Heinrich Abeken13 July 1870
Ordered by William to telegram Bismarck of the telegram received from Gramont. Bismarck uses Abekens telegram to declare war
Germany · Warfare / Franco-Prussian War. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.
Ordered by William to telegram Bismarck of the telegram received from Gramont. Bismarck uses Abekens telegram to declare war
Bismarck uses Abekens telegram as provocation of war
War is declared against France. Germany is supported by England & Russia who see Napoleon III emulating Napoleon I
The Ems Dispatch, sometimes called the Ems Telegram, incited France to declare the Franco-Prussian War in July 1870.
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.
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.
The name referred to Bad Ems, a resort spa east of Koblenz on the Lahn river
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.
This factsheet is generated from stored World History Database records matching the country, broad category, detailed category and exact Event value shown above. Duplicate display records are collapsed; database wording is otherwise preserved. Source provenance varies by record, so formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.