List of heirs to the Prussian throne
This is a list of those people who were heir apparent or heir presumptive to the Kingdom of Prussia from its foundation in 1701 to the end of the monarchy in 1918. From 18 January 1871 the Crown Prince of Prussia was also heir apparent to the German Empire. Those heirs who succeeded are shown in bold.
Heirs to the Kingdom of Prussia
[edit]| King | Heir | Relationship to king and status | Became heir; Reason | Ceased to be heir; Reason | Next in line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friedrich I | Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm | Son Heir apparent |
18 January 1701; foundation of the Kingdom of Prussia |
25 February 1713; succeeded |
Philipp Wilhelm, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt 1701–1707, uncle |
| Friedrich Ludwig 1707-1708, son | |||||
| Philipp Wilhelm, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt 1708-1710, uncle | |||||
| Friedrich Wilhelm 1710–1711, son | |||||
| Philipp Wilhelm, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt 1711, uncle | |||||
| Friedrich Wilhelm, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt 1711–1712, first cousin | |||||
| Friedrich 1712–1713, son | |||||
| Friedrich Wilhelm I | Crown Prince Friedrich | Son Heir apparent |
25 February 1713; father succeeded |
31 May 1740; succeeded |
Friedrich Wilhelm, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt 1713–1717, first cousin once removed |
| Prince Ludwig Karl Wilhelm 1717–1719, brother | |||||
| Friedrich Wilhelm, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt 1719–1722, first cousin once removed | |||||
| Prince August Wilhelm 1722–1740 | |||||
| Friedrich II | Prince August Wilhelm | Brother Heir presumptive |
31 May 1740; brother succeeded |
12 June 1758; died |
Prince Heinrich 1740–1744, brother |
| Prince Friedrich Wilhelm 1744–1758, son | |||||
| Prince Friedrich Wilhelm | Nephew Heir presumptive |
12 June 1758; father died |
17 August 1786; succeeded |
Prince Heinrich 1758–1767, brother | |
| Prince Heinrich 1767–1770, uncle | |||||
| Prince Friedrich Wilhelm 1770–1786, son | |||||
| Friedrich Wilhelm II | Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm | Son Heir apparent |
17 August 1786; father succeeded |
16 November 1797; succeeded |
Prince Ludwig Karl 1786–1795, brother |
| Prince Friedrich Wilhelm 1795–1797, son | |||||
| Friedrich Wilhelm III | Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm | Son Heir apparent |
16 November 1797; father succeeded |
7 June 1840; succeeded |
Prince Wilhelm, brother |
| Friedrich Wilhelm IV | Prince Wilhelm | Brother Heir presumptive |
7 June 1840; brother succeeded |
2 January 1861; succeeded |
Prince Friedrich, son |
| Wilhelm I | Crown Prince Friedrich | Son Heir apparent |
2 January 1861; father succeeded |
18 January 1871; became heir also to the German Empire |
Prince Wilhelm, son |
Heirs to the German Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia
[edit]| Monarch | Heir | Relationship to monarch |
Became heir (Date; Reason) |
Ceased to be heir (Date; Reason) |
Next in line of succession |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilhelm I | Crown Prince Friedrich | Son | 18 January 1871 Father proclaimed German Emperor |
9 March 1888 Father died, became emperor |
Prince Wilhelm, son |
| Friedrich III | Crown Prince Wilhelm | Son | 9 March 1888 Father became emperor |
15 June 1888 Father died, became emperor |
Prince Wilhelm, son |
| Wilhelm II | Crown Prince Wilhelm | Son | 15 June 1888 Father became emperor |
9 November 1918 Father abdicated, monarchy abolished |
Prince Eitel Friedrich, 1888–1906, brother |
| Prince Wilhelm, 1906–1918, son |