List of Prussian monarchs

This article is about the monarchy of Prussia. For the U.S. town, see King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. For Russian monarchs, see List of Russian monarchs.

The monarchs of Prussia were members of the House of Hohenzollern, who was the ruler of Prussia, a powerful German state that existed from the 16th century in 1525 until it was abolished in 1918. The title was held by monarchs who led Prussia through periods of history, including wars, territorial expansion and the formation of the German Empire in 1871. The kingdom was known for its strong military and efficient government.

Monarchy of Prussia
König von Preußen
Royal Coat of arms
Last ruler Wilhelm II
Details
Style	His Majesty
First monarch	Albert (as Duke)
Last monarch	Wilhelm II
Formation	10 April 1525
Abolition	9 November 1918
Residence	Königsberg Castle Stadtschloss
Appointer	Hereditary
Pretender(s)	Georg Friedrich

Prussia was a major influence in Europe, and its leaders played key roles in shaping modern Germany. The last king of Prussia was Kaiser Wilhelm II. He abdicated from the throne in 1918 after Germany's defeat in World War I and following the German Revolution. His reign ended the German Empire and the Hohenzollern dynasty's 300-year rule of Prussia.

Duchy of Prussia (1525–1701)

Main article: Duchy of Prussia

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Albert	(1490-05-17)17 May 1490 – 20 March 1568(1568-03-20) (aged 77)	10 April 1525	20 March 1568	Grand Master of Teutonic Knights, granted the title of Duke of Prussia	Hohenzollern
Albert Frederick	(1553-05-07)7 May 1553 – 27 August 1618(1618-08-27) (aged 65)	20 March 1568	27 August 1618	Son of Albert	Hohenzollern
John Sigismund	(1572-11-08)8 November 1572 – 23 December 1619(1619-12-23) (aged 47)	27 August 1618	23 December 1619	Son in law and second cousin thrice removed of Albert Frederick, also Elector of Brandenburg	Hohenzollern
George William	(1595-11-13)13 November 1595 – 1 December 1640(1640-12-01) (aged 45)	23 December 1619	1 December 1640	Son of John Sigismund, also Elector of Brandenburg	Hohenzollern
Frederick William the Great Elector	(1620-02-16)16 February 1620 – 29 April 1688(1688-04-29) (aged 68)	1 December 1640	29 April 1688	Son of George William, also Elector of Brandenburg	Hohenzollern
Frederick I	(1657-07-11)11 July 1657 – 25 February 1713(1713-02-25) (aged 55)	29 April 1688	18 January 1701	Son of Frederick William, also Elector of Brandenburg	Hohenzollern

Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918)

Main article: Kingdom of Prussia

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Frederick I the Mercenary King[1]	(1657-07-11)11 July 1657 – 25 February 1713(1713-02-25) (aged 55)	18 January 1701	25 February 1713	Son of Frederick William, also Elector of Brandenburg	Hohenzollern
Frederick William I the Soldier King	(1688-08-14)14 August 1688 – 31 May 1740(1740-05-31) (aged 51)	25 February 1713	31 May 1740	Son of Frederick I	Hohenzollern
Frederick II the Great	(1712-01-24)24 January 1712 – 17 August 1786(1786-08-17) (aged 74)	31 May 1740	17 August 1786	Son of Frederick William I	Hohenzollern
Frederick William II	(1744-09-25)25 September 1744 – 16 November 1797(1797-11-16) (aged 53)	17 August 1786	16 November 1797	Nephew of Frederick II, grandson of Frederick William I	Hohenzollern
Frederick William III	(1770-08-03)3 August 1770 – 7 June 1840(1840-06-07) (aged 69)	16 November 1797	7 June 1840	Son of Frederick William II	Hohenzollern
Frederick William IV	(1795-10-15)15 October 1795 – 2 January 1861(1861-01-02) (aged 65)	7 June 1840	2 January 1861	Son of Frederick William III; also President of the Erfurt Union (1849–1850)	Hohenzollern
William I	(1797-03-22)22 March 1797 – 9 March 1888(1888-03-09) (aged 90)	2 January 1861	9 March 1888	Brother of Frederick William IV, son of Frederick William III; also President of the North German Confederation (1867–1871) and German Emperor (from 1871)	Hohenzollern
Frederick III	(1831-10-18)18 October 1831 – 15 June 1888(1888-06-15) (aged 56)	9 March 1888	15 June 1888	Son of Wilhelm I; also German Emperor; only Prussian monarch to rule for less than one year	Hohenzollern
William II	(1859-01-27)27 January 1859 – 4 June 1941(1941-06-04) (aged 82)	15 June 1888	9 November 1918 (abdicated) [2]	Son of Frederick III; also German Emperor; also last King of Prussia and last German Emperor	Hohenzollern

Prussian throne pretenders since 1918

• Wilhelm II (9 November 1918 – 4 June 1941)
• Wilhelm, German Crown Prince (4 June 1941 – 20 July 1951)
• Louis Ferdinand (20 July 1951 – 26 September 1994)
• George Frederick (26 September 1994 – present)