Ernst

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Ernst (马恩斯特)
Alias(es)	Prince Ernst; Crown Prince Ernst; Emperor Ernst 242 428 1479
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	House of Hohenzollern-Hechingen; Hohenzollern Conglomerate; Kingdom of East Africa; Rhine Empire 15 69 1479
Occupation/Role	Heir of Hechingen; entrepreneur and head of the Hohenzollern Conglomerate; founder-ruler of East Africa; Emperor of the Rhine Empire 1 250 1479
Status	Alive; active in imperial and military affairs 1659
First Appearance	Chapter 1: “Transmigration”

Background / History

Ernst is the only son and future heir of Prince Constantin of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen line, a junior Swabian branch of the House of Hohenzollern. After collapsing while riding, he awakens with the memories, knowledge, and common sense of a previous life. His arrival changes the historical fate in which the Hechingen line would have died out. 1

After recovering, Ernst quickly becomes interested in the political and industrial changes reshaping Prussia. Reading of Otto von Bismarck’s appointment as Prime Minister, he recognizes the approaching unification of Germany and resolves to become more than a passive noble. He asks Constantin for permission to travel and study on the continent, while privately intending to pursue practical ventures in Berlin. 2

In June 1863, Ernst travels to Berlin with his tutor Richard and servant Tom to audit classes at Berlin University. His formal studies emphasize economics, while Richard handles etiquette, deportment, and religion. Outside his studies, Ernst trains his body, horsemanship, and firearm skills, and begins establishing workshops and factories using his noble connections. 3 4

Ernst’s first major commercial success comes from promoting Gillette razors to the Prussian military. Anticipating the Danish War, he offers 20,000 razor sets at a loss so soldiers can experience the product, then expands into cigarettes, kerosene lighters, daily necessities, and military supply contracts. The Second Schleswig War greatly accelerates the growth of the Hohenzollern Development Company. 5 7 11

He consolidates his companies through the Hohenzollern Development Bank and Hohenzollern Conglomerate, using the bank to finance ventures in electricity, power, internal-combustion-engine research, trade, shipping, and later military production. His long-term objective is the construction and development of an East African state supported by European capital, industry, immigration, and naval transport. 15 25 46

Ernst secures political recognition for his African ambitions by financing Prussia during its wars. In exchange for supporting the acquisition of Cologne-Minden Railway shares, he obtains Prussian commitments to recognize Hohenzollern interests in East Africa and support further African expansion. 24

By 1867, Ernst and Constantin unite Zanzibar and Alaska under the Hohenzollern Family Hechingen Royal Territory. Ernst purchases Alaska from Russia for 7 million rubles, largely because of its low price and potential future value, while restricting foreign access to preserve its resources. 69

Ernst becomes engaged to Princess Karina of the Habsburg family on November 3, 1866. Their eventual marriage strengthens his European standing, while their first son, Friedrich, is born in 1877. 48 440 463

Rather than pursue the vacant Spanish throne, Ernst prioritizes the development of East Africa. He later returns to Europe as Crown Prince of East Africa and eventually becomes Emperor of the Rhine Empire. 150 428 1479

Appearance

At nearly twenty years old, Ernst is 178 cm tall. He considers himself only above average in appearance, describing his father’s looks as plain and noting that he has gained weight from a rich diet and reduced exercise. 223

• Usually wears suits because he finds them more comfortable than contemporary formal clothing. 440
• Rarely wears military uniforms unless required for military operations. 440
• Is described as having “presence and spirit” rather than exceptional handsomeness. 223
• Places importance on health and physical training, including strength training, riding, and shooting. 3

Personality

Ernst is ambitious, calculating, and strongly shaped by memories of his previous life. He sees Europe’s future wars and political upheavals as dangers to be managed rather than crises he can personally solve. His initial goal is to use his Hohenzollern status to accumulate enough wealth and territory to secure his family’s future. 3 6

He is pragmatic in both commerce and statecraft. Ernst favors dependable technology over prestige, values practical military equipment over appearance, and avoids exposing himself to battlefield danger because he considers his enterprises and territories too important to risk. 46 250 688

Despite his opportunism, Ernst is attentive to his family and dependents. He worries about Constantin’s safety, rewards employees such as Becker, investigates the welfare of mercenaries’ families, and ultimately supports Friedrich’s preference in marriage. 191 1006

Ernst can also be manipulative and coercive when pursuing political goals. He seeks to reshape the identity of academy students, fabricates a noble lineage to improve Quirina’s acceptability as a royal bride, and proposes demographic and cultural manipulation in Bosnia. 21 485 1007

Skills & Expertise

Entrepreneurship and Industrial Planning

Ernst uses past-life knowledge to identify emerging products, industries, and markets before they become broadly profitable.

• Introduces and markets replaceable-blade Gillette razors to the Prussian Army. 5
• Expands into tobacco, lighters, daily necessities, banking, electricity, shipbuilding, and arms production. 5 15 25
• Establishes research institutions to prepare for new industrial technologies. 7
• Recruits or supports figures including Étienne Lenoir, Karl Benz, and Alphonse Bo-Rochat for engine and power research. 15
• Builds an independent fleet to reduce reliance on Dutch shipping and transport machinery and immigrants to East Africa. 46 47

Financial Negotiation

Ernst uses his wealth to gain political leverage and long-term territorial concessions.

