What if Kaiser Wilhelm II Became King of England

It's a well known fact that European royal families were prone to interbreeding, to the point that practically every single European royal was related to pretty much every other. And, this led to some pretty interesting dynamics at times. In particular, in England, with just a few tweaks to their rules to succession, the British throne could have ended up passing to Kaiser Wilhelm II, the Emperor of Germany, whom Britain fought against during World War I. But, though this never came to pass, what if it did? What if Kaiser Wilhelm II became King of England? Enjoy!
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Video Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:27 Background
5:34 Scenario

[@Cool-123]

An actually original scenario involving the German Empire (barring Wilhelm being a serial killer lol), bravo, well executed and well done!

[@maytriks4215]

what if germany won ww1

[@Azurethewolf168]

@@maytriks4215that’s such an interesting idea that nobody, nobody at all has ever thought of before, he really should make a video on that!

[@thunderbolt1964]

He wasn’t a serial killer

[@SiPakRubah]

​​@@Azurethewolf168I thought there was a HOi4 (I think) mod called "Kaiserreich" (or something like that), where what if Germany won WW1

[@kyleplatter8954]

@@SiPakRubahI think your imagining things, no mod has ever been made for HOI4 involving alternate “what if X won Y” situations

[@LT.KiraHertling1701]

This is indeed an interesting scenario, with Wilhelm II assuming both the British and German thrones, many problems would have been avoided. But the narrative that Wilhelm II was an authoritarian tyrant bothers me a lot, this whole myth is the result of the anti-German feeling that began to grow in Europe after German Unification, and mainly of British propaganda in the First World War. Wilhelm was an exemplary monarch and very active in protecting and guaranteeing the rights of the Germans during his reign. The story that he wanted to rival the Royal Navy is completely untrue, the expansion of the Kaiserliche Marine was aimed at protecting Germany's commercial routes in the event of a naval blockade (which actually happened), and to guarantee new routes for the expanding trade. The British government found itself threatened economically by German growth, so it created the lie that they wanted to challenge them. Wilhelm himself greatly admired Britain, he would probably never try anything to limit the rights and freedoms of the British if he became king. It's much easier to say bad things about someone than to say good things about them. His legacy as a monarch who really took his duty as a leader very seriously and was extremely considerate of his people has been tarnished by British lies and narratives, and also by the men who simply turned Kaiser Wilhelm II himself into a ceremonial and pointless figure. powers during the war, imposing a military dictatorship that doomed the German Empire to failure and defeat, and everyone threw the blame on the one man who really tried to do the right thing and resolve everything peacefully.

[@soundwavegamer2321]

A couple of things I would like to add. Under Kaiser Wilhelm II German works had more rights then any other nation. This was because the Kaiser was not your usual monarch that looked down on his people and called those who were of the commoner class filth. During his youth him and his brother Henry’s teacher took them to factories and showed them the people who help keep Germany running. Admiring their work and dedication the young Prince grew a fondness to the working class of Germany which was exemplified during the 1889 Coal Miner Strike. Where Chancellor Bismarck wanted to use the army to crush the strike (as it was seen as an illegal strike due to the works who organized it not notifying their higher ups.) but the Kaiser didn’t want to do that and instead he wished to speak to both parties and hear both sides. The Kaiser adored his people and was a caring man. During Christmas time one year he hand each servant in the palace a gold coin each, but realizing that they might have been seen as thieves. He told them that upon their departure for the day to hand him the gold coin and they would be payed in the coin’s value. (each coin was valued at at least $4,000 in today’s money.) Even the minorities of Germany saw the best treatment. Under Kaiser Wilhelm II Poles saw more rights then under any other Prussian king and even now Poles in the Prussian parts of Poland still see Kaiser Wilhelm II as a good figure. Kaiser Wilhelm was a bit brash and quick to speak, but it was not his fault he just was trying to do his best. Even he after the fact felt as if he shouldn’t have said or acted in that way.

[@cycillak4918]

Im surprised considering his foreign policy

[@toledochristianmatthew9919]

Also he tried contacting relatives in the Russian Empire to prevent war. He tried to calm down the Austrians but they would not budge. Wilhelm II knew that the war gonna be disastrous and tried to do everything to stop that.

[@RaffieFaffie]

>Wilhelm was an exemplary monarch His terrible diplomacy was a catalyst for what Germany is today, this video doesn't even mention all the other things which made the UK actually ally with the Republic of France as opposed to a fellow monarchy. He voiced vocal support for the Boers and helped them slightly also which was such a silly move. The Anglo-Germany alliance was something which would have come about naturally if it weren't for the stupidity of Willy.

