Rudolf von Valentini
(01.10.1855 - 18.12.1925)
place of birth:  Crussow bei Angermünde, Brandenburg
Königreich Preußen:  Chef des Geheimen Zivilkabinetts


Imperial German political figure who functioned as Kaiser Wilhelm II's Chief of the Privy Cabinet (das Geheime Zivilkabinett) during the Great War years. One of the main duties of this office was to serve as the Kaiser's personal representative and relate major imperial decisions to government entities. 
Valentini initially studied law but was also a lieutenant in the army reserves. He began his legal career in 1879 as an intern in the Köslin District.
He moved to Königsberg in 1886, having switched career tracks to federal civil service. He also served as chief district administrator of Kreis Hameln from 1888 to 1889.

In 1899, Valentini moved to Berlin to begin his service as privy councilor (geheimer Regierungsrat) in Kaiser Wilhelm II's Civil Cabinet. He was promoted to senior privy councilor in 1902 and then succeeded Kurt von Dewitz a couple years later as the chief governmental administrator in Frankfurt an der Oder. Valentini returned to Berlin in 1906 to serve in the Privy Cabinet under Hermann von Lucanus. He became Privy Cabinet Chief in 1908 and quietly served as the Kaiser until forced out of office in January 1918 by Erich Ludendorff. Valentini died in Hameln in December of 1925.