Frederick William IV of Prussia

Frederick William IV initially made concessions to the revolutionaries, including appointing a liberal ministry and convening a national assembly. However, by November 1848, he dissolved the assembly, imposed a conservative constitution, and restored royal authority with military force.

Frederick William IV rejected the offer of the German imperial crown from the Frankfurt Parliament, stating he would not accept a crown from the gutter. This refusal effectively ended the liberal revolution of 1848 and the attempt to unify Germany through democratic means.

Frederick William IV issued a revised constitution for Prussia that established a bicameral parliament with limited powers. The constitution retained strong royal authority, including veto power and control over the military, but provided for elected representation and civil rights.

Frederick William IV suffered a series of strokes that left him mentally and physically incapacitated. His brother Wilhelm assumed the regency in 1858, effectively ending Frederick William's active rule and paving the way for Wilhelm's eventual succession.