[@soundwavegamer2321]

@@RaffieFaffie actually the telegraph to the Boer wasn’t Wilhelm decision it was his chancellor’s and the Reichstag that authorized it creation while Wilhelm was adamantly against it, but do to public pressure of the German people questioning if he was for Germany or for his Mothers homeland and the pressure coming from his chancellor Wilhelm reluctantly agreed to it. Even when France and Russia offered an alliance against England Wilhelm rejected believing it to be a ruse to make England despise Germany and he was proven correct as French politicians were telling the British that Germany came to them for an alliance. Then there’s the fact that an Anglo-German alliance was never going to happen. While Kaiser Wilhelm II and Queen Victoria both hoped for such friendship for both nations. Both the German Reichstag and the British House of Parliament were not open to such ideas. Bismarck during his time as chancellor was a very out spoken anti-Anglo. He spoke of the British with venom and when Victoria requested Wilhelm visited England first instead of Russia Bismarck respond was for the Kaiser to angrily demand how she thinks she can order a Kaiser around. Wilhelm instead choose to send a letter explaining why he was visiting Russia after his accession. With his Grandmother understanding and expressing her wish that he would come to England as soon as he is finished. Even in England the British government actively voted on anti-German policy especially when German products started to dominate the English market. They actively ignored German acts of friendship, and all of this came to a head when King Edward VII took the throne. Where parliament and the foreign office together as one agreed with the kings policy of encirclement of Germany forming the Triple Entente just after a meeting between German and British diplomats were England expressed that they had no need for alliances. However you look at it England was the antagonist to German and it was Edward VII not Wilhelm II that drove the final nail into the coffin of their ever being an Anglo-German Alliance.

[@mysticalmonotreme]

An interesting and well thought out scenario except for one detail: the fate of Britain's Dominions. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand would definitely begin to distance themselves from the Home Islands once Wilhelm II begins dismantling British Liberalism and exercise greater autonomy or declare outright independence from the UK to protect themselves. Wilhelm II exert any power of them, particularly Canada as the United States would invoke the Monroe Doctrine to warn against any notions of establishing an absolutist monarchy on North American soil. Australia and New Zealand may be too distant for him to exert any direct over. All three will likely see a growing British Diaspora as rebels and dissidents will likely seek safe have from Wilhelmite Britain. An interesting wrinkle could be that Canada recognizes OTL George V and his heirs as the legitimate claimants to the throne once he arrives in Ottawa with a portion of the Royal Navy following suit similar to Kaiserreich. I could be South Africa falling under German influence as Wilhelm II, though, given its strategic location. The big question is was will happened to British possessions in Asia.

[@failsrus96]

It could be interesting, as the dominions no longer have a large power to rely on, its possible we could see Canada seek to join/be annexed by the US and Australia and New Zealand form a union in order to be a power check against the Japanese in the Pacific

[@SiPakRubah]

Well, Germany might have done what the Dutch did, but on the British territories? This is based on their "Bismarck Archipelago" occupation, I supposed, although it could change depending on the territories too

[@bernardinglis4232]

I think you give the dominions to much credit , If it kept the wealthy wealthy. They'd except him ,

[@HusZat]

Josh: "... turning Britain itself into a German colony." Me: "You mispronounced 'Angelsachsen' (Anglosaxony) ...." ⚫⚪🔴

[@radwald189]

As long as Old English becomes the language spoken, sign me up

[@HusZat]

@@radwald189 Ænglish .... 😁

[@aydenee558]

​@@HusZat*Englisc

[@HusZat]

@@aydenee558 Right. 👍 You can also write it with an "Æ" (Ænglisc) .... My comment was more intended to be a little nod towards "Anglish" (trying to incorporate more Germanic words into modern English while replacing Romance and Greek vocabulary)

[@aydenee558]

sorry if I came off as rude just wanted to kindly correct you and yeah your right about Ænglisc

[@EAlyahya]

If the absolute primogeniture was there during the Queen Victoria time, then Wilhelm would be raised in the British court to prepare him as the future constitutional monarch for the UK. And to argue further, will his mother being the future queen still be married to the future German Kaiser? Maybe the princess royal got to marry someone else.

[@mbr5742]

That was why the proposed change was done late so the marriage in 1858 would have happened

[@coopernieman9623]

I say this one was a very interesting one. Suggestion: What if the Italian monarch party won the vote after the dissolve of facist Italy?

[@lubormrazek5545]

I mean wouldn't it then turn into just another constituional monarchy in the style of britain, netherlands or norway?

[@carmi7042]

It may create a situation similiar to Spain where the king is not very well liked but he still goes on, but to an international scene it wouldn't change almost anything, just there would have been three monarchs in the G7 rather than two

[@Boretheory]

@@carmi7042Umberto was litterally loved by everyone but the politicians. His father was the hated one, Umberto II was great and nobody ever dared to challenge such statement and there’s a damn reason

[@martinputt6421]

@@Boretheory If he was so popular why did Italy vote to become a republic when he was king?

[@USSFFRU]

​​@@martinputt6421Everyone got sick of Monarchy. Just because the King was popular didnt equate the People wanted an Kingdom again. Some of the German Kings in the German Empire left the position of King even though everyone loved them.

