Coburg intrigue
As Coburg intrigue some people it is an attempt in the vicinity of the Prussian royal court, William I in 1866 by a war against Austria dissuade. This did not succeed, however: the German War was the second war of the so-called German Wars of Unification ; Prussia triumphed over Austria, which contributed significantly to the political stabilization of the conservative government under Otto von Bismarck and, in the medium term, led to the establishment of the German Empire .
Contributors
The group of people who wanted to prevent the war against Austria in various ways included the Prussian Crown Prince couple Prince Friedrich Wilhelm and his wife Victoria of Great Britain and Ireland , their mother, the British Queen Victoria , the Prussian Queen Auguste , Count Goltz and von Bernstorff and Duke Ernst of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha . All persons were characterized by a politically liberal attitude and were either among the supporters of the Coburg Plan or, like the Crown Prince couple, were convinced of the plan.
course
The Coburg Plan provided for a voluntary unification of the numerous German small states by a liberal Prussia with a strong constitution and a constitutional monarchy. The agreement should not be made under duress, but voluntarily. The victory of Prussia over Austria in the German war, which the representatives of the "Coburg intrigue" could not prevent, destroyed the Coburg plan. After Prussia invaded Holstein, which was administered by Austria, on June 9, 1866, Austria applied to Frankfurt for the mobilization of the non-Prussian army , which was granted on June 14. Prussia reacted to this by invading Saxony , Hanover and Kurhessen . The decisive battle occurred at Königgrätz , which ultimately forced Austria to surrender and in which the Crown Prince played a decisive role. In the peace treaty of August 23rd in Prague, Austria left the German Confederation. Schleswig-Holstein, Hanover, Kurhessen, Nassau and Frankfurt were annexed by Prussia.
The two great military successes that Prussia had achieved in the four years since Otto von Bismarck took office, with the victory in the German-Danish and now in the German War, cemented his position as Prime Minister. The indemnity bill , which he submitted to the House of Representatives shortly after the victory of Königgrätz and with which the government asked for subsequent approval of the expenditure made during the constitutionless period, divided the liberals who had been in opposition to Bismarck.
literature
- Patricia Kolander: Frederick III - Germany's Liberal Emperor , Greenwood Press, Westport 1995, ISBN 0-313-29483-6
- Hannah Pakula: Victoria. Daughter of Queen Victoria, wife of the Prussian Crown Prince, mother Wilhelm II. Marion von Schröder-Verlag, Munich 1999, ISBN 3-547-77360-1