北ドイツ連邦
The constitution was signed by William I, the King of Prussia, acting in his capacity as "Bundespräsidium" of the North German Confederation, the Kings of Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg, and the Grand Dukes of Baden and Hesse. Hesse north of the river Main was already a member of the North German Confederation; its territory south of the river was now included as well.