[@jgr7487]

#2 would drastically change our timeline because he didn't have to abdicate in favour of his cousin, but he could have done it in favour of a sibling or a child. You could have also listed #1.5, where he keeps being full German Emperor & reigns as King of the UK just like his English ancestors did: via the Prime Minister. Besides that, WHY would the British people be that against him? Him having been the heir apparent of the UK would have had a totally different upbringing & he would have never tried to build more ships than the UK, because - in his mind - both navies would have been his. Also, this changes everything about the Fashoda Incident & the 2 Marocco Crisis, as Britain & Germany would have been allies, thus the UK wouldn't have sided with France.

[@themysteriouscrumpet]

It's debatable how different Wilhelm's upbringing would have been in this scenario. His English mother and his father were both liberal enthusiasts for constitutional democracy, but he had a very poor relationship with both of them due to his mother shunning him out of embarassment for his withered arm due to the stigmas around physical disability. This enabled Otto Von Bismarck and the reactionary militarists in the Prussian court to heavily mould and shape his attitudes in his formative years.

[@jgr7487]

@@themysteriouscrumpet in Germany, his only way to proof that he wasn't a lost cause was Prussian militarism. If he were the heir to both thrones, Parliament would have asked for the future king to spend more time in Britain to become more British. Therefore, his contact with British culture wouldn't have been only his liberal parents & the English doctor who "killed his mother", as he would say.

[@themysteriouscrumpet]

@@jgr7487 ​ @jgr7487 It's a strange situation, because even while he was prone to virulent anti-British sentiment, he was still extremely fond of his grandmother Queen Victoria and eagerly emulated the behaviour of a English country gentlemen when he visited the country. His personality was very mercurial in nature.

[@mappingshaman5280]

The last time an English king tried to centralise power we invited a Dutch man with no claim to take the throne by force. If a German king tried to centralise power in 1901 there is no way there wouldn't be a revolt.

[@jgr7487]

@@mappingshaman5280 why would he centralize power? Pls read my 1st comment. On the other hand, it's easy to rule as a Personal Union: you rule one as Emperor & the other via the PM.

[@Lepidivs]

4:37 The kaiser never wanted to surpass or even compete Britain in the navy because he knew that that would be stupid. The reason they build up the navy so much was because in case of a war with Britain the German people would starve from a blockade, because in the time 50% of the food in Germany was imported. It was also to grow the German market and protect it's colonies. The British made it seem as a competition when it was really not

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Josh! You're amazing! I have an idea: Whatbif rudolf, crown prince of austria and franz joseph I only son and heir, didnt end his own life and lived to reform the empire

[@WarBrickproductions]

Good Idea

[@therearenoshortcuts9868]

"what if" France: holy shit...

[@motivationallizard6644]

There is a massive problem with this scenario you didn’t bring up, and it’s the fact that Wilhelm was a Lutheran and not an Anglican. The English monarch is the head of the Anglican faith and to become king/queen you need to be an Anglican. If Wilhelm never converted he would simply not inherit the throne and it would pass on as it did in our timeline to George. If Wilhelm did convert he would face massive Catholic and Lutheran opposition in Germany as the Anglicans weren’t exactly popular.

[@SpeculativeConjecture]

Great point - there’s quite a lot wrong with this video in my opinion a real lack of understanding of Britain at the time amongst much more

[@alvanrigby6361]

George 1was a Lutheran and did not convert. Under English law the sovereign does not have to be a member of the Church of England but at least in communion with the C of E. George 1 branch of the Lutheran Church was in communion with the Anglican Church at the time. So no problem. But Pray Tell why would Anglicans not be exactly popular in Germany at the time, especially with Lutherans?

[@baronbrummbar8691]

the catholics where happy that ther suppresion was ended only a couple years before he got on the throne and the german lutherans showed again and again that they don.t care what ther rulers religion is aslong as they are left alone (and he ain.t jewish)

[@Edmonton-of2ec]

That actually wouldn’t be a problem. King George I was also Lutheran

[@robwatts4566]

You forgot William of orange wasn't a Anglican he was a Dutch protestant, George 1st of hanover George 2nd George 3rd George 4th William of hanover and Queen Victoria and her husband Albert was all belonged to the German protestant faith they all became head of our Church of England technically Britain has had a continuous number of Kings and Queens that are german since George 1st of hanover to the present king charles the 3rd of the german House Gĺützberg 😅

[@MieheKnoi]

Always a pleasure to see an upload from you.

[@kotoid7004]

The anglo-german arms race was not, in fact, the first strain on British-German relations. The first real strain was actually the Jameson Raid and Wilhelm II's telegraph written to the Boer president at the time. Von Holstein actually described this incident as the beginning of Anglo-German antagonism.

[@MajinTurles-ng2gy]

Could you make a "What If Britain had a Habsburg King"

[@GlennSkywalker2305]

So basically what if Mary I and Philip II had a son

[@MajinTurles-ng2gy]

@@GlennSkywalker2305 Well The English Royal Family has Habsburg DNA, I mean like Charles I or Otto claims The English Throne

[@voxveritas333]

England would have been subjugated by the crazed papists of Spain and the Inquisition would torture and burn thousands. England becomes a vassal state, never colonizes the Americas and so the USA never comes to be. The New World is stripped of its resources and the natives are killed off (after being forcibly converted to Catholicism and worked to death. New Spain covers all of North America after kicking out New France, and we end up serfs to the Spanish crown. @@GlennSkywalker2305

[@DarthDread-oh2ne]

​@@MajinTurles-ng2gy If you mean, Otto von Habsburg, he would have to marry queen Elizabeth II.

