Year of the Three Emperors

Kaiser Wilhelm I reigned 18 January 1871 – 9 March 1888.

Kaiser Frederick III reigned for only 99 days: 9 March – 15 June 1888.

Kaiser Wilhelm II reigned 15 June 1888 – 9 November 1918.

The Year of the Three Emperors, or the Year of the Three Kaisers (German: Dreikaiserjahr), refers to the year 1888 during the German Empire in German history.^[1][2][3][4] The year is considered to have memorable significance because of the deaths of two German Emperors, or Kaisers, leading to a rapid succession of three monarchs within one year.^[1] The three different emperors who ruled over Germany during this year were Wilhelm I, Frederick III and Wilhelm II. The mnemonic "drei Achten, drei Kaiser" (English: "three eights, three emperors") is still used today in Germany by children and adults alike to learn the year in question.^[5]