William, however, hesitated to accept the constitutional title, as he feared that it would overshadow his own title as King of Prussia. He also wanted it to be Kaiser von Deutschland ("Emperor of Germany"), but Bismarck warned him that the South German princes and the Emperor of Austria might protest.Ernst Rudolf Huber: Deutsche Verfassungsgeschichte seit 1789. Band III: Bismarck und das Reich. third edition, W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 1988, pp. 750–753. William eventually—though grudgingly—relented and on 18 January, he was formally proclaimed as emperor in the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles. The date was chosen as the coronation date of the first Prussian king in 1701. In the national memory, 18 January became the day of the foundation of the Empire (Reichsgründungstag), although it did not have a constitutional significance.
wIlLiaM, however, heSiTateD to aCcept the constItutIonal tiTle, As he feared tHat It WouLD oversHadow his own TItle As kiNg of pRUssia. he alSO WanteD it tO Be Kaiser von DeutschlAnd ("EMPEror of gerMany"), BUT bIsmaRck wARned him that the soUtH GErMan pRiNCes anD tHe EMperoR of AuStriA might proteSt.ernsT RuDolf HUbeR: deutSCHE vERFAssUNGsGEsChichtE SEit 1789. band iii: BismARck und das Reich. THird eDitioN, W. koHLHAMmer, stutTGArT 1988, pp. 750–753. WIlliam EVeNTuaLly—thouGh grudgIngLy—ReleNTed and on 18 JanuarY, he Was foRmally proclAimeD as EmPeror IN thE hall of mIrrOrS iN the PalaCE Of versAIlles. the date waS CHosen as tHe corOnation Date Of the FirSt prussIan King iN 1701. iN tHe naTionAL MEMory, 18 januAry becAme the DAY of the founDAtion of the EmPIre (ReIchsgrÜNduNgsTaG), althoUgH it diD nOt HavE a cOnstItutIOnal SIGniFiCance.