[@MajinTurles-ng2gy]

@@DarthDread-oh2ne well I mean like George V dies, Edward Abdicates, & George moves to Canada, Otto or Karl I could claim the throne

[@MrSVES]

Great Video Josh! Keep up the good work, King! 👑

[@a.r.r.sam.516]

i have watched a lot of alternate history videos and it’s fair to say that this one was one of the best and mis fun and acutely realistic videos i’ve watched nice job keep up the good work

[@panzerscoutempire27]

I highly recommend you the Video from Lavader: Kaiser Wilhelms Innocence I think it really portrays the Kaiser in an just light and shows it wasn't his fault the relations deteriorated between the 2 countries

[@martinputt6421]

Except it was partially his fault as he wanted a place in the sun and refused a naval treaty with the UK.

[@addisondillon3132]

Absolute banger of a video! Great content!

[@ivandinsmore6217]

Under modern British succession rules this would actually happen. Victoria would be succeeded by her eldest child, her daughter Victoria, who in turn would be succeeded by Wilhelm.

[@felixnuwahid9879]

Yup

[@Mr_OogaBooga]

Love your videos! I hope mr Z helps your grow even more

[@mattthesilent777RED]

King of England? You mean King of Britain!

[@sebharz]

of the United Kingdom

[@GlizzyGoblin757]

and Ireland. Wilhelm would come to power before irish secession.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Love your videos man! Suggestion: what if miguel da paz survived?

[@oliversherman2414]

As a Brit, I think this is an interesting idea

[@Magyarosivatuvaluk]

Nice video 😊 I liked it!

[@frost860108]

english republican flag was the totally the Hungarian flag but the green is lighter bruh

[@santiagobanosflores7069]

This is actually really interesting and I enjoy the style of video. Please keep this up!

[@SkinnerNoah]

The royal family trees of Europe are pretty interesting. My great great great great grandpa was the son of Henri V of France and my great great grandma was a Bavarian princess, so I'm related to most of these people

[@shildericvi4918]

It's impossible, Henri V didn't have any childrens unfortunately

[@SkinnerNoah]

@@shildericvi4918 he had at least two illegitimate sons in 1844 and 1846, but until recently, none of their descendants had DNA on file to compare with the House of Bourbon

[@radwald189]

As an englishman i wouldve accepted this arrangement. The difference between us and the Germans are laughable and personally i dont even see them as a foreign folk.

[@guardsman-against-the-chaos]

Also as someone from the UK I couldn't disagree more.

[@Inferno.176]

As a German, I can only agree with my germanic anglo-saxon friends! Long live the UK.

[@radwald189]

@@guardsman-against-the-chaos You've got a Welsh banner as your pic so I'm not surprised. I used to work with a bloke who supported the creation of a pan-Celtic union between Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

[@radwald189]

@@Inferno.176 Get the rest of the gang in too and we can sack Rome together.

[@IrisWings6995]

​@@radwald189Dutch person here, I agree with this statement. Let's sack Rome

[@nini303k]

This is the most creative idea i have seen

[@romaniacountryhuman9407]

this was a amazing video

[@charmyzard]

Ever heard about the story of the "Peace Kasier?" He was basically coherced to allow his foreign affairs minister to send the infamous Boer telegram under strong accusations of being a British puppet, as well as being called an "admirer of everything British." Plus, going off of warm comments he made regarding his grandmother Victoria, saying he'd turn Britain into a colony and go an authoritarian rampage (being of the only monarchs in Europe worrying about the working class' plight much to everyone's surprise that one convention,) is a stretch too far. Even more when the German Empire is infamous for universal male suffrage, being even more democratic than Britain.

[@shimanopetermann9068]

I think, there's a few things that might've gone differently, judging from Wilhelm's character but also the possibilities he simply didn't have. First of all, it's rather unlikely that Wilhelm would succeed or even try to impose an authoritarian system in Britain. He knew that Britain was different than Germany historically and that this would've caused civil war. Good examples as to how authoritarian Kings didn't rule Britain in an authoritarian way would be Victoria's predecessors from the house of Hannover (George I./II./III./IV., William IV.). All of them also ruled the German state of Hannover, which was an absolute monarchy. However, they recognised that Britain was different and needed a different monarch, and it was in fact these five Kings which initiated Britain's shift towards full parliamentarism. The authoritarian King Ernest Augustus of Hannover (Son of King George III. of the UK) for example ruled Hannover quite differently than he thought Britain had to be ruled and took different political views in Hannover than thos he had taken before his coronation when he still lived in Britain. He explained this with the different histories of the two nations. Wilhelm, having received a very good education, would've probably acted similarly, ruling Germany one way and the UK the other way, respecting its traditions to avoid civil war (fun fact: he didn't rule Germany in an authoritarian way either because his position as German Emperor didn't entail as much power as Wilhelm himself made the people believe). Second of all, I'm fairly sure that Wilhelm would've moved to London and concentrate more on his role as British monarch instead of using the relations to turn Germany into a world power. The reason is simple: As British King and Emperor of India, he would've aready been the ruler of a world power. There would've been no reason for him to putnin all that effort to turn Germany into a world power, when he was already in possession of another world power. The naval race, for example, was most of all a vanity project of Wilhelm's who wanted to be equal to his British cousin. If he had already had the worlds greatest navy (the British one) under his command, he wouldn't have had a reason to support the massive build up of the German navy. Also, with a Germany British alliance in place, Wilhelm would've seen no benefit in supporting the start of a European war, so German would've probably not pledged it's support to Austria (Blankoscheck) after the assassination of Archduke Franz-Ferdinand which means, there would've been no word war I.

