HIST2086 Bismarck: The Iron Chancellor War with Denmark 1864 Lecture 10 7 October 2010

Schleswig-Holstein Question (1) Duchy of Schleswig: mixed Danish & German population Duchy of Holstein: entirely German population Both Duchies under Danish rule but Treaty of Ripen (1460): ‘Never be divided’ (up ewig ungedeelt) Holstein member of German Confederation (since 1815) but not Schleswig: Danish king member of GC German nationalist uprising of S-H in 1848 unsuccessful Treaty of London (1852:) Permitted only personal no real union between DK + S-H to secure independence of S-H

Schleswig-Holstein Question (2) Rising Danish nationalism strived to incorporate Schleswig but not Holstein Danish king Frederick VII declares London Treaty of 1852 as invalid + declares incorporation of Schleswig into DK (Mar 1863) Military occupation of Holstein by GC troops to show readiness to attack DK (Oct 1863) Death of Frederick VII + Christian IX new Danish king: Not accepted by Schleswig-Holsteiners + German nationalists Prince of Augustenburg proposed as new ruler of independent S-H + setting up of ‘exile government’

Schleswig-Holstein Question (3) Bismarck’s tactics: Opposed independent S-H as possible new member of Austria-dominated GC Stressed validity of London Treaty of 1852: Pressed for return to status quo Calculated on DK defiance + DK diplomatic isolation in Europe

Schleswig-Holstein Question (4) Reactions + consequences: German national movement + ‘Third Germany’ enthusiastic about S-H Austria not supportive towards German national movement in S-H: Fear of strengthening Prussia = Joint Prussia-Austria ultimatum to DK to return to status quo (Jan 1864) = DK defiant but without foreign support

War with Denmark (1) Military victory of Prussia-Austria over DK (spring 1864) Occupation of Schleswig-Holstein by Prussian & Austrian troops Bismarck strongly opposed to plans of independent S-H: Only satellite state of Prussia tolerable for him New London Conference on S-H with no agreement due to DK defiance (Apr-Jun 1864) Fresh war + complete surrender of DK (Jul 1864)

War with Denmark (2) Treaty of Vienna (Oct 1864): → Danish king relinquishes his traditional rights in S-H = DK lost 33% of population + 40% of territory → Joint sovereignty of Prussian & Austria of S-H: Schleswig occupied by Prussia + Holstein by Austria = Bismarck extremely popular figure in Prussia = Austria’s administration of Holstein regarded by Bismarck as convenient stumbling-block to start diplomatic quarrels with Austria