I always considered that the greatest sycophants were not those living at court, but generals, admirals, professors, officials, representatives of the people and men of learning--people whom the Emperor met infrequently.
During the second half of the war, however, the leading men around the Kaiser were not Byzantine--Ludendorff certainly was not.

His whole nature was devoid of Byzantine characteristics.

Energetic, brave, sure of himself and his aims, he brooked no opposition and was not fastidious in his choice of language.

To him it was a matter of indifference whether he was confronted by his Emperor or anyone else--he spoke unrestrainedly to all who came in his way.
The numerous burgomasters, town councillors, professors of the universities, deputies--in short, men of the people and of science--had for years prostrated themselves before the Emperor William; a word from him intoxicated them--but how many of them are there now amongst those who condemn the former regime with its abuses and, above all, the Emperor himself! His political advisers experienced great difficulty in their business dealings with the Emperor William during the war, as he was generally at Headquarters and seldom in Berlin.

The Emperor Charles's absence from Vienna was also at times most inconvenient.
In the summer of 1917, for instance, he was at Reichenau, which necessitated a two hours' motor drive; I had to go there twice or three times a week, thus losing five or six hours which had to be made good by prolonged night work.