Mobilization
Bavaria & Baden mobilize under the terms of the 1866 military treaties
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1870 in Germany
Explore 143 historical events and records for Germany in 1870.
Historical records for Germany in 1870
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 143 unique records.
143Unique records
1 of 4Page
15Named events on this page
8Named people on this page
6Places on this page
January
February
English Government and the Fenian Prisoners
Writes on British government policy toward imprisoned Irish Fenians.
March
Succession
Issues a memo saying a Hohenzollern is Spain would tie down 2 French Divs
Succession
William & the Crown Prince oppose Charles Anthonys Spanish succession. Urges Charles Anthony to accept the Spanish crown
Alliance Agreement
Publishes alliances with south German states, German Armies are under Prussian control
Alliance Bismarck and the south German states
Publishes alliances with south German states, German Armies are under Prussian control
Confidential Communication on Bakunin
Writes a confidential communication analysing Bakunin's political activity and disputes inside the International.
June
Succession
Persuades Leopold to accept the Spanish offer of the throne. Leopolds acceptance of the offer of the Spanish throne is telegramed to Madrid
July
Succession
The offer to Leopold becomes public when the French press expose it to the world
Meeting with Gorchakov & secures an understanding with Russia
Meets Gorchakov & secures an understanding with Russia
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Following the protests by France, Leopold had withdrawn his acceptance in July 1870.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.
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.
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
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.
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"
Succession
Forces Charles Anthony to reject the Spanish throne on behalf of his son Leopold
Bismarck uses Abekens telegram to declare war
Bismarck uses Abekens telegram to declare war
Declaration of War
Ordered by William to telegram Bismarck of the telegram received from Gramont. Bismarck uses Abekens telegram to declare war
Declaration of War
Bismarck uses Abekens telegram as provocation of war
Ems Dispatch
Wilhelm I rejects further French demands over the Hohenzollern candidacy, and Bismarck's edited dispatch hardens opinion in both countries.
Ems Telegram
Bismarck uses Abekens telegram to declare war
Ems Telegram
Bismarck uses Abeken's telegram to declare war
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Candidacy
Bismarck took it upon himself to edit the report, sharpening the language. He cut out Wilhelm's conciliatory phrases and emphasized the real issue. The French had made certain demands under threat of war; and Wilhelm had refused them.
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Candidacy
Certainly the edit of the telegram, released on the evening of the same day (13 July) to the media and foreign embassies, gave the impression both that Benedetti was rather more demanding and that the King was exceedingly abrupt.
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Candidacy
It was designed to give the French the impression that King Wilhelm I had insulted Count Benedetti; likewise, the Germans interpreted the modified dispatch as the Count insulting the King
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Candidacy
The King's secretary Heinrich Abeken wrote an account, which was passed on to Otto von Bismarck in Berlin. Wilhelm described Benedetti as "very importunate." The King gave permission to Bismarck to release an account of the events.
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Candidacy
This was no forgery; it was a clear statement of the facts.
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Candidacy
Benedetti had been instructed by his superior, Foreign Minister Agenor, the Duc de Gramont, to present the French demand that the king should guarantee that he would never again permit the candidacy of a Hohenzollern prince to the Spanish throne.
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Candidacy
King Wilhelm I of Prussia, on his morning stroll in the Kurpark in Ems, was stopped by Count Vincent Benedetti, the French ambassador to Prussia since 1864.
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Candidacy
Politely, and in a friendly manner, the king refused to bind himself to any course of action into the indefinite future. After their exchange, "the two departed coolly."
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Candidacy
The meeting was informal and took place on the promenade of the Kursaal with the king's entourage at a discreet distance.
Succession
Gramont wants "assurance that he will never authorize a renewal of the candidacy". Bismarck uses Abekens telegram to declare war
Mobilization
The Landwehr is mobilized
Declaration of War
War is declared against France. Germany is supported by England & Russia who see Napoleon III emulating Napoleon I
First Address on the Franco-Prussian War
Drafts the International's first address on the Franco-Prussian War.
Battle of Gravelotte
The Germans lose 20,000 to the French 12,000. Loses to the French by sending his First Army to be massacred in a ravine. Decisive German victory which the French could have avoided
First Army
Mobilizes the First Army in the north
First Army
Loses to the French by sending his First Army to be massacred in a ravine
Mobilization
Mobilizes the Second Army in the centre
Mobilization
Mobilizes the German forces, uses the same plan against the Austrians in 1866
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.