On the Way to the Humboldt-Forum

Symbol of Power

Berlin's City Palace was never the most prominent site of political decision-making in Prussia. Power was located wherever the Prussian monarchs were at that moment, and the Kings and their travelling courts had a great selection of residential palaces in and around Berlin from which to chose. Only under Friedrich Wilhelm II did the Palace emerge briefly as the centre of the Prussian court, when it housed the Landesherren (provincial estates) and the central administration. All other Prussian rulers chose different palaces: Friedrich Wilhelm I chose Königs Wusterhausen; Friedrich II chose Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam; Friedrich Wilhelm III chose Paretz and Potsdam; Wilhelm I chose Unter den Linden and Babelsberg Palaces; and Wilhelm II. chose the New Palace in Potsdam.

Nevertheless, the Berlin Palace had great value as a symbol of royal power. From the very beginning, the Schlüter Court-yard had been designed as a forecourt for the general population. It had been accessible to the public since the time of Friedrich II, and continued to be so until 1847.

The relocation of the Great Chancellor (Groß-Canzler) to offices on Wilhelmstrasse in 1799 marked the beginning of the national administration's shift away from the Palace, and by 1850 there were no longer any ministries housed there at all. Yet, the Palace continued to represent Prussian power during such events as the opening of the social ball season, official state visits, honorary ceremonies, and as the final destination of triumphal processions after successful battles. The symbolic role of the Palace was strengthened even further with the foundation of the German Reich in 1871 and the coronation of the Prussian kings as Kaisers.