Kaiser
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'''Kaiser''' is a Germany|German title meaning emperor, derived from the Ancient Rome|Roman title of Caesar (title)|Caesar, as is the Slavic languages|Slavic title of Tsar. It is one of the highest titles of nobility. A similar title, ''Keizer'' is also used in Dutch language|Dutch as a generic term for emperor.
The Holy Roman Emperors (962 - 1806) (the "First German Reich") called themselves ''Kaiser''; they saw their rule as a continuation of that of the Roman Emperors and so used the name "Caesar" to reflect their supposed heritage.
The rulers of the Austria-Hungary|Austro-Hungarian Empire (1806 - 1918), from the Habsburg dynasty that had provided all HREmperors for centuries, again used the title ''Kaiser.''
In English language|English and most other foreign usage, however, the untranslated title is mainly associated with the emperors of the unified German Empire (1871 - 1918) (the "Second Reich") which chancellor Bismarck had welded skilfully from two federations covering most of the many principalities (mainly petty, known as ''Kleinstaaterei'') that had constituted Germany, the core of the former HRE.
There were three Kaisers of the German Empire. All belonged to the Hohenzollern dynasty, which had ruled as kings in Prussia, militarily the only great power among the German principalities, before ascending the brand new 'German' imperial throne.
The three Kaisers were:
Wilhelm I of Germany|Wilhelm I (1871 - 1888)
Friedrich III of Germany (Hohenzollern)|Friedrich III (1888)
Wilhelm II of Germany|Wilhelm II (1888 - 1918), whose part in the disastrous First World War meant the end of his imperial monarchy - the Weimar republic would be even shorter-lived, and the Nazis subsequently did deliberately revive some imperial symbols and terminology, even some Roman, in their authoritarian one-party republic they called the "Third Reich
See also
German Monarchy
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