Figure 1.--This portrait of Wilhelm II was painted in 1863. He was 15 years old and wore this suit for his confirmation.

I do not have extensive information on Wilhelm. Prince Wilhelm was born in 1848. At the time he was not expected to ingerit the throne. The royal family was highly regarded and well integrated into Stuttgart public life. When Prinz Wilhelm von Wuerttemberg was 10 years old in 1858 he was enrolled at a state school (gymnasium). Many royals at the time were educated privately by tutors. He associated with with aristocratic and even middle-class children for play and sport. They were (not always positively) known to Stuttgart citizens as the "Prinzenbuben", the gang of the young prince. As an adult, King Wilhelm II commonly walked in the town and went hiking in the forests around Stuttgart (alone, no body guard!) with two dogs, white "Spitzer", untill he abdicated in 1918. A HBC reader tells us, "Elder relatives and even my mother (born 1907) met him in the town. This probably would not be possible in modern times." Wilhelm married Marie Waldeck (1857-82) in Pyrmont in 1877. They had three children: Pauline (1867-1965), Ulrich (1880), and Tochevy (1882). Marie died in 1882, presumbably in child birth. Wilhelm married again to Charlotte v. Schaumburg-Lippe (1864-1946). King Wilhelm II of Württemberg was the last reigning sovereign of the German Empire. Like many of his royal colleagues, Wilhelm of Württemberg tried to keep his kingdom from the debacle engulfing the Hohenzollern empire. His efforts were unsuccessful and he had to renounce his throne on November 29, 1918.

Parents

Wilhelm's father was Prince Frederick Charles Augustus (1808-1870). His parents were Paul Charles Frederick, Duke of Württemburg (1785- ) and Princess Charlotte of Saxe-Hildburghausen (1787- ). Wilhelm's mother was Princess Catherine Frederica of Württemburg (1821- ). Her parents were King Wilhelm I of Württemberg (1781- ) and Princess Pauline of Württemberg (1800).

Childhood

Wilhelm was born I do not have extensive information on Wilhelm. Prince Wilhelm was born in 1848, not a very pleasant year for European royals. At the time he was not expected to ingerit the throne. As far as I know, he was an only child. The royal family was highly regarded and well integrated into Stuttgart public life. He associated with with aristocratic and even middle-class children for play and sport. They were (not always positively) known to Stuttgart citizens as the "Prinzenbuben", the gang of the young prince.

Education

When Prinz Wilhelm von Wuerttemberg was 10 years old in 1858 he was enrolled at a state school (gymnasium). Many royals at the time were educated privately by tutors.

Reign

Wilhelm was a grandson of Wilhelm I and a nephew of Charles I. When Charles died childless, Wilhelm was the cloesest male decendent. As an adult, King Wilhelm II commonly walked in the town and went hiking in the forests around Stuttgart (alone, no body guard!) with two dogs, white "Spitzer", untill he abdicated in 1918. A HBC reader tells us, "Elder relatives and even my mother (born 1907) met him in the town. This probably would not be possible in modern times."

Family

Wilhelm was married twice.

First family

Wilhelm married Marie Waldeck (1857-82) in Pyrmont in 1877. They had three children: Pauline (1867-1965), Ulrich (1880), and Tochevy (1882). Marie died in 1882, presumbably in child birth.

Second family

Wilhelm married again to Charlotte v. Schaumburg-Lippe (1864-1946).

World War I

With the unification of Germany (1871), foreign affairs was placed in the hands of Wilhelm I and his able chancellor Bismarck. Wilhelm II quickly got rid of Bismarck and took foreign affirs into his own hands. In the end this proved to be the undoing of the German Empire and the German royals. German was in chaos after the World War I Armistace (November 11, 1918). King Wilhelm II of Württemberg was the last reigning sovereign of the German Empire. Like many of his royal colleagues, Wilhelm of Württemberg tried to keep his kingdom from the debacle engulfing the Hohenzollern empire. His efforts were unsuccessful and he had to renounce his throne on November 29, 1918.

Created: March 9, 2004
Last updated: June 4, 2004