• Finances 40% of the Prussian government’s shares in the Cologne-Minden Railway, with an agreement for Prussia to repurchase them above market value later. 24
• Secures Prussian recognition and support for Hohenzollern interests in East Africa in return for financial assistance. 24
• Purchases Alaska through installment payments, limiting Russia’s leverage while preserving capital for other projects. 69
• Invests 15 million Thalers in Prussian war bonds before the Franco-Prussian War, conditioning the investment on Prussian victory. 242

Political Strategy

Ernst leverages family ties, historical knowledge, and economic influence to shape events without seeking conventional military glory.

• Predicts Prussian action against Denmark from political developments and military preparations. 6
• Negotiates Hechingen’s participation in the Franco-Prussian War in exchange for Mayotte in the Comoros archipelago. 243
• Chooses East African development over pursuing the Spanish throne. 150
• Advises Austrian leaders on Italy, Prussia, and wider European power politics. 237
• Warns Crown Prince Rudolf of an approaching global economic crisis. 1479

Military and Administrative Development

Though he does not command troops personally, Ernst builds institutions intended to supply East Africa with trained personnel and modern military capacity.

• Establishes the Hechingen Military Academy and uses it to cultivate officers for East Africa. 249 250
• Forms the Hechingen Brigade as the Hechingen Royal Family’s private armed force and a military-talent base. 250
• Secures thirty placements for cadets at Austria’s Theresia Military Command Academy. 285
• Inspects military facilities personally, emphasizing hygiene, order, and equipment maintenance. 1532
• Seeks to reform the East African National Defense Army into a modern and restrained force, including research into foreign ideological and organizational systems. 1659

Organizations and Assets

Organization / Asset	Ernst’s connection
Hohenzollern Development Company	Founder and driving force behind its expansion from razors into tobacco, daily necessities, manufacturing, and overseas business. 5 11
Hohenzollern Development Bank / Hechingen Bank	Established by Ernst as the core financial institution of his conglomerate; later becomes one of the German region’s largest banks. 15 115
Hohenzollern Conglomerate	Ernst’s diversified corporate network, incorporating banking, tobacco, daily necessities, general merchandise, research, energy, and trade. 11 15
Berlin Energy and Power Company	Founded with Ernst’s support; Étienne Lenoir becomes its first general manager. 15
Berlin Electric Company	Established through initial funding from the Hohenzollern Development Bank. 15
Hohenzollern Fleet	A privately controlled fleet used for global trade, migration, machinery transport, and the East African colony’s development. 46 47
Hohenzollern Family Hechingen Royal Territory	Collective designation for Zanzibar and Alaska, jointly adopted by Ernst and Constantin. 69
Hechingen Military Academy / Brigade	Training institutions built to produce personnel for Hechingen and East Africa. 249 250

Relationships

• Prince Constantin — Ernst’s father, predecessor, and closest political confidant. Constantin supports Ernst’s early ventures, takes pride in his success, and later relies on Ernst’s judgment regarding East Africa and imperial succession. 1 6 150 946
• Princess Karina — Ernst’s fiancée from 1866 and later wife; their marriage links the Hechingen and Habsburg houses. 48 440
• Friedrich — Ernst and Karina’s eldest son and Crown Prince. Ernst supports Friedrich’s relationship with Quirina despite concerns over royal marriage politics. 463 1006
• King Wilhelm I — Ernst’s uncle through the House of Hohenzollern. Wilhelm supports Ernst’s studies and later negotiates military, financial, and wartime agreements with him. 3 242 243
• Prince Leopold — Ernst’s Sigmaringen cousin. Ernst entrusts him with command of Hechingen forces and works with him on military and colonial plans. 243 285
• Prince Karl Anton — Ernst’s uncle from the Sigmaringen line and an important political ally in Germany. Ernst seeks his assistance with railway affairs and values Sigmaringen’s support. 191 196
• Maximilian I / Archduke Ferdinand — Ernst’s future father-in-law and Karina’s father. Ernst protects him in East Africa and later discusses shipbuilding and European politics with him. 123 237 429
• Crown Prince Rudolf — Karina’s Habsburg relative whom Ernst seeks to guide through industry, education, and political advice. 116 123 1479
• Tom — Ernst’s servant and trusted aide, tasked with errands, investigations, and personnel matters. 2 191
• Heinrich — A loyal Hechingen Military Academy cadet whom Ernst selects for advanced training and considers for leadership of a future East African military academy. 250 285

Political Methods and Policies

• Ernst promotes German identity among students under his authority, instructing them to regard themselves as Germans loyal to the German Emperor rather than their former ruler. 21
• He seeks to control strategic resources by restricting foreign expeditions and merchants in Alaska. 69
• In Bosnia, he proposes reducing the Muslim population, altering demographics through migration, discrediting Ottoman history, and using corporate education to reshape local identity. 485
• He fabricates a noble genealogy for Svit’s family to make Quirina more acceptable to European aristocracy as Friedrich’s prospective wife. 1007
• He lowers enlistment standards to recruit idle people and criminals, intending to deploy unrepentant criminals to the most dangerous battlefields in a future war. 1659

Notable Quotes

“A wise person doesn't stand under a dangerous wall.” 250

“The coronation ceremony will be as comfortable as possible. I also don't want rigid formalities to constrain future successors.” 946

Trivia

• Ernst is a transmigrator whose previous-life memories give him knowledge of future political, technological, and economic developments. 1 3
• He is an only child, making the continuation of the Hechingen line a central concern for Constantin. 2
• He accelerated the reconstruction of Hohenzollern Castle and increased the Hechingen family’s ownership to 50%. 32
• Ernst dislikes the Prussian Pickelhaube, considering it impractical compared with simpler equipment. 160 688
• His first son Friedrich is named in honor of Friedrich III, the ancestor associated with the rise of the House of Hohenzollern. 463