[@Paya-hx6eu]

most historically accurate alternate history video

[@FatFerret511]

90 seconds in and I’m already confused. This is gonna be a good one

[@tancreddehauteville764]

Interesting. British and Germans are very similar racially - practically siblings - but the cultural and societal differences are huge. Not sure that these could easily be bridged.

[@averagedemocrat9546]

similar racially😂 One is autistic (the germans) while the other are sociopaths (english) Also the english are mostly mediterranean, celtic and german, celtics and german being concentrated in Ireland, Scotland and the upper classes while the english masses are dirty mystery meat because of an ancestry of countless r*pes by invaders. A genetic profile such as england creates a very degenerate and psychopathic population. The british who moved to the US created the big black C meme because their fetishists on a genetic level from the endless pillaging from Romans, Germans, Vikings and French. No they are not similar at all, they're a very evil people.

[@robwatts4566]

Guess you failed where king George the 1st , 2nd was born even queen Victoria's parents was german 😅

[@ShireTommy1916_Somme-Mametz]

No. English and German culture is very similar.

[@calj6148]

Can be if the Protestantness of this alliance is stressed especially against a conveniently catholic enemy alliance. Austria aligns with France once again to take down the Prussians as leader of the German states, probably offering the Italians their claims and British Egypt-Sudan.

[@Angelcynn_2001]

English and German people are brothers. Our language, DNA, culture, we are Germanic. We have some differences, but not huge differences

[@laurenceskinnerton73]

Interesting concept.

[@Angelcynn_2001]

As an Englishman, I would accept him Wilhelm truly fascinates me. Britain and Germany should have fought together

[@ImperiumMagistrate]

Why would Russia ally with the UK at this time? Edward VII was the biggest reason they allied with the UK. So Russia would most likely stay neutral and not get involved in a crown dispute. I also don’t see why Wilhelm wouldn’t just fully integrate the UK into the German Empire

[@mappingshaman5280]

Because fully integrating the UK into the german empire would cause even more dissent in Britain. Also every country in Europe would unite against him since he would be way too powerful in that scenario.

[@ImperiumMagistrate]

@@mappingshaman5280 Not really. Who would oppose Germany? France already hates Germany but what do Austria and Russia gain by opposing this? The UK is primarily focused on African and Asian colonies, something that doesn't really affect Russia and Austria too much. Obviously the UK doesn't bolster Germany's continental power either. Luckily Wilhelm II doesn't need approval of the british to integrate it into the German Empire

[@mappingshaman5280]

@ImperiumMagistrate literally everyone. If wilhelm ii controlled the British industry and navy there would be nothing stopping him from taking over Europe. No economy would be able to outcompete his. No navy would be able to outcompete his. Germany would become a hyperpower if they directly controlled the British empire. It would be a matter of survival. Austria especially would want an anti wilhelm coalition as uniting the Germans would be an obvious aim for this hyper Germany especially as more Germans would be needed to suppress the dissenting British. Russia always hated Britain even without Germany taking it over and Germany might try and take the baltics with the baltic Germans and since they have a gigantic navy it would be easier for them. Italy would join just to try and get Egypt and also because if Germany takes over Austria, they are never getting istria, south tyrol, dalmatia etc. Even the ottomans might see it as an opportunity to seize former British colonies.

[@MrToradragon]

I find it quite interesting how at 1:43 you choose picture of empress Maria Theresa with her family as Habsburg were not part of "great royal family" of 19th century and last two emperors (Fanz Joseph I and Karl II) were, if I am not mistaken, not related to Tsar of Russia, King of England, not Kaiser fo Germany.

[@SavageDarksider-sw7rp]

Queen Victoria isn't relate to Franz Josef.

[@goose93]

Well, he is a brother of her son-in-law.

