Europe on the Brink of War
In May 1910, the funeral of King Edward VII of England served as the final, shimmering assembly of a world order that was already beginning to dissolve. Nine kings rode through London in a spectacle of scarlet, blue, and gold, representing seventy nations in a display of royalty history would never witness again. At the center of this procession was the German Emperor, William II, who rode with a "grave severity," masking a fierce relish in the passing of his uncle Edward, whom he viewed as the "Satan" of Europe—the architect of Germany’s encirclement.
The funeral was a literal gathering of the "Uncle of Europe’s" family, with relatives on the thrones of Russia, Norway, Spain, Greece, and Denmark. Yet, beneath the veneer of mourning, the political landscape had shifted dangerously. During Edward’s nine-year reign, England had abandoned its "splendid isolation" to form the Entente Cordiale with France and an understanding with Russia. These alignments, smoothed by Edward’s personal diplomacy, left Germany feeling increasingly isolated. As the coffin was borne by sailors, observers felt a profound sense of finality. The intricate web of royal marriages and personal letters was proving insufficient to hold back the tide of national ambitions. The sun was setting on the old world, leaving behind a fragile peace that would vanish in four years.
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