What do you think?
Rate this book
The Kaisers
There were but three Kaisers, and the span of their reigns lasted for less than fifty years; yet for sheer drama, for turbulence, for bloody impact upon the lives of millions, the short-lived Second Reich of the Hohenzollern dynasty, born out of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, nurtured in militarism, and self- immolated in the slaughter of the Western Front of 1914-18, is without parallel.
Theo Aronson's The Kaisers is the story of six people whose bitter differences were a microcosm of, and greatly influenced, a national conflict which echoed all round the world. Kaiser Wilhelm I, born 1797, King of Prussia 1861, proclaimed Emperor of all Germany 1871, died only in 1888 an autocratic, militaristic man of the eighteenth century completely opposed to the liberalizing ideas which swept Europe in his lifetime. In contrast his Empress, Augusta, was progressive in thought, open-minded in outlook, yet with all had a taste for the theatrical and pageantry of her royal status.
The best of her was seen in their son, Kaiser Frederick III, who was Crown Prince for all but the last few cancer-torn weeks of his life. He personified the best of European liberalism of the nineteenth century. In this he was supported—many said unduly influenced by his energetic and vivacious English wife Victoria, Queen Victoria's eldest and 'Dearest Child', who brought to the marriage the enlightened ideals and hopes of her shrewd, practical mother and her far-seeing father, the Prince Consort. The tragedy, the tempting speculation of Germany's history, is that this couple reigned for only three months before Frederick III's death brought their son to the throne. Kaiser Wilhelm II, 'Kaiser Bill' of the first World War, was again the antithesis of everything his parents stood for. Queen Victoria's hopes that her grandson might be 'wise, sensible, courageous — liberal-minded — good and pure', could hardly have been more misplaced.
The sixth, the dominating figure in the Hohenzollern story, is Prince Otto von Bismarck, the ruthless 'Iron Chancellor', virtual dictator of Germany for nearly thirty years. He served all three Kaisers, claiming with justification that on his shoulders he had carried the first to the Imperial throne—where he manipulated him to his will despite the hatred and manoeuvrings of the Empress Augusta. He feared the reign of the short-lived second Kaiser and feared more perhaps (and never missed an opportunity to disparage) the Empress Victoria and the constant, commonsense influence from England of her mother. (`That', he said ruefully after their one meeting, 'was a woman ! One could do business with her ! ') Their son he flattered, siding with him against his parents, and in so doing brought about his own downfall, when the vainglorious young man he had schooled as Crown Prince came as Kaiser to believe that he could do without his mentor. But for Europe it was too late, and the policies of one and the vanities of the other were already leading Europe helter-skelter into the holocaust of 'the Kaiser's War'.
Theo Aronson's gifts as a writer have deservedly brought him high regard as a chronicler of the complex histories of Europe's great ruling Houses. Rarely have his talents been better employed than in this study of the comet-like rise and fall of the House of Hohenzollern, the House of the Kaisers of Germany. It is a story of bitter, almost continual conflict, yet even in what can now be seen as a path to inevitable destruction Mr. Aronson finds passages of light and shade that show the Hohenzollerns not simply as Wagnerian puppets posturing on a vast European stage, but people deserving of our understanding and compassion.
Theo Aronson's The Kaisers is the story of six people whose bitter differences were a microcosm of, and greatly influenced, a national conflict which echoed all round the world. Kaiser Wilhelm I, born 1797, King of Prussia 1861, proclaimed Emperor of all Germany 1871, died only in 1888 an autocratic, militaristic man of the eighteenth century completely opposed to the liberalizing ideas which swept Europe in his lifetime. In contrast his Empress, Augusta, was progressive in thought, open-minded in outlook, yet with all had a taste for the theatrical and pageantry of her royal status.
The best of her was seen in their son, Kaiser Frederick III, who was Crown Prince for all but the last few cancer-torn weeks of his life. He personified the best of European liberalism of the nineteenth century. In this he was supported—many said unduly influenced by his energetic and vivacious English wife Victoria, Queen Victoria's eldest and 'Dearest Child', who brought to the marriage the enlightened ideals and hopes of her shrewd, practical mother and her far-seeing father, the Prince Consort. The tragedy, the tempting speculation of Germany's history, is that this couple reigned for only three months before Frederick III's death brought their son to the throne. Kaiser Wilhelm II, 'Kaiser Bill' of the first World War, was again the antithesis of everything his parents stood for. Queen Victoria's hopes that her grandson might be 'wise, sensible, courageous — liberal-minded — good and pure', could hardly have been more misplaced.
The sixth, the dominating figure in the Hohenzollern story, is Prince Otto von Bismarck, the ruthless 'Iron Chancellor', virtual dictator of Germany for nearly thirty years. He served all three Kaisers, claiming with justification that on his shoulders he had carried the first to the Imperial throne—where he manipulated him to his will despite the hatred and manoeuvrings of the Empress Augusta. He feared the reign of the short-lived second Kaiser and feared more perhaps (and never missed an opportunity to disparage) the Empress Victoria and the constant, commonsense influence from England of her mother. (`That', he said ruefully after their one meeting, 'was a woman ! One could do business with her ! ') Their son he flattered, siding with him against his parents, and in so doing brought about his own downfall, when the vainglorious young man he had schooled as Crown Prince came as Kaiser to believe that he could do without his mentor. But for Europe it was too late, and the policies of one and the vanities of the other were already leading Europe helter-skelter into the holocaust of 'the Kaiser's War'.
