FREDERICK WILLIAM IV

KING FREDERICK WILLIAM IV OF PRUSSIA

Discover the reign of King Frederick William IV of Prussia through a comprehensive collection of royal documents, personal letters, official decrees, and correspondences that provide a glimpse into the life of a monarch known as the “Romanticist on the Throne.” Frederick William IV, who ruled from 1840 to 1861, faced a dynamic period in Prussian and European history, marked by aspirations for unification, constitutional reform, and cultural flourishing. This collection offers historians, collectors, and enthusiasts an in-depth look at a king renowned for his intellectual pursuits, architectural patronage, and complex stance on constitutionalism. Each document, from royal proclamations to personal correspondences, reflects Frederick William IV’s efforts to balance his conservative values with the rising tides of liberalism and nationalism.

Frederick William IV’s reign is remembered for his contributions to Prussia’s cultural landscape, including his patronage of architecture, which led to the completion of the Cologne Cathedral and the transformation of Berlin and Potsdam into centers of neoclassical and Romantic art. While deeply conservative, he faced significant pressure for constitutional reform, culminating in the 1848 Revolutions, during which he reluctantly agreed to convene the Prussian National Assembly, only to later retract some concessions in favor of a more autocratic stance. This archive highlights Frederick William IV’s vision of a unified German culture, even as he rejected the title of Emperor offered by the Frankfurt Parliament. For those captivated by the interplay between tradition and modernity, this collection provides a detailed portrait of a king whose reign straddled both the artistic ideals of Romanticism and the political currents that foreshadowed a united Germany.