kc
02-10-2007, 13:30
Furst Bismarck (Germany)
Prince Bismarck. Otto E. L. von Bismarck-Schonhausen, born April 1st 1815, created Count in 1865, Prince (Furst) in 1871, and Duke of Lauenburg in 1890; died July 30th 1898. A landed proprietor in Pomerania, and member of a good Prussian family, Herr von Bismarck became member of the Diet of the Prussian province of Saxony in 1847, and during the revolutionary year 1848 was noted for his Conservative monarchical principles. In 1849 he became the leader of the newly formed monarchical party in the Prussian Parliament, of which he had been elected a member, and was one of the founders of the Kreuz Zeitung, the great Conservative newspaper of Berlin. In 1851 he was sent as the representative of Prussia to the German Diet at Frankfort, and retained that post eight years, making himself thoroughly acquainted with the political tendencies of all the German States. In 1859 he was appointed Prussian Ambassador at St Petersburg, where he remained three years. He was recalled to become Minister-President and Foreign Minister in the Prussian Cabinet, and with iron will and strong hand carried through the recognition of the Army according to Roon’s plan, ruling the kingdom against a refractory Parliament and without a budget for four years. Meanwhile the struggle between Austria and Prussia for the supremacy in Germany had grown more and acute, and in 1866 war between these powers broke out, ending in the complete defeat of Austria, which had to fight Italy at the same time. Count Bismarck showed great foresight and moderation in reaping the fruits of the war, which ousted Austria from the group of German States. In 1867 he became the first chancellor of the North-German Confederation under the presidency of the King of Prussia, which he had been instrumental in creating, and when in 1870 the war with France began he accompanied King William into the field. Whilst at Versaillies he arranged for the entrance of the South German States into the existing Confederation, and for the establishment of the German Empire. He conducted all the negotiations with France, and when peace had been concluded he became the Chancellor of the Empire. As such, he was responsible for the whole of its internal policy, and he fought the “Kultur-Kampf” against the Roman Catholic Church in defence of the undivided sway of the State against this Church. The foreign policy of the Empire was absolutely controlled by him. He presided at the Congress of Berlin in 1878, after the Russo-Turkish War, and he brought about the Triple alliance between Germany, Austria and Italy. In 1888 the old Emperor William I died, and during the short reign of Frederick III. Prince Bismarck remained Chancellor; but soon after the accession of the Emperor William II differences of opinion led to his retirement from public life in 1890. Prussia owes to Bismarck the securing of her predominant position in the Empire, and Germany her unification and the high place she holds in the concert of the nations.
Prince Bismarck. Otto E. L. von Bismarck-Schonhausen, born April 1st 1815, created Count in 1865, Prince (Furst) in 1871, and Duke of Lauenburg in 1890; died July 30th 1898. A landed proprietor in Pomerania, and member of a good Prussian family, Herr von Bismarck became member of the Diet of the Prussian province of Saxony in 1847, and during the revolutionary year 1848 was noted for his Conservative monarchical principles. In 1849 he became the leader of the newly formed monarchical party in the Prussian Parliament, of which he had been elected a member, and was one of the founders of the Kreuz Zeitung, the great Conservative newspaper of Berlin. In 1851 he was sent as the representative of Prussia to the German Diet at Frankfort, and retained that post eight years, making himself thoroughly acquainted with the political tendencies of all the German States. In 1859 he was appointed Prussian Ambassador at St Petersburg, where he remained three years. He was recalled to become Minister-President and Foreign Minister in the Prussian Cabinet, and with iron will and strong hand carried through the recognition of the Army according to Roon’s plan, ruling the kingdom against a refractory Parliament and without a budget for four years. Meanwhile the struggle between Austria and Prussia for the supremacy in Germany had grown more and acute, and in 1866 war between these powers broke out, ending in the complete defeat of Austria, which had to fight Italy at the same time. Count Bismarck showed great foresight and moderation in reaping the fruits of the war, which ousted Austria from the group of German States. In 1867 he became the first chancellor of the North-German Confederation under the presidency of the King of Prussia, which he had been instrumental in creating, and when in 1870 the war with France began he accompanied King William into the field. Whilst at Versaillies he arranged for the entrance of the South German States into the existing Confederation, and for the establishment of the German Empire. He conducted all the negotiations with France, and when peace had been concluded he became the Chancellor of the Empire. As such, he was responsible for the whole of its internal policy, and he fought the “Kultur-Kampf” against the Roman Catholic Church in defence of the undivided sway of the State against this Church. The foreign policy of the Empire was absolutely controlled by him. He presided at the Congress of Berlin in 1878, after the Russo-Turkish War, and he brought about the Triple alliance between Germany, Austria and Italy. In 1888 the old Emperor William I died, and during the short reign of Frederick III. Prince Bismarck remained Chancellor; but soon after the accession of the Emperor William II differences of opinion led to his retirement from public life in 1890. Prussia owes to Bismarck the securing of her predominant position in the Empire, and Germany her unification and the high place she holds in the concert of the nations.