A vanguard regiment of the 9th Army of the German military was the first to arrive in Stuttgart. Originally, they had been tasked with protecting key factories. However, upon reaching Stuttgart, they discovered that the enraged populace had already surrounded the Württemberg royal palace, and most of the palace guards had surrendered. Only a few remained entrenched, desperately attempting to resist.
The regiment's commander immediately shifted the mission's focus and led his troops toward the palace. When the elite forces of the German army arrived and surrounded the palace, the situation inside became tense. Both Fortuna and Gregor, along with the remaining palace guards, could feel the impending danger. They knew that facing the crack forces of the German military would lead to certain destruction.
"Order the palace to surrender at once, or we will commence the attack!" commanded the regiment's leader.
Although the palace was a symbol of grandeur, in the wake of this rebellion, even the Imperial Palace in Berlin had seen battle. It was clear that the royal palace of Württemberg would not be spared from the wrath of the army.
As artillery pieces were set up and aimed at the palace, with the gunners ready to fire, the last pockets of resistance within the palace faltered. Unable to withstand the pressure, the defenders laid down their weapons and opened the palace gates in surrender. Fortuna and Gregor were swiftly captured, and the rebellion in the Kingdom of Württemberg was brought to a swift and ignoble end. The entire uprising had barely caused any tangible harm to Germany, resembling more of a farce, beginning and ending almost as soon as it had started.
Of course, this rebellion did have far-reaching consequences for Germany. It provided the Empire with a pretext to begin reclaiming power from local governments, strengthening the central authority in a way that would ensure more effective control over the entire German Empire.
As for Fortuna and Gregor, their fate was sealed. The Special Court sentenced them both to death by hanging for treason and sabotage. Their execution followed the tragic fate of their father. With this crushing blow to the Württemberg royal family, it was left in ruins, unable to resist when the central government demanded that the Kingdom of Württemberg be dissolved and transformed into a state.
The suppression of the Württemberg rebellion had been easy and almost anticlimactic, temporarily quelling the internal issues of the German Empire. Although there were still lingering problems, the overall situation no longer posed a significant threat to the Empire. In light of this, the coronation of QinTian naturally became the next priority.
With the death of Wilhelm II, and as the rightful heir to the German Empire, QinTian was now the only legitimate successor to the throne. Had it not been for the rebellion that led to Wilhelm II's death, QinTian would likely have had to wait over twenty more years to inherit the throne. In this sense, QinTian might even feel a strange sense of gratitude toward the late Wilhelm, who had inadvertently expedited his ascension to Emperor by more than two decades.
Of course, now that the Crown Prince Wilhelm had long been executed, there was no one left to express that gratitude to.
"Your Highness, the Cabinet has deliberated, and it has been decided that the transition of the Duchy of Württemberg into a state should be temporarily delayed. It would be best to wait until the Empire has won the war. At that time, with a decisive victory, no one will dare oppose us. This way, we can achieve our goals with far greater ease," Prime Minister Bilo suggested.
QinTian nodded. Indeed, it would be far easier to implement such a change after the Empire's victory. It would also contribute to stabilizing the social order within the Empire. While the Empire had won crucial victories in the war, the final triumph was still distant. France had yet to surrender, the British were still defiant, and Italy was struggling for survival. Germany needed to press forward and strike down these enemies once and for all to ensure a clear and decisive victory in the war.
"Then, we will delay it until after the war," QinTian replied.
"Your Highness, the most pressing matter now is your coronation. The Empire cannot remain without an Emperor for too long. As the rightful heir, you are the only legitimate successor to the throne. We all agree that your coronation should be held as soon as possible to stabilize the people's hearts," Prime Minister Bilo remarked.
"Very well, I have no objections. You may decide the date, but I do have one request: simplicity," QinTian said. He had no desire for a lavish ceremony, recalling the cumbersome process of Wilhelm I's coronation as Emperor of the German Empire. In the midst of war, QinTian was unwilling to waste time on such extravagances.
"Understood, Your Highness. Your coronation will take place three days from now," Prime Minister Bilo confirmed.
QinTian nodded in agreement.
On the morning of May 6, 1015, in the grand hall of the Berlin Imperial Palace, the Empire's military and political leaders, aristocrats, wealthy industrialists, scientific and cultural figures, and other prominent members of society had gathered to attend QinTian's coronation ceremony.
The ceremony was presided over by the Archbishop of the German Diocese. Originally, the Pope had intended to personally conduct the coronation, given that Germany was now on the cusp of victory in the war. This would have marked a significant moment, with the Church acknowledging the ascendancy of secular power. However, due to the Papal States being surrounded by the Kingdom of Italy—Germany's enemy—the Pope could not attend in person. Instead, he sent gifts and blessings from God.
The Archbishop addressed the gathered crowd, proclaiming that QinTian was a monarch blessed by God. His ascension to the throne of the German Empire was not only the will of the people but also divinely ordained.
"In the name of God, Crown Prince Oscar shall henceforth be known as the Emperor of the German Empire!" the Archbishop declared.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live His Majesty!" the entire assembly cried in unison, their voices echoing with genuine joy at QinTian's coronation.
As the Archbishop held out the crown to place it upon QinTian's head, the Emperor-to-be took the crown himself and placed it on his brow, much to the Archbishop's discomfort. Yet, no one seemed to notice the awkwardness of the moment.
QinTian then picked up a smaller crown and placed it upon Princess Gundelinde's head, officially naming her the Empress of the German Empire.
Thus, after ascending to the throne, QinTian became Emperor Wilhelm III, or as he would be known, Emperor Oscar the Great!