Year of the Three Emperors

Kaiser Wilhelm I reigned 18 January 1871 – 9 March 1888.
Kaiser Frederick III reigned for only 99 days: 9 March – 15 June 1888.
Kaiser Wilhelm II reigned 15 June 1888 – 9 November 1918.

The Year of the Three Emperors, or the Year of the Three Kaisers (German: Dreikaiserjahr), refers to the year 1888 during the German Empire in German history.[1][2][3][4] The year is considered to have memorable significance because of the deaths of two German Emperors, or Kaisers, leading to a rapid succession of three monarchs within one year.[1] The three different emperors who ruled over Germany during this year were Wilhelm I, Frederick III and Wilhelm II. The mnemonic "drei Achten, drei Kaiser" (English: "three eights, three emperors") is still used today in Germany by children and adults alike to learn the year in question.[5]

  1. ^ a b Pike
  2. ^ Tipton, p. 175.
  3. ^ Nichols, p. 1.
  4. ^ Berghahn, p. 282.
  5. ^ Hein, p. 271.