Kaiser Wilhelm II had celebrated his silver jubilee in 1913, having been Emperor of Germany since 1888. He was related to many European monarchs (for example, he was Queen Victoria's oldest grandson). He was significantly more interested in actively governing Germany than his predecessors William I and Frederick III were. He encouraged Germany's efforts to acquire overseas colonies and otherwise expand the Empire. These efforts had the side effect causing friction with other European powers, resulting in Germany becoming increasingly isolated diplomatically. During the First World War, Wilhelm's role decreased as he handed more power to Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, General Erich Ludendorff, and other military leaders. Support for Wilhelm collapsed in the autumn of 1918 and he was forced to abdicate. He went into exile in the Netherlands on November 10, 1918. He would live in Doorn until his death in 1941.