Austria's Loss Of Territory: The 1866 Battle Aftermath

The Austro-Prussian War of 1866 was fought between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, resulting in a Prussian victory. The war was part of a wider rivalry between the two powers and led to a shift in power among the German states from Austrian to Prussian hegemony.

The major outcome of the war was the abolition of the German Confederation, which was replaced by the unification of all the northern German states in the North German Confederation, excluding Austria and other southern German states. The war also resulted in the Italian annexation of the Austrian realm of Venetia.

The war was sparked by a dispute between Prussia and Austria over the administration of Schleswig-Holstein, which they had jointly occupied after conquering it from Denmark at the end of the Second Schleswig War in 1864. Prussia, aided by its alliance with the Kingdom of Italy, invaded Austrian-controlled Holstein in June 1866, marking the start of the Austro-Prussian War.

The conflict ended with the Peace of Prague on 23 August 1866, which imposed harsh terms on Austria. The Habsburg Empire had to cede Venice to Italy, leave Holstein to Prussia, and pay a substantial indemnity to Prussia for its war costs. Most significantly, the peace ended Austria's role within the German political sphere, as it was forced to accept the dissolution of the German Confederation and the formation of the North German Confederation under Prussian dominance.

The Austro-Prussian War was fought between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia

The war was triggered by a dispute over the administration of Schleswig-Holstein, which both Prussia and Austria had conquered from Denmark and agreed to jointly occupy at the end of the Second Schleswig War in 1864. Prussia protested the decision of the Austrian Governor of Holstein to permit the estates of the duchies to call up a united assembly, declaring the Austrian decision a breach of the principle of joint sovereignty. Austria responded by asserting that its decision did not infringe on Prussia's rights in the duchies.

Prussia formed an alliance with Italy, committing it to the war if Prussia entered one against Austria within three months. Austria responded with a mobilisation of its Southern Army on the Italian border. Italy called for a general mobilisation, and Austria ordered its own general mobilisation the next day. Prussia's general mobilisation orders were signed in steps on 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 12 May.

When Austria brought the Schleswig-Holstein dispute before the German Diet on 1 June and also decided on 5 June to convene the Diet of Holstein on 11 June, Prussia declared that the Gastein Convention of 14 August 1865 had thereby been nullified and invaded Holstein on 9 June. When the German Diet responded by voting for a partial mobilisation against Prussia on 14 June, Bismarck claimed that the German Confederation had ended. The Prussian Army invaded Hanover, Saxony and the Electorate of Hesse on 15 June. Italy declared war on Austria on 20 June.

The war ended with a decisive Prussian victory at the Battle of Königgrätz in Bohemia on 3 July. An armistice between Prussia and Austria came into effect at noon on 22 July, and a preliminary peace was signed on 26 July at Nikolsburg. The war resulted in the abolition of the German Confederation and its partial replacement by the unification of all of the northern German states in the North German Confederation that excluded Austria and the other southern German states. The war also resulted in the Italian annexation of the Austrian realm of Venetia.

The war was a carefully planned stage in the unification of Germany under Prussia's Hohenzollern dynasty, of which Otto von Bismarck was the principal agent. The Prussian victory enabled it to organise the North German Confederation. Prussia imposed a harsh victor's peace on Austria, forcing it to relinquish its role within the German political sphere and accept the dissolution of the German Confederation.

The war was part of the wider rivalry between Austria and Prussia

The Austro-Prussian War, also known as the Seven Weeks' War, was fought in 1866 between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. The war was part of the wider rivalry between Austria and Prussia and resulted in Prussian dominance over the German states. Prussia was aided by the Kingdom of Italy, linking this conflict to the Third Independence War of Italian unification.

The war erupted as a result of the dispute between Prussia and Austria over the administration of Schleswig-Holstein, which the two had conquered from Denmark and agreed to jointly occupy at the end of the Second Schleswig War in 1864. The crisis started on 26 January 1866, when Prussia protested the decision of the Austrian Governor of Holstein to permit the estates of the duchies to call up a united assembly, declaring the Austrian decision a breach of the principle of joint sovereignty. Austria replied on 7 February, asserting that its decision did not infringe on Prussia's rights in the duchies. In March 1866, Austria reinforced its troops along its frontier with Prussia. Prussia responded with a partial mobilisation of five divisions on 28 March.

