Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1010

 654 GERMAN EMPIRE: — PRUSSIA

106,820 square miles. This was shaped into a compact State of 134, 463 square miles, with a population of 22,769,436, by the war of 1866.

Up to within a recent period, the Kings of Pnissia enjoyed the whole income of the State domains, amounting to about a million sterling per annum. By a degree of Jan. 17, 1820, King Friedrich Wilhelm III. fixed the Krondo- tations at the total sum of 2,573,098| thalers, which was sanctioned on Jan. 31, 1850, by Art. 59 of the Constitution ; remaining, as before, dependent on the revenue derived from domains and forests. The amount of the civil list was fixed by Art. 59 of the Constitution of Jan. 31, 1850 ; but by law of April 30, 1859, it was raised 500,000 thalers, by law of Jan. 27, 1868, 1,000,000 thalers, and by law of Feb. 20, 1889, a further 3,500,000 marks. At present the total marks, or 770,554Z. The reigning house is also in possession of a vast amount of private property, comprising castles, forests, and great landed estates in various parts of the kingdom, known as 'Fideikommiss- und-Schatullgiiter,' the revenue from which mainly serves to defray the expenditure of the court and the members of the royal family.
 * Krondotations Rente,' as far as it fi.gures in the budgets, amounts to 15,719,296

The Royal Fideikommiss was last regulated by Cabinet Order of Aug. 30, 1843. Besides this the Royal Crown treasure, founded by King Friedrich Wilhelm III., consists of a capital of 6 millions, which has since consider- ably increased, and also the family Fideikommiss, likewise founded by King Friedrich Wilhelm III., for the benefit of princes born afterwards. It comprises the domains of Flatow, Krojanke, and Frauendorf, as well as the Fideikommiss founded by the late Prince Karl (Glienicke). Finally, the Royal House is also entitled to the House Fideikommiss of the Hohen- zollern princes.

Dating from King Friedrich I. of Prussia (Elector Friedrich III. of Brandenburg), there have been the following

Sovereigns of the House of Hohenzollern.

Friedrich I.

. 1701

Friedrich Wilhelm III.

1797

Friedrich Wilhelm I..

. 1713

Friedrich Wilhelm IV.

1840

Friedrich II. called

'the

Wilhelm I.

1861

Great'

. 1740

Friedrich III. (Mar. 9- June 15)

1888

Friedrich Wilhelm

. 1786

Wilhelm II.

1888

Constitution and Government.

The present Constitution of Prussia was drawn up by the Government of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV., with the co-opera- tion of a Constituent Assembly, sitting August-December 1849, and was proclaimed Jan. 31, 1850 ; but subsequently modified by royal decrees of April 30, 1851 ; May 21 and June 5, 1852 May 7 and 24, 1853 ; June 10, 1854; May 30, 1855; April 14 and 30, 1856; May 18, 1857 ; May 17, 1867; March 27, 1872; April 5, 1873 ; June 18, 1875 ; Feb. 19, 1879 ; and May 27, 1888. These fundamental laws vest the executive and part of the legislative authority in a king, who attains his majority upon