Unification
Declares "Prussia will merge with Germany". Commits himself to German unification, forms a liberal Government, convenes a national assembly, and orders that a Constitution of the Kingdom of Prussia
Role range: 1840-1861
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Frederick William IV Biography and Timeline — Page 2
Follow Frederick William IV through 98 dated historical records for Germany.
Frederick William IV, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
98Distinct records
2 of 3Page
1848–1850Years on this page
1848
Unification
Frederick William IV agrees to demands for a constitution & to become leader of a united Germany
Role range: 1840-1861
1849
Succession
Elected as "Emperor of the Germans"
Role range: 1840-1861
Frankfurt Parliament
Supports unification for a time, leading the Frankfurt Parliament to offer him the crown of Germany, which he refuses, purportedly saying that he would not accept "a crown made of mud and clay"
Role range: 1840-1861
Unification
Supports unification for a time, leading the Frankfurt Parliament to offer him the crown of Germany, which he refuses, purportedly saying that he would not accept "a crown made of mud and clay"
Role range: 1840-1861
Constitution of Germany
Rejects the Imperial Crown offered by the Parliament of Frankfurt
Role range: 1840-1861
Alliance of Three Kings
The Alliance of the Three King's is concluded between Prussia, Saxony and Hanover
Alliance of Three Kings
The Alliance of the Three King's leads to the Erfurt Union which abandons universal and equal franchise in favour of a 3 class franchise
Constitution of Germany
The Alliance of the Three King's leads to the Erfurt Union which abandons universal and equal franchise in favour of a 3 class franchise
Erfurt Union
The Alliance of the Three King's leads to the Erfurt Union which abandons universal and equal franchise in favour of a 3 class franchise
Constitution of Germany
Liberal deputies to the German national assembly agree a draft constitution and by the end of August, 28 principalities recognise the Reich constitution and join the union
Erfurt Union
Liberal deputies to the German national assembly agree a draft constitution and by the end of August, 28 principalities recognise the Reich constitution and join the union
Unfification
Liberal deputies to the German national assembly agree a draft constitution and by the end of August, 28 principalities recognise the Reich constitution and join the union
1850
Alliance of Three Kings
Elections to the Erfurt Parliament received little popular support. Democrats boycot the election and Saxony and Hanover leave the Alliance of Three Kings
Erfurt Union
Elections to the Erfurt Parliament received little popular support. Democrats boycot the election and Saxony and Hanover leave the Alliance of Three Kings
Erfurt Union
No state Government agrees to the constitution even though it was accepted by the Gotha Party who are defeated in the elections. The Erfurt Parliament never materialises
Unfification
Elections to the Erfurt Parliament received little popular support. Democrats boycot the election and Saxony and Hanover leave the Alliance of Three Kings
Erfurt Parliament
The Erfurt Union Parliament lasts from March 20 to April 29, 1850, opened at the former Augustinian monastery in Erfurt
Role range: 1840-1861
Erfurt Union
The Erfurt Union Parliament lasts from March 20 to April 29, 1850, opened at the former Augustinian monastery in Erfurt
Role range: 1840-1861
Erfurt Union
The Erfurt Union is union of German states under a federation, proposed by Prussia at Erfurt
Role range: 1840-1861
Erfurt Union
The union never came into effect, and undermined in the Punctation of Olmutz under pressure from the Austrian Empire.
Role range: 1840-1861
Constitution of Germany
In Prussia a congress of Princes decides against introducing a constitution
Erfurt Union
In Prussia a congress of Princes decides against introducing a constitution
Unifiication of Germany
In Prussia a congress of Princes decides against introducing a constitution
Peace
Prussia makes peace with Denmark, following Tsar Nicholass advice
Role range: 1840-1861
Conference of Warsaw
Russia supports Austria's efforts to crush the revolutions of 1848
Mobilization
The Prussian army is mobilized
Role range: 1840-1861
Mobilization
Shots are exchanged between Austrian & Prussian soldiers, the 1st since 1778
Role range: 1840-1861
Mobilization
The French mobilize in Alsace & direct Prussian & Austrian aggression is diffused
Role range: 1840-1861
Agreement of Olmutz
A treaty between Prussia and Austria by which Prussia abandoned the Erfurt Union and accepted the revival of the German Confederation under Austrian leadership
Role range: 1840-1861
Agreement of Olmutz
Prussia submitted to Austria partly because Tsar Nicholas I of Russia had chosen the side of Austria in the Warsaw negotiations in October 1850
Role range: 1840-1861
Agreement of Olmutz
Settles a conflict between Prussia and Austria about the leadership in the German Confederation. The confederation, dominated by Austria, had been dissolved in the Revolutions of 1848 and partially succeeded by the Frankfurt Assembly
Role range: 1840-1861
Agreement of Olmutz
The treaty is the result of a conference held in Olmutz in the Austrian Margraviate of Moravia, also known as the "humiliation of Olmutz", seen by many as a capitulation of the Prussians to the Austrians
Role range: 1840-1861
Conference of Olmutz
It is also known as the "humiliation of Olmutz", as the Treaty was seen by many as a capitulation of the Prussians to the Austrians. The reason for the Treaty was a conflict between Prussia and Austria about the leadership in the German Confederation.
Role range: 1840-1861
Conference of Olmutz
The Treaty of Olmutz was the result of a conference held in Olmutz in the Austrian Margraviate of Moravia (now Olomouc, Czech Republic).
Role range: 1840-1861
Conference of Olmutz
The confederation, dominated by Austria, had been dissolved in the Revolutions of 1848 and partially succeeded by the Frankfurt Assembly. After the Frankfurt Assembly failed, Prussia in early 1850 had taken the initiative of the Erfurt Union, a Prussia-led federation of most German states
Role range: 1840-1861
Conference of Olmutz
The treaty is the result of a conference held in Olmutz in the Austrian Margraviate of Moravia, also known as the "humiliation of Olmutz", seen by many as a capitulation of the Prussians to the Austrians
Role range: 1840-1861
Constitution of Germany
Attempts to establish the Erfurt Union, a union of German states excluding Austria, but abandons the idea in the face of Austrian resistance
Role range: 1840-1861
Erfurt Union
Attempts to establish the Erfurt Union, a union of German states excluding Austria, but abandons the idea in the face of Austrian resistance
Role range: Olmutz – 1840-1861
German Confederation
Attempts to establish the Erfurt Union, a union of German states excluding Austria, but abandons the idea in the face of Austrian resistance
Role range: 1840-1861
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.