The Prussian Minister President, Otto von Bismarck, made an alliance with Italy on 8 April, committing it to the war if Prussia entered one against Austria within three months. This was an obvious incentive for Bismarck to go to war with Austria within three months so that Italy would divert Austrian strength away from Prussia. Austria responded with a mobilisation of its Southern Army on the Italian border on 21 April. Italy called for a general mobilisation on 26 April and Austria ordered its own general mobilisation the next day. Prussia's general mobilisation orders were signed in steps on 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 12 May.

When Austria brought the Schleswig-Holstein dispute before the German Diet on 1 June and also decided on 5 June to convene the Diet of Holstein on 11 June, Prussia declared that the Gastein Convention of 14 August 1865 had thereby been nullified and invaded Holstein on 9 June. When the German Diet responded by voting for a partial mobilisation against Prussia on 14 June, Bismarck claimed that the German Confederation had ended. The Prussian Army invaded Hanover, Saxony and the Electorate of Hesse on 15 June. Italy declared war on Austria on 20 June.

The war ended in a Prussian victory, which meant the exclusion of Austria from Germany. The issue was decided in Bohemia, where the principal Prussian armies met the main Austrian forces and the Saxon army, most decisively at the Battle of Königgrätz. A Prussian detachment, known as the army of the Main, meanwhile dealt with the forces of Bavaria and other German states that had sided with Austria. Simultaneously, a campaign was fought in Venetia between the Austrian army of the south and the Italians, who had made an alliance with Prussia.

The war resulted in the abolition of the German Confederation

The German Confederation was an association of 39 predominantly German-speaking sovereign states in Central Europe. It was created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 as a replacement of the former Holy Roman Empire, which had been dissolved in 1806 as a result of the Napoleonic Wars. The Confederation was formally created by a second treaty, the Final Act of the Ministerial Conference to Complete and Consolidate the Organization of the German Confederation. This treaty was not concluded and signed by the parties until 15 May 1820.

The German Confederation ended as a result of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 between the Austrian Empire and its allies on one side and the Kingdom of Prussia and its allies on the other. The Confederation had 33 members immediately before its dissolution. In the Prague peace treaty, on 23 August 1866, Austria had to accept that the Confederation was dissolved. The following day, the remaining member states confirmed the dissolution. The treaty allowed Prussia to create a new Bundesverhältnis (a new kind of federation) in the North of Germany. The South German states were allowed to create a South German Confederation but this did not come into existence.

The war also resulted in the Italian annexation of the Austrian realm of Venetia

The Austro-Prussian War of 1866, also known as the Seven Weeks' War, was fought between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, with both sides aided by various allies within the German Confederation. The war was part of the wider rivalry between Austria and Prussia, and resulted in Prussian dominance over the German states.

The war was sparked by a dispute over the administration of Schleswig and Holstein, which Austria and Prussia had conquered from Denmark and agreed to jointly occupy at the end of the Second Schleswig War in 1864. Prussia's Minister President, Otto von Bismarck, made an alliance with Italy on 8 April, committing it to the war if Prussia entered into one against Austria within three months. This was an obvious incentive for Bismarck to go to war with Austria within three months so that Italy would divert Austrian strength away from Prussia.

The war resulted in the Italian annexation of the Austrian realm of Venetia, which was a wealthy and populous territory. Italy's acquisition of this territory represented a major step in the Unification of Italy.

The Treaty of Vienna, signed on 3 October 1866, confirmed the terms of the 12 August Armistice of Cormons, resulting in the transfer of Venetia and most of Friuli to the French Empire, who then gave the region to Italy after the consent of the inhabitants through a referendum. This represented the final division of the Habsburg-ruled Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, as the Lombard half had been ceded to the Kingdom of Sardinia in the earlier 1859 Treaty of Zurich. The treaty forced the Austrian government to recognise the sovereignty of the new Italian Kingdom.

The Italian Navy, commanded by Admiral Carlo di Persano, was to set sail from Ancona with the objective of seizing Trieste. Giuseppe Garibaldi's volunteer corps, reinforced by a division of regular infantry, were to advance into Trentino, with the objective of capturing its capital, Trento.

