Major States 989
responded by dispatching its own forces to Hesse-Kassel, much to the approval of the
locals. However, Russia gave its support to the Austrian prime minister, leading the
Prussians to acquiesce. The matter was closed at a meeting at Olmutz on November
- This was the Punctation of Olmutz.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from September 26, 1850.
MID#115
Started in January 1859. See the narrative in the 300 Austria-Hungary/325 Italy dyad
dispute list.
MID#261
Dispute Number: 261
Date(s): April 3, 1865 to July 26, 1866
Participants: 240 Hanover, 245 Bavaria, 267 Baden, 269 Saxony, 271 Wuerttem-
burg, 273 Hesse Electoral, 275 Hesse Grand Ducal, 300 Austria-Hungary/255 Ger-
many, 280 Mecklenburg Schwerin, 325 Italy
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side B (Imposed)
Fatalities: >999 deaths
Narrative: The Seven Weeks War followed the Second Schleswig-Holstein War (see
MID#194) in the sequence of German unification. The war was also a consequence
of how the previous war ended. Otto von Bismarck had been actively pursuing a uni-
fied Germany under Prussian domain. However, the various German states that came
into fruition in the early 19th century were formerly part of the Austrian Empire.
Most of them still looked to Vienna, and not Berlin, as the leader of German states.
Prussia could not accomplish much in unifying the German states without Austrian
input, resulting in Austrian participation with the Prussians in the Second Schleswig-
Holstein War. However, the Treaty of Vienna that ended that war created uncertain-
ties. Austria wanted its share of the spoils of war, causing Prussia and Austria to share
control of the territories taken from Denmark. Prussia felt that both Schleswig and
Holstein should be Prussian, but Prussia’s only allies in the German confederation
were the smaller states, prompting Otto von Bismarck to ensure French noninterven-
tion and an alliance with the Italians. Italian participation was natural. Austria had
been the major nemesis in Italian unification and held the region of Venetia. Their
participation would give Austria a north and south front to fight.
The war took all of seven weeks before Austria and her allies were in a major bind.
The Battle of Konnigratz was the decisive victory for Prussia on July 3, 1866. The
Austrians, left reeling, lost the last battle at Lamac and surrendered. A preliminary
peace agreement signed on July 26 ended the war, and a peace treaty was signed at
Prague on August 23. The changes were significant. Austria ceded Venetia to Italy,
as promised by Otto von Bismarck to Italy to ensure their participation. Austria
renounced any claims to Schleswig and Holstein. Austria vowed to withdraw from
the affairs of the German states, abolishing the German confederation and replacing
it with a North German Confederation under Prussian leadership. As a result, many
of the German micro-states lost system membership under this new arrangement.