 Willy–Nicky correspondence

The Willy–Nicky correspondence was a series of messages (letters and telegrams) relayed between Wilhelm II, German Emperor, and Nicholas II, Emperor of All Russia during the years preceding the outbreak of the First World War.Wilhelm II and Nicholas II were third cousins (both were great-great-grandsons of Paul I of Russia) as well as being second cousins once removed (both were descended from Frederick William III of Prussia) and Wilhelm was a first cousin of Nicholas's wife, Alix of Hesse and the eldest grandson of Queen Victoria.