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Napoleon, after a return from exile, leads the French against the British at Waterloo and loses badly. He is re-exiled to St. Helena, ending the 15 year French Empire.
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The Congress of Vienna was a meeting of diplomats and heads of state, who met to restore stability and order in Europe. Main representatives included Prince Metternich of Austria, Tsar Alexander I from Russia, Lord Robert Castlereagh of Britain, and Prince Charles Maurice of France. The Congress met for 10 months to redraw the map of Europe and divide French Territories won by Napoleon.
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Liberals, demanding German political unity, offered the throne of a united German state to Frederick William IV of Prussia. However, Frederick rejects the notion of a throne offered by "the people".
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He was a diplomat in Russia and France. Then he was the prime minister of Prussia. Ten years later he was chancellor to unite the German states under Prussian rule. He was a master of realpolitik.
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Otto wanted to form an alliance with Austria Prussia and Austria seized provinces of Shleswig and Holstein from Denmark. After a brief war they liberated the two provinces. Austria administered Holstein and Prussia administered Schleswig.
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Otto invaded Austria in a war lasting for 7 weeks. He dissolved the Austrian-led German conferederation. Then there was a Prussian led confederation and 5 independent states. However, Prussia did not take any land from Austria.
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Napoleon III tried to avoid war with Otto. They were angry that Prussia beat Austria. Later Otto spread a rumor that Wiliam insulted Frenchmen. Napoleon III then declared war on Prussia as Otto hoped. The Prussians quickly defeated the French in just a few weeks.
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William I became the kaiser of Germany. It was the birth of the 2nd Reich (empire). It was considered the heir of the Holy Roman Empire.
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Otto promoted economic and scientific progress. He wanted to keep France weak. He launched Kulturkampf. He also made social reforms to try and stop socialism.
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He succeeded his grandfather by asking Bismarck to resign. He believed in divine right to rule. He helped increased tensions on the eve of World War I.
