Prussia's Rivalry With Austria: A Historical Perspective

Prussia and Austria have been rivals over their influence in the German states since Napoleon's defeat. The rivalry is largely held to have begun upon the death of the Habsburg Emperor Charles VI in 1740, when King Frederick the Great of Prussia launched an invasion of Austrian-controlled Silesia, starting the First Silesian War. The rivalry was an important element of the German question in the 19th century.

Napoleon's defeat: rivalry over influence in German states

The rivalry between Prussia and Austria over their influence in the German states began after Napoleon's defeat. Prussia and Austria were the most powerful German states in the Holy Roman Empire by the 18th and 19th centuries. The rivalry was characterized by major territorial conflicts and economic, cultural, and political aspects. The rivalry was an important element of the German question in the 19th century.

The rivalry began upon the death of the Habsburg Emperor Charles VI in 1740, when King Frederick the Great of Prussia launched an invasion of Austrian-controlled Silesia, starting the First Silesian War (of three Silesian Wars to come). Upon the 1648 Peace of Westphalia, Austria had to deal with the rising Brandenburg-Prussian power in the north, that replaced the Electorate of Saxony as the leading Protestant estate. The efforts made by the "Great Elector" and the "Soldier-king" Frederick William I had created a progressive state with a highly effective Prussian Army that, sooner or later, had to collide with the Habsburg claims to power.

The rivalry was an important element of the German question in the 19th century. Both opponents first met in the Silesian Wars and Seven Years' War during the middle 18th century until the conflict's culmination in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. 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.

Prussia defeated Austria and united the northern German states into a federation led by Prussia. Then, with the help of the southern German states like Bavaria, they defeated France in the Franco-Prussian war, As a result, Prussia was in a position to unite all of Germany under the German Empire. Meanwhile, Austria retained its independence from Prussia, but was having domestic issues, as they ruled over several ethnic groups unhappy with being ruled over by foreigners, especially the Hungarians.

Holstein dispute: breach of joint sovereignty

The rivalry between Prussia and Austria was an important element of the German question in the 19th century. The Holstein dispute was a breach of joint sovereignty that led to the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. 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.

Napoleonic Wars: cooperation and rivalry

The rivalry between Prussia and Austria is an important element of the German question in the 19th century. The rivalry was characterized by major territorial conflicts and economic, cultural, and political aspects. The rivalry is largely held to have begun upon the death of the Habsburg Emperor Charles VI in 1740, when King Frederick the Great of Prussia launched an invasion of Austrian-controlled Silesia, starting the First Silesian War (of three Silesian Wars to come) against Maria Theresa.

The rivalry was an important element of the Napoleonic Wars, where both opponents first met in the Silesian Wars and Seven Years' War during the middle 18th century until the conflict's culmination in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. The rivalry was also an important element of the Austro-Prussian War, which 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 rivalry between Prussia and Austria was also an important element of the German states after Napoleon's defeat. In a series of clashes over Holstein, a Danish province that was subsumed into Germany, Prussia defeated Austria and united the northern German states into a federation led by Prussia. Then, with the help of the southern German states like Bavaria, they defeated France in the Franco-Prussian war, As a result, Prussia was in a position to unite all of Germany under the German Empire. Meanwhile, Austria retained its independence from Prussia, but was having domestic issues, as they ruled over several ethnic groups unhappy with being ruled over by foreigners, especially the Hungarians.

The rivalry between Prussia and Austria was also an important element of the British, Russian, and French involvement in the war. Britain had no stake economically or politically in the war between Prussia and Austria, thus, was not going to intervene. Russia was unlikely to enter on the side of Vienna, due to ill will over Austrian support of the anti-Russian alliance during the Crimean War and Prussia had stood by Russia during the January Uprising in Poland, signing the Alvensleben Convention of February 1863 with Russia, whereas Austria had not. France was also unlikely to enter on the side of Austria, because Bismarck and Napoleon III met in Biarritz and allegedly discussed whether or not France would intervene in a potential Austro-Prussian war.

Crimean War: ill will from Austrian support of anti-Russian alliance

The Austro-Prussian War was a 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. Britain had no stake economically or politically in the war between Prussia and Austria, thus, was not going to intervene. Russia was unlikely to enter on the side of Vienna, due to ill will over Austrian support of the anti-Russian alliance during the Crimean War and Prussia had stood by Russia during the January Uprising in Poland, signing the Alvensleben Convention of February 1863 with Russia, whereas Austria had not. France was also unlikely to enter on the side of Austria, because Bismarck and Napoleon III met in Biarritz and allegedly discussed whether or not France would intervene in a potential Austro-Prussian war.

Silesian Wars: Habsburgs vs Brandenburg-Prussian power

The rivalry between Prussia and Austria was an important element of the German question in the 19th century. The Catholic Habsburgs had to accept the 1555 Peace of Augsburg and failed to strengthen their Imperial authority in the disastrous Thirty Years' War. Upon the 1648 Peace of Westphalia, Austria had to deal with the rising Brandenburg-Prussian power in the north, that replaced the Electorate of Saxony as the leading Protestant estate. The efforts made by the "Great Elector" and the "Soldier-king" Frederick William I had created a progressive state with a highly effective Prussian Army that, sooner or later, had to collide with the Habsburg claims to power. The rivalry is largely held to have begun upon the death of the Habsburg Emperor Charles VI in 1740, when King Frederick the Great of Prussia launched an invasion of Austrian-controlled Silesia, starting the First Silesian War (of three Silesian Wars to come) against Maria Theresa.

The Silesian Wars were a series of clashes over Holstein, a Danish province that was subsumed into Germany. Prussia defeated Austria and united the northern German states into a federation led by Prussia. Then, with the help of the southern German states like Bavaria, they defeated France in the Franco-Prussian war, As a result, Prussia was in a position to unite all of Germany under the German Empire. Meanwhile, Austria retained its independence from Prussia, but was having domestic issues, as they ruled over several ethnic groups unhappy with being ruled over by foreigners, especially the Hungarians.

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.

The conflict's culmination was the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. The German term is Deutscher Dualismus (literally German dualism), which does not cover only rivalry but also cooperation, for example in the Napoleonic Wars.

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