[@MalaPalabra-zr6wg]

Both have distant ancestors. Last tzar of Russia was more related to Franz Josef and ver wife Sissi

[@ConTxt.mp4]

Thank you daddy Josh

[@Astai]

Loving the Hohenfriedberger march in the backround

[@dominicadrean2160]

What if the Russians never helped the austrians with the Hungarian revolt

[@Noob-Kadin]

Very good idea and script but the video itself is a tiny bit slow idk tho cause i don't know the retention but i think you have to make it better pacing or make it more fun

[@lukman_john]

We forget the fact that if Princess Victoria had been the first in line to the Throne, she wouldn't have been married off to the Crown Prince of Prussia, but rather the Prince of a less powerful territory. She was married of to a Crown Prince of Prussia because she wasn't next in line and it was done as a strategic means of creating an alliance for peace in Europe. If you check the other marriages of Queen Victoria's children, they were carefully selected for this purpose of alliances towards peace. By the end of the 1800s Queen Victoria had become the Grandmother of Europe. But sadly these cousin grandchildren of hers would later turn the guns at one another in the deadly Great War that would later be known as World War I.

[@commodorezero]

The marriage was made with them aware of the possibility Victorias 4 sons lines would die out and the UK and Prussia could enter a personal union. All marriages of Princess Royals were made with them aware of that chance and on occasion it ended up happening. For example James V of Scotlands marriage with Margaret Tudor ended up linking England and Scotland. Back then it was common for monarchs to have large familys and only end up with a few adult grandchildren just look at George III. This is why Victoria the daughter of a 4th son was Queen in the first place.

[@TheKulu42]

This scenario is very interesting. One question I have concerns the Royal Navy. I don't think the war would go well for Wilhelm if the Royal Navy decided he wasn't the legitimate king and backed King Bertie instead.

[@Falkriim]

Actually an interesting what-if

[@senko1145]

Is the next video going to be "What if Einstein became president of Israel?"

[@martinputt6421]

I misread that as Epstein, as in Brian Epstein, god knows how I did 🤣

[@captainjoshuagleiberman2778]

This is not so farfetched. The first four Hanoverian Kings were both Kings of England and Hanover, theoretically unifying England and Hanover, but politically they remained separate. If Victoria's sons died off as they were actually prone to do, it may have led to the accession of Victoria and then Wilhelm, but I suspect a similar separation of Germany and England would have occurred, plus if Wilhelm tried to impose a German style government he would have quickly had his wings clipped like James II.

[@johngamba4823]

No they weren’t. England And Britain aren’t the same thing

[@DamonNomad82]

A fascinating result in this scenario would be that Wilhelm II would have inherited empires from BOTH his parents the same years they themselves inherited them. He inherited the German Empire in 1888, the same year his father inherited the Empire from his grandfather. In this timeline he would also have inherited the British Empire in 1901, the same year his mother inherited it from his grandmother!

[@theBaron0530]

In your counterfactual, you ignore a downstream effect of Victoria's daughter succeeding to the throne, that were she Queen of England, Wilhelm's upbringing would have been very different from what it was. So it's not really a good argument to suppose that his mother succeeds but everything else is the same. Were Victoria to become Victoria II, and yet still married to Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia, it's very likely that the British court would have exerted a greater influence over Wilhelm's upbringing. The model for this was the Hannoverian succession in the 18th century. While George I was a German prince first (Elector of Hannover), his son, George II was more Anglicized, and George III was completely British. We could expect a similar development for Wilhelm, in that he would be raised to see himself as the inheritor of the broader Anglo-Saxon-German and Protestant heritage. After all, there was 200 years of such a tradition before him. For those who are interested in this "what-if", that Wilhelm becomes King of England (more precisely, the United Kingdom), you should read HH Munro's short story, "When William Came". It looks at an England suddenly conquered by Germany, over a succession crisis, and how various people react. It was part of an invasion literature that became very popular in Britain in the decade leading up to the outbreak of the Great War. Novels, short stories, and plays were written, on that theme.

[@Justo_Playz]

This Man Deserves 100k

[@sturdyshelf8141]

Why do you say King of England? There is no longer a kingdom of England, that would be like saying King of London

[@voxveritas333]

just a shorthand. I know it drives Brits crazy, but that's the way we refer to him. Anyway, are the Welsh, Scots and Irish really that wild about the whole UK thing? It seems they all have some complaints. Anyway, this is all a fantasy.

[@Iimitbreak_.]

least nationalistic scot

[@chheinrich8486]

A world in which the German empire and Great Britain are in a personal union is a scary thought😊

[@aceofconquest5745]

IT'S JOSH!!!!!!!

[@dominicadrean2160]

What if Queen Elizabeth the First of England married Ivan the Terrible of Russia

[@SavageDarksider-sw7rp]

Possible history already made A scenario like that.

[@mikeor-]

Kaiser Wilhelm and Tsar Nicholas sent telegrams to each other before World War I. Therein, they addressed each other as "Willy" and "Nicky."

[@butterking211-viewingaccou4]

As an Englishman, I see this as an absolute win!

