a unified German state that would become a major European power, though its founding amid military victory and political compromise sowed tensions that contributed to later conflicts. The proclamation's religious and political framing, as recorded by contemporaries, reflects the complex interplay of nationalism, monarchy, and militarism that shaped modern Germany.
Did You Know?
- The proclamation took place in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, whose ceiling celebrated Louis XIV as a conqueror of German cities.
- The date January 18 was chosen to coincide with the 1701 coronation of Frederick I of Prussia.
- The rulers of the Grand Duchy of Hesse, the Duchy of Brunswick, and several principalities were not represented at the proclamation.
- The title 'German Emperor' was avoided during the ceremony because Wilhelm I would not accept it.
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