This is a set of trade cards issued by the Stollwerck Chocolate Company in 1897 titled “Great Rulers”. Pictured here are from left to right: Alexander the Great of Macedonia, Charlemagne of the Holy Roman Empire, Otto the Great of the Holy Roman Empire, Peter the Great of Russia, Frederick the Great of Prussia and Wilhelm the Great of Prussia.
In seeking to establish itself among the Great Powers of Europe, Germany implies in this order of rulers an imperial heritage that stretches back into antiquity (Alexander the Great). The last two rulers pictured are Prussian Kings who contributed to Prussia’s rise to power in the 18th century (Frederick the Great) and its eventual unification (Wilhelm the Great).