[@povter1089]

a interesting alt hist but i can look past the misconception surrounding the uk constitution. that being Wilhelm would not just be able to roll back the liberalisation of the country cuz he felt like it and he said so. yes are constitution is uncodified but that doesn't mean its a suggestion on how things are done , nor is it just tradition based on how things have been done. firstly The constitution comes form yes tradition or conventions but also form court cases , important laws , treaty's and documents like the manga carta its just not all written down in one document it is very much enforceable and has been by the courts . there also the issue of parliamentary sovereignty , meaning that parliament has ultimate power in the uk , which has been a thing long before wilhelm would be around in this alt hist. i just don't think he could just hand wave away the British system. its to entrenched to just be forgotten about so a king can do as he pleases. in fact parliament has just removed a king for less (for being catholic) so they defiantly do it if wilhelm tries anything -source , lived in the uk all my life and go thought the uk education system

[@Stephen.L]

Is there a reason you keep saying England instead of Britain?

[@PresidentAutumn]

Heil Wilhelm II, and glory to William V!

[@jameshepburn3666]

Minor correction. Its the British Throne, not english. You will gave accidentally insulted the Scots, welsh and northen irish. As well as separately the the channel islands and the isle of man

[@milantoth6246]

You should do a part 2 with the second british uprising, this time between all royalists backing william VI and the republicans. I think you should explore both outcomes, though a german victory with concessions to the british afterwards is most likely.

[@richardcutts196]

To make a long story short many in Britain admired Wilhelm II. Then he started talking and they got to know him.

[@KaiserlicheKonigliche]

No. They admired him and then the propagandists started spreading misinformation about him.

[@Carpediem357]

One question that I was hoping would get answered but you only brought up the African colonies. How would the other colonies? I.e Canada, Newfoundland (they were a separate nation till joining Canada in the 90s), New Zealand, Australia react to Wilhelms rule? Canada had a lot of German immigrants and had an entire town with a German name, we also were very pro-royalty (not like a divide like it is now with Elizabeth and Charles). And how would this affect the US? Would it be another 1812 type situation? (Before anyone says the US would win we’re talking pre-WW1 era US they definitely weren’t the elite military with all the new toys and equipment they are today and they’d still be recovering from the civil war)

[@MrShaneVicious]

what if Kaiser Fred reigned 10-15 years instead of 99 days, thus passing the Throne to a more mature Wilhelm II

[@dorito3366]

He did a video about that

[@TheFirstConcorde]

What is it with Americans and constantly referring to the UK and England?

[@jamesmiller4184]

I don't know. Have any ideas on that?

[@GlizzyGoblin757]

some do it maliciously ( americans are by far biggest supporters of the UK’s dissolution) but most are just too dumb or ignorant.

[@voxveritas333]

LOOK, you EUROPEANS know next to nothing about the US, so stop grousing about the name of that country made up of little dinky subdivisions. England, Britain, UK all seem the same to US.

[@EAlyahya]

Maybe most of them are Irish descents who don’t believe in the union because it was England all the time that made the decision within the UK.

[@becauseno9375]

Well it’s like this: some people call the Soviet Union as Russia because it’s the most integral part, same as England and the UK not to mention the fact that most call people from the “English” not the “United Kingdom People” lol.

[@BamBamAbraham]

Nice

[@MBP1918]

Would go unimaginably hard

[@carloborromeoarese4461]

can you do next what if the leper king of jerusalem didn't die/contracted leprasy?

[@drdeadred851]

Realistically it would just not be allowed to happen by the public of either state or their governments. Wilhelm would either be forced to choose which he wanted to be the Monarch of with the other getting someone else or x government would just outright refuse it and pick someone else themselves, it wouldnt be the first time such a thing was done but it certainly would never have been as warranted as in this situation. This is also to say nothing of the pressure other nations would put on such a thing never happening. War of the Spanish Succession, Anglo-German edition (tho realistically again it would never even reach the point other nations would take such action). Other than it being an interesting thought experiment its just an outright insane proposal that anyone would have even desired that happen, other than maybe the x monarch getting to rule over two world power at once. Btw this has nothing to do with the individuals, its just politically something that would be impossible, even if the scenario was reversed and it was Edward VII somehow it would make pretty much no difference and be as equally insane.

[@unisangalaxystudio]

This will be a weird time line that and William will have had the biggest empire in history

[@PrincessPowerranger]

This would have changed EVERYTHING but if princess Victoria became the heir she would not have been able to marry Prince Frederick as he was also an heir, but still can you imagine how that would have went down CHILE

[@anderson357]

What would Scotland Nth Ireland and Wales have as monarch if kaiser just king of England?

[@vegetableman3911]

He said england but meant UK

[@EAlyahya]

@@vegetableman3911politically correct wokeism that doesn’t want to implicate other constituent home countries of the UK with the actions of the colonial time period because sooner they want to leave the UK

[@sea9967]

The start basically means that europa was a family drama back then

[@TheMelbournelad]

Um you forgot about the commonwealth nations. India, South Africa and Australia alone would of turned the tied depending on which way they went

[@ibraheemshuaib8954]

India most likely would take the opportunity to break free

[@tonyflamingo3285]

It would be cool to see this alt history in a video game.

[@RedMooshroom42]

I had this idea for months love that some had the same idea and actually made a video about it.