Theo Aronson's gifts as a writer have deservedly brought him high regard as a chronicler of the complex histories of Europe's great ruling Houses. Rarely have his talents been better employed than in this study of the comet-like rise and fall of the House of Hohenzollern, the House of the Kaisers of Germany. It is a story of bitter, almost continual conflict, yet even in what can now be seen as a path to inevitable destruction Mr. Aronson finds passages of light and shade that show the Hohenzollerns not simply as Wagnerian puppets posturing on a vast European stage, but people deserving of our understanding and compassion.
421 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 1971
52 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Theo Aronson
24 books32 followersTheo Aronson is an historical biographer specialising in the Royal Houses of Europe. Among his many widely read books are "The Golden Bees: The Story of the Bonapartes," "Grandmama of Europe" and "Royal Family: Years of Transition."
His books have been published in Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland and Belgium.
Theo Aronson lives in an eighteenth-century stone house in Frome, Somerset.
His books have been published in Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland and Belgium.
Theo Aronson lives in an eighteenth-century stone house in Frome, Somerset.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 25, 2024
An overview of Germany's three kaisers. None of it is really new information if you've studied Queen Victoria and her children - no historian ever resists the urge to dwell of Fritz's fate. I did like that Aronson really examined Kaiser Wilhelm I and Empress Augusta - they're usually only mentioned in opposition to Vicky and Fritz, so it's nice to see them get put back properly in the story.
In reading more of Aronson, he does seem to do better with the royals contemporary to his writing. When he can actually speak to them or those that knew them, his writing is richer and more engaged. For those in the past, he falls into the same rhythms of other historians, though he is good at keeping the focus on his subjects and not wandering off on tangents. Which is to say, the Kaisers is good because it puts the whole family together and gives all equal weight, but it doesn't really add anything new to the conversation if this is not your introduction to the subject.
In reading more of Aronson, he does seem to do better with the royals contemporary to his writing. When he can actually speak to them or those that knew them, his writing is richer and more engaged. For those in the past, he falls into the same rhythms of other historians, though he is good at keeping the focus on his subjects and not wandering off on tangents. Which is to say, the Kaisers is good because it puts the whole family together and gives all equal weight, but it doesn't really add anything new to the conversation if this is not your introduction to the subject.
October 31, 2020
This book is a great summary of each of the three Kaisers of Germany and their reigns. Their similarities and differences are explored as well as their relationships with each other. I really didn't learn anything new that I had not read in previous books I have read on the Hohenzollerns. However, I did find this book helpful in that it summarized what I already read in more detail earlier and gave me a more cohesive understanding of the events. One of the most interesting parts of the books is the author's speculation of what may have happened if Kaiser Frederick III had reigned longer. It is interesting to think about the different direction Germany, and the world, may have taken.
June 17, 2018
A broad stroke look look at the first three (and the only three!) Kaisers who ruled over a united German Empire (Second Reich) from 1871 to it's demise following the First World War in 1918: Wilhelm I, who had been King of Prussia since 1861; Frederick III, who was progressively minded and married to Victoria, Princess Royal of Great Britain; and Wilhelm II, a complex character who was widely blamed for steering Europe into WWI. This work is a good starter for anyone interested in players mentioned.
March 2, 2021
A good overview of the three Kaisers of the German Empire who ruled from 1871 to the demise of House of Hohenzollern the after WW1. The book starts with Emperor Wilhelm I of Germany, his wife Augusta, Chancellor Otto van Bismarck and the unification of Germany. Wilhelm I's son, Frederick III (who was married to Victoria, Queen Victoria's daughter) ascends to the throne in 1888, but dies shortly thereafter. Frederick III and Victoria's son, William II, then takes the throne, and is the last Kaiser of the empire.
June 28, 2022
The Kaisers by Theo Aronson is a rather good summary of the three Kaisers--their lives, their challenges, and, to some degree, world events around them. It is not heavy on history, but focuses more on the men themselves and their families and personalities. This is a pretty easy read, but full of information presented in an easy-to-understand way.
November 10, 2019
Lovers of history from trusted author
Different prospective on three Kaiser s and their lives. Poor Frederick, poor Vicky and their tragic circumstances. Recommended to European history buffs
Different prospective on three Kaiser s and their lives. Poor Frederick, poor Vicky and their tragic circumstances. Recommended to European history buffs
July 19, 2018
This is a good book if you don't know much about the subject matter.
March 21, 2019
Wanted more.
Very good. Wish there was more about the last Kaiser. It's kinda like he ran out of wind. Really could use at least another 100 pages. Still worth a 5 star.
Very good. Wish there was more about the last Kaiser. It's kinda like he ran out of wind. Really could use at least another 100 pages. Still worth a 5 star.
April 24, 2020
Overall, this is a great book and another highly entertaining one by one of the preeminent experts in 18-19th century European royalty. He does not write about the politics of royalty but rather the personalities. If you’re the kind of person who really enjoyed the Crown, this is the kind of book for you.
January 10, 2015
In the not-quite-fifty years between the Franco-Prussian War and the end of the Great War, the German House of Hohenzollern resembled a soap opera in its familial intrigue. Emperor William I of Germany was a reactionary autocrat willing to place himself under the thumb of Otto von Bismarck, though his empress, Augusta, loathed the chancellor. Their son, Frederick III, comparatively liberal in his ideas and ignored for most of his life, ascended the throne in 1888 and died three months later — unfortunately for Germany. His wife, Victoria, the daughter of Queen Victoria of Great Britain, was shrewd and idealistic and Bismarck hounded her to her death. And their son, William II, was a flamboyant, power-mad megalomaniac who presided over the destruction of the dynasty. Aronson is less interested in the history of Germany, however, than in the interplay of personalities and hatreds within the family and between them and Bismarck, concentrating on such unofficial sources as court gossip of the era. If ever there was a ruling dynasty that deserved to fail, probably it was this one.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews