Post by lordroel on Aug 26, 2022 15:28:12 GMT
Prussia's Rise & Denmark's Decline: The Schleswig Wars 1848-1864
Schleswig and Holdstein were two duchies, located at the base of the Jutland Peninsula, that were long associated with the kingdom of Denmark. By the mid-19th century, however, there was a movement for independence from Denmark and a closer alignment with the German federation.
There were three factors favoring independence. First, there was a large German-speaking population in both provinces, and the majority of the population in Holstein was German. Second, by the mid 19th century, there was talk of building a canal through the region, and control of a waterway linking the North and Baltic Seas would be of enormous strategic importance. Third, the laws of succession in the two duchies differed from that of Denmark, and given the infertility of Frederick VII of Denmark, a succession dispute was anticipated at his death.
In 1848, revolutions across Europe unsettled the established order, and Schleswig-Holstein separatists used demonstrations in Copenhagen as a pretext for declaring their independence, knowing that Prussia would come to their aid. Several battles with Denmark followed, but the matter was resolved in favor of Denmark by diplomatic, rather than military means. A long-term peaceful solution to the issue was only possible if England, France, Russia and other European nations were willing to recognize the separation of Schleswig-Holstein from Denmark, and in 1850, they were unwilling to do so.
It was not until shortly after Bismarck became Chancellor of Prussia that a resolution in favor of German interests came about. A military conflict between Denmark and the German states re-occurred in 1864, but this time the military victories were decisively in favor of the Germans. More importantly, however, Otto von Bismarck had laid the groundwork for a diplomatic solution that allowed the other European powers to acquiesce to Denmark's loss of its two southern provinces. In general, the great European powers opposed independence for break-away provinces, and all were jealous of the increasing influence of Prussia. Knowing this, Bismarck made no immediate attempt to bring the provinces under his control, but rather generously, ceded governance to Austria. In retrospect, this was all part of a carefully laid plan to gain control of the entire region for Prussia, but Bismarck's diplomatic goal during the Second Schlegwig-Holstein War was merely to set up chess pieces. His final blow was not delivered for two years, until he had time to draw Austria into the Austro Prussian War, and destroy her influence over Northern Europe.
Schleswig and Holdstein were two duchies, located at the base of the Jutland Peninsula, that were long associated with the kingdom of Denmark. By the mid-19th century, however, there was a movement for independence from Denmark and a closer alignment with the German federation.
There were three factors favoring independence. First, there was a large German-speaking population in both provinces, and the majority of the population in Holstein was German. Second, by the mid 19th century, there was talk of building a canal through the region, and control of a waterway linking the North and Baltic Seas would be of enormous strategic importance. Third, the laws of succession in the two duchies differed from that of Denmark, and given the infertility of Frederick VII of Denmark, a succession dispute was anticipated at his death.
In 1848, revolutions across Europe unsettled the established order, and Schleswig-Holstein separatists used demonstrations in Copenhagen as a pretext for declaring their independence, knowing that Prussia would come to their aid. Several battles with Denmark followed, but the matter was resolved in favor of Denmark by diplomatic, rather than military means. A long-term peaceful solution to the issue was only possible if England, France, Russia and other European nations were willing to recognize the separation of Schleswig-Holstein from Denmark, and in 1850, they were unwilling to do so.
It was not until shortly after Bismarck became Chancellor of Prussia that a resolution in favor of German interests came about. A military conflict between Denmark and the German states re-occurred in 1864, but this time the military victories were decisively in favor of the Germans. More importantly, however, Otto von Bismarck had laid the groundwork for a diplomatic solution that allowed the other European powers to acquiesce to Denmark's loss of its two southern provinces. In general, the great European powers opposed independence for break-away provinces, and all were jealous of the increasing influence of Prussia. Knowing this, Bismarck made no immediate attempt to bring the provinces under his control, but rather generously, ceded governance to Austria. In retrospect, this was all part of a carefully laid plan to gain control of the entire region for Prussia, but Bismarck's diplomatic goal during the Second Schlegwig-Holstein War was merely to set up chess pieces. His final blow was not delivered for two years, until he had time to draw Austria into the Austro Prussian War, and destroy her influence over Northern Europe.