[@nightspawnson-of-luna4936]

Another alternate way this could have happened was if during the aftermath of the Edward the 8th scandal, the UK for some reason instead went with Wilhelm II as king

[@ScuffTuff]

I think it would’ve been interesting to explore what some of the colonies do in this timeline. I think there’s a strong chance India and Canada both rebel and leave the empire during this alternate WWI and with them, there’s a decent chance Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa do too. I imagine this would’ve sparked rebellions and separatism all over the empire.

[@RedMooshroom42]

Can you make what a video about what if bacons rebellion succeeded

[@oooshafiqooo]

Bro got a slight name change, Wilhelm to William

[@breakthehabit]

Actually, France has rightful claims to literally every country in Europe because all of the European Monarchs were related all coming from Edward III of England who was actually French, so by legal royal law if the French still had a monarchy they would have all of Europe under French dominance.

[@lightfootpathfinder8218]

Good video I enjoyed it 👍 however you use the terms "Britain" & "England" interchangeably which is incorrect and quite annoying.

[@poil8351]

actually britain has a constitution of a sort a bill of rights and magna carta and several other documents.

[@death-istic9586]

Hi!❤

[@basiliimakedonas1109]

The two countries would never unite for the two states had completely different political systems for a union. Britain wouldn't accept a King who was of another big power. The Parliament would vote with popular support so the King wouldn't even be crowned and some other crownless cousin be put in place

[@MrShaneVicious]

If Vickie is heir to the throne then in all likelihood Fritz doesn't marry her and thus there is no Wilhelm. Fritz was expected to eventually be the King of Prussia, he wouldn't give that up to be the Prince Consort of the UK. Prince Albert supported Vickie's marriage to Fritz because he wanted her to be an influence on the King of Prussia. A Queen Vickie will have a husband other than Fritz and thus no Wilhelm. Wilhelm I would not allow his son to marry a woman that outranks him.

[@voxveritas333]

You are most logical, and correct.

[@TAKTlmao]

I was thinking of an alt history where the heirs of russia and Anglo germany marry and then there's a massive Anglo german russian empire, but then I realized that'd he inbreeding.

[@Harvey-de9oi]

look man your videos seem awesome and original but when i click on a video about 20th century alternate history I need to see more maps to satisfy my autism

[@M9X-XYT]

Best timeline

[@KingSoderTheI]

Love your Videos Video idea: what if east Germany Survived are what if Germany went communist in the 20's

[@ruin8891]

Kommunismus ist bereits in so vielen Ländern gescheitert, aber du scheinst es immer noch zu favorisieren. Hmph, gib es auf, es gibt bessere Ideologien als das…

[@bethcail976]

Wilhelm's goal, nor was it ever even possible even if it was, was not to surpass the British in naval power but to have a strong navy to protect German ports from blockade and their merchant fleets for... obvious historical reasons. Also Wilhelm never despised the English, He tried numerous times to mend Anglo-German relations, he wasn't ambitious in a militaristic sense and instead sought to make peace with all the other monarchies even as King Edward worked as hard as he did to sabotage all his efforts. He was among the greatest reformers of the monarchs of his day. Also the British weren't afraid of the German navy in so much that their sovereignty was at stake but more so their supremacy of international trade. He never wanted the war and tried hard to avoid war even as Britain sought to politically isolate Germany by making allies with their arch enemy, France and allied with Russia.

[@calvincoolidge5943]

You're wrong about "liberalism" of Frederick. He wasn't liberal.

[@miniaturejayhawk8702]

"Good its not supposed to make sence" *said the guy who just a few minutes ago explained the main idea behind all of it.

[@MeemingStar]

Make a sequel

[@Relcilisitywastaken]

Interesting

[@richardberkeley4511]

Primogeniture is now the rule

[@TheGiantKillers]

I think, to find out what would have happened if Wilhelm had [for any reason] been crowned king of the United Kingdom [Not England] he wouldn't have lasted long on the throne. For a good example of the total lack of any real power the British monarch has, you need look no further than Edward in 1936 who initially thought he could use his power as King to ensure he could marry Wallace Simpson. Within days he was put right and learned that he was no more than a mascot for the nation. He lasted less than a year before abdicating.

[@davidsterry786]

This only works if you ignore the English Revolution (1642, etc). That event set in place the supremacy of Parliament and in effect Parliament has final say on who is the monarch. They removed James the second and installed William and Mary, they choose George the first to avoid a catholic monarchy. By the late 1800s there was no mechanism for a Monarch to take any power back to themselves, any attempt would have resulted in their removal. The big lever that Parliament had was complete control over finance, this is what English Revolution gave them. When an oath of allegiance is sworn it is not to the Monarch as a person but to them as a figurehead of the Nation and the Nation is represented by Parliament who controls the finances that pays the armed forces, etc. William wants to be King Emperor of the British and Germany his best option would be to work on a closer union. In the way that James the sixth of Scotland became James the first of England, which resulted in the union of the two nations over a hundred years later. What William could work on was, at the time, the close cultural ties that the two nations enjoyed, which was can be seen in the 19th century romantic movement. William, ‘playing nice’ would give him the opportunity of a military alliance and British backed hegemony over Europe.