William I, King of Lichtenburg (Pacifica)
| William I | |
|---|---|
| King of Lichtenburg | |
 | |
| King of Lichtenburg | |
| Reign | 1734 - |
| Predecessor | Gianluca I |
| Successor | Friedrich Augustus |
| Grand Duke of the Waldland and Hannover | |
| Reign | 1734 - |
| Predecessor | Gianluca I |
| Successor | Friedrich Augustus |
| Prince of Lichterstadt | |
| Reign | 1708 - |
| Predecessor | Joseph II von Lichterstadt-Sonderhausen |
| Successor | Karl Ludwig |
| Statthalter of the Almannic Confederation | |
| In office 1734 – 17XX | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Frederick Eugene of Luxemburg |
| Governor of Almannia | |
| Monarch | Gianluca I |
| Preceded by | Leopold, Count of Eisentetten |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Viceroy of Lichtenburg | |
| Monarch | Gianluca I |
| Preceded by | Ferdinand |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Born | Wilhelm Maximilian Alexander |
| Spouse | Charlotte Isabella of Lowenia |
| Issue | |
| House | Lichtenburg |
William I, also known as William the Brave (Alman: Wilhelm der Tapfere), William the Taciturn (Alman: Wilhelm der Schweigsame), and later on as Wilhelmus Rex (Austral: William the King), was the first King of Lichtenburg following the Nobles' War. He was also a leader of the Nobles' War, and previously served as both the Governor of Provinz Almannien and the Viceroy of Lichtenburg under Emperor Gianluca I. He, alongside other leaders of the Nobles' War, are considered Fathers of the Fatherland in Weisserstein (Alman: Väter des Vaterlandes).
Born into the powerful House of Lichtenburg, William originally served the Emperor of Gianlucaland as Viceroy of Lichtenburg, succeeding his father Ferdinand. Later, under Gianluca I, he was appointed Governor of the Province of Alemannia and served as a member of the young emperor's court. Despite contemporary historians considered William as a favorite within Gianluca's court, he secretly harbored distain towards the Gianlucian Empire due to its centralization policies in the province, stripping the local nobility of its sovereignty, and harsh religious policies against minorities. After being appointed governor, he used his powers to discreetly sabotage the Gianlucian Empire's position within the province. His actions eventually caused the Battle of the Gulf of Almannia in 1734, sparking the Nobles' War.
William was crowned King of Lichtenburg following the engagement by the Lichtenburger nobility and clergy, as well as receiving popular support from the peasantry. His crowning marked the de facto end of the Lichtenburg-Gianlucian personal union, as well as marking the return of the House of Lichtenburg as rulers of the realm. He also served as the Statthalter of the Almannic Confederation following his election by the Diet of Sophiasbrücke in 1734.