Wilhelm I’s letters reveal role in German unification

Researchers at the University of Trier have made a digital archive available containing letters between Wilhelm I, who became the first German Emperor in 1871, and his wife Augusta.

The archive includes correspondence from 1857 to 1871, a crucial period for the founding of the German Empire. It originated from the Prussian Secret State Archive in Berlin-Dahlem and consists of facsimiles and transcriptions of the letters, linked to biographical and geographical information.

The letters reveal details about Wilhelm I’s actions during his rise to power. He first served as a deputy for his brother, King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, in 1857, then became regent in 1858 and ultimately king in 1861. Historians have debated the extent of Wilhelm I’s own ambition in unifying Germany, with some arguing he pursued it independently of his chancellor, Otto von Bismarck. This digital archive allows researchers to examine primary sources supporting both sides of this argument.

Augusta, Wilhelm I’s wife, played a notable role during this time. The couple lived in Koblenz, a city in what is now Germany, while Wilhelm was stationed there as a military governor. Despite their frequent arguments, documented in letters they exchanged even while in the same building, Augusta and Wilhelm often agreed on key issues, including support for the national movement. She was a liberal thinker who nonetheless supported her husband’s agenda.

The researchers believe the couple’s disagreements are beneficial to historical study. Augusta wrote a 21-page postscript to a letter following Wilhelm’s ascension to the throne, outlining her feelings and views as a basis for their future relationship. The project joins other digital humanities initiatives, marking a turning point in the fields of scholarship and editing.