The Italian Prime Minister, Bettino Ricasoli, refused to call an armistice with Austria and insisted on obtaining "natural" frontiers for Italy, including the cession of Venice and South Tyrol, and that Italian interests in Istria were respected. The Austro-Prussian armistice had strengthened Vienna's hand, and the Austrian admiral, Wilhelm von Tegetthoff, had taken command of the sea. Eventually, the cessation of hostilities was agreed to at the Armistice of Cormons, signed on 12 August 1866, followed by the Treaty of Vienna on 3 October 1866.

The war was the first between two major continental powers in seven years

The Austro-Prussian War, also known as the Seven Weeks' War, was the first conflict between two major continental powers in seven years. It was fought in 1866 between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, with each aided by various allies within the German Confederation. Prussia had also allied with the Kingdom of Italy, linking this conflict to the Third Independence War of Italian unification. The war was part of the wider rivalry between Austria and Prussia, and resulted in Prussian dominance over the German states.

The major result of the war was a shift in power among the German states away from Austrian and towards Prussian hegemony. It resulted in the abolition of the German Confederation and its partial replacement by the unification of all of the northern German states in the North German Confederation that excluded Austria and the other southern German states. The war also resulted in the Italian annexation of the Austrian realm of Venetia.

The war erupted as a result of the dispute between Prussia and Austria over the administration of Schleswig-Holstein, which the two of them had conquered from Denmark and agreed to jointly occupy at the end of the Second Schleswig War in 1864. The crisis started on 26 January 1866, when Prussia protested the decision of the Austrian Governor of Holstein to permit the estates of the duchies to call up a united assembly, declaring the Austrian decision a breach of the principle of joint sovereignty. Austria replied on 7 February, asserting that its decision did not infringe on Prussia's rights in the duchies. In March 1866, Austria reinforced its troops along its frontier with Prussia. Prussia responded with a partial mobilisation of five divisions on 28 March.

The Prussian Minister President Otto von Bismarck made an alliance with Italy on 8 April, committing it to the war if Prussia entered one against Austria within three months, which was an obvious incentive for Bismarck to go to war with Austria within three months so that Italy would divert Austrian strength away from Prussia. Austria responded with a mobilisation of its Southern Army on the Italian border on 21 April. Italy called for a general mobilisation on 26 April and Austria ordered its own general mobilisation the next day. Prussia's general mobilisation orders were signed in steps on 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 12 May.

When Austria brought the Schleswig-Holstein dispute before the German Diet on 1 June and also decided on 5 June to convene the Diet of Holstein on 11 June, Prussia declared that the Gastein Convention of 14 August 1865 had thereby been nullified and invaded Holstein on 9 June. When the German Diet responded by voting for a partial mobilisation against Prussia on 14 June, Bismarck claimed that the German Confederation had ended. The Prussian Army invaded Hanover, Saxony and the Electorate of Hesse on 15 June. Italy declared war on Austria on 20 June.

The first war between two major continental powers in seven years, it used many of the same technologies as the Second Italian War of Independence, including railways to concentrate troops during mobilisation and telegraphy to enhance long-distance communication. The Prussian Army used von Dreyse's breech-loading needle gun, which could be rapidly loaded while the soldier was seeking cover on the ground, whereas the Austrian muzzle-loading rifles could be loaded only slowly, and generally from a standing position.

The main campaign of the war occurred in Bohemia. Prussian Chief of General Staff Helmuth von Moltke had planned meticulously for the war. He rapidly mobilised the Prussian army and advanced across the border into Saxony and Bohemia, where the Austrian army was concentrating for an invasion of Silesia. There, the Prussian armies, led nominally by King William I, converged, and the two sides met at the Battle of Königgrätz (Hradec Králové) on 3 July. The Prussian Army of the Elbe advanced on the Austrian left wing, and the First Army on the centre, prematurely; they risked being counter-flanked on their own left. Victory therefore depended on the timely arrival of the Second Army on the left wing. This was achieved through the brilliant work of its Chief of Staff, Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal. Superior Prussian organisation and élan decided the battle against Austrian numerical superiority, and the victory was near total, with Austrian battle deaths nearly seven times the Prussian figure. An armistice between Prussia and Austria came into effect at noon on 22 July. A preliminary peace was signed on 26 July at Nikolsburg.

Frequently asked questions