On the night of November 11th, 1854, as the Eaglet Emperor lay in his death bed, a situation was occurring within the Kingdom of Prussia. Through unofficial channels, members of Otto von Bismarck’s opposition had found out that the health of Emperor was abysmal. With such information available to him, Bismarck planned for an uprising against the French and House of Hohenzollern to take place on November 10th. However, due to unforeseen circumstances – a regiment of Imperial Guard soldiers were still at Berlin. Hastily the uprising was called off until the next night.
Thus as Napoleon II lay dying in Versailles, 544 miles away nearly ten thousand members of Bismarck’s opposition was beginning their uprising. Half of the regiment of Imperial Guard soldiers had left the Hohenzollern palace during the day, but secretly returned under the cover of darkness. Close to 10 pm in Berlin sentries spotted the torches approaching the royal palace, currently occupied by King Wilhelm I and his family – minus Princess Louise who had traveled ahead to Versailles days before.
French Guard Cavalry
The Imperial Guard quickly barricaded the magnificent entrance to the palace with available materials, including carriages and other elegant items. As the mob approached closer, three carriages were quickly being loaded with any significant possessions of the House of Hohenzollern. King Wilhelm I and his remaining family quickly fled the scene escorted by three hundred Imperial Guard Cavalry.
With the mob approaching, the Prussian troops who were assisting with the defense of the palace began to panic, with a few electing to flee. Unconcerned with the courage of the Prussians, the Imperial Guard stood their ground and prepared for a devastating volley. Though a volley was not to be unleashed; as the crowd heard that the King had fled the country and they choose to disperse.
On the next morning the Imperial Guard would withdraw from Berlin back to their staging ground around Halle, leaving the palace of the King vulnerable. As the night came, it would be brightened by the burning of the palace – though King Wilhelm I and the House of Hohenzollern was likely never to return – as they were by now on a special train from Halle to Paris.