Succession
Persuades Leopold to accept the Spanish offer of the throne. Leopolds acceptance of the offer of the Spanish throne is telegramed to Madrid
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1862-1890
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen Biography and Timeline — Page 4
Follow Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen through 331 dated historical records for Germany.
Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
331Distinct records
4 of 9Page
1870–1870Years on this page
1870
Succession
The offer to Leopold becomes public when the French press expose it to the world
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1862-1890
Meeting with Gorchakov & secures an understanding with Russia
Meets Gorchakov & secures an understanding with Russia
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Succession
William compels Charles Anthony to renounce the Spanish throne for his son Leopold. Charles Anthonys renunciation of the throne is "a humiliation worse than Olmutz"
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1862-1890
Declaration of War
Bismarck uses Abekens telegram as provocation of war
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1862-1890
Mobilization
The Landwehr is mobilized
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1862-1890
Declaration of War
War is declared against France. Germany is supported by England & Russia who see Napoleon III emulating Napoleon I
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1862-1890
Mobilization
Sets out as a major-general with William to command the armies in the field
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1862-1890
Alliance Agreement with The Protestant House of Hohenzollern that
The Government of French Emperor Napoleon III voiced concern over a possible Spanish alliance with the Protestant House of Hohenzollern that ruled the Kingdom of Prussia, protested against it, and hinted about a war.
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
French were not yet satisfied with this and demanded further commitments
The French were not yet satisfied with this and demanded further commitments, especially a guarantee by the Prussian king that no member of any branch of his Hohenzollern family would ever be a candidate for the Spanish throne
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Candidacy
Following the protests by France, Leopold had withdrawn his acceptance in July 1870. This was already considered a diplomatic defeat for Prussia.
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Candidacy
In early 1870, the German Prince Leopold, of the Roman Catholic cadet branch Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, had been offered the vacant Spanish throne.
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Candidacy
The French were not yet satisfied with this and demanded further commitments, especially a guarantee by the Prussian king that no member of any branch of his Hohenzollern family would ever be a candidate for the Spanish throne
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Candidacy
The Government of French Emperor Napoleon III voiced concern over a possible Spanish alliance with the Protestant House of Hohenzollern that ruled the Kingdom of Prussia, protested against it, and hinted about a war.
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
In early 1870, the German Prince Leopold, of the Roman Catholic cadet
In early 1870, the German Prince Leopold, of the Roman Catholic cadet branch Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, had been offered the vacant Spanish throne.
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Withdrawal Negotiations
Following the protests by France, Leopold had withdrawn his acceptance in July 1870. This was already considered a diplomatic defeat for Prussia.
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Battle of Sedan
Present in battle as a Major General, victory leads to the German fall of Paris
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1862-1890
Peace
Favre requests an honourable peace from Bismarck who demands Alsace, Metz & Strasburg
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1862-1890
Siege of Paris
Favre requests an honourable peace from Bismarck who demands Alsace, Metz & Strasburg
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1862-1890
Unification
Baden & Hesse join the Confederation of Germany
Role range: 1871-1814 – 1871-1890
Unification
Germany is united under a single Confederation
Role range: 1871-1814 – 1871-1890
Catholic Department
Abolishes the Catholic Dept of the Prussian Ministry of Public Worship & Education
Role range: 1862-1890
Election
The Centre Party win 57 seats, their new popularity shocks Bismarck into action
Role range: 1862-1890
North German Confederation
The North German Confederation becomes a member of the Zollverein, the German customs union of 1834
Role range: 1862-1890
North German Confederation
The North German Confederation establishes a common penal code
Role range: 1862-1890
Sets up a schools inspectorate in Prussia
Sets up a schools inspectorate in Prussia
Role range: 1862-1890
Zollverein
The North German Confederation becomes a member of the Zollverein, the German customs union of 1834
Role range: 1862-1890
Chancellor
Appointed Imperial Chancellor of the 1st Reich
Role range: 0800-1805 – 1871-1890
Declaration of War
The Ems Dispatch, sometimes called the Ems Telegram, incited France to declare the Franco-Prussian War in July 1870.
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Declaration of War
The Ems Telegram was sent from the Prussian Kaiser, Wilhelm I, to his Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck which, when published (and as anticipated by Bismarck) precipitated the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71.
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Declaration of War
The actual dispatch was an internal message from the Prussian King's holiday to Otto von Bismarck in Berlin, reporting demands made by the French ambassador; it was Bismarck's released statement to the press that became known as the Ems Dispatch.
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Declaration of War
The name referred to Bad Ems, a resort spa east of Koblenz on the Lahn river
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Declaration of War
The telegram's contents outlined the details of a disagreement between Wilhelm and the French ambassador concerning the succession to the Spanish throne. Bismarck subtly doctored the telegram to give the impression that each side had insulted the other.
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Ems Despatch
The Ems Dispatch, sometimes called the Ems Telegram, incited France to declare the Franco-Prussian War in July 1870.
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Ems Despatch
The Ems Telegram was sent from the Prussian Kaiser, Wilhelm I, to his Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck which, when published (and as anticipated by Bismarck) precipitated the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71.
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Ems Despatch
The actual dispatch was an internal message from the Prussian King's holiday to Otto von Bismarck in Berlin, reporting demands made by the French ambassador; it was Bismarck's released statement to the press that became known as the Ems Dispatch.
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Ems Despatch
The name referred to Bad Ems, a resort spa east of Koblenz on the Lahn river
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Ems Despatch
The telegram's contents outlined the details of a disagreement between Wilhelm and the French ambassador concerning the succession to the Spanish throne. Bismarck subtly doctored the telegram to give the impression that each side had insulted the other.
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Ems Dispatch
Bismarck's released statement of the telegram to the press becomes known as the Ems Dispatch
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Ems Dispatch
The Ems Dispatch, sometimes called the Ems Telegram, incites France to declare the Franco-Prussian War in July 1870
Role range: 1870-1871 – 1871-1890
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.