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{{Infobox politician|name=Otto von Bismarck|caption=Bismarck in 1890|birth_date=1 April 1815|birth_place=Schönhausen, [[Saxony]], [[Kingdom of Prussia]]|death_date=30 July 1898 (aged 83)|death_place=Friedrichsruh, [[Schleswig-Holstein]], Prussia, [[German Empire]]|political_orientation=[[Imperialism]]|image=Bundesarchiv Bild 146-2005-0057, Otto von Bismarck (cropped).jpg}} | {{Infobox politician|name=Otto von Bismarck|caption=Bismarck in 1890|birth_date=1 April 1815|birth_place=Schönhausen, [[Saxony]], [[Kingdom of Prussia]]|death_date=30 July 1898 (aged 83)|death_place=Friedrichsruh, [[Schleswig-Holstein]], Prussia, [[German Empire]]|political_orientation=[[Imperialism]]|image=Bundesarchiv Bild 146-2005-0057, Otto von Bismarck (cropped).jpg}} | ||
'''Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck-Schönhausen''', often called the '''Iron Chancellor''' | '''Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck-Schönhausen''', often called the '''Iron Chancellor''', was a [[Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918)|Prussian]] statesman and diplomat of the [[Junker]] class who in 1871 successfully led the formation the [[German Empire (1871–1918)|German Empire]], a united German state under Prussian dominance. From 1862 to 1890, he was the minister president and foreign minister of Prussia, and after the formation of the German Empire he also served as its first chancellor from 1871 until 1890, when he was dismissed by [[Wilhelm II]]. | ||
== Political career == | == Political career == | ||
In 1847 and 1848 Bismarck was selected as a representative to the newly created | In 1847 and 1848 Bismarck was selected as a representative to the newly created Prussian Landtag where he established himself as one of the most [[reactionary]] members, and a strong advocate of military force to suppress the [[Revolutions of 1848|1848 revolution]].<ref name=":0">{{Citation|author=M. N. Mashkin|year=1979|title=The Great Soviet Encyclopedia|title-url=https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Bismarck%2c+Otto+Eduard+Leopold+Von+Schonhausen|chapter=Bismarck, Otto Eduard Leopold Von Schönhausen}}</ref> | ||
From 1851 to 1859 he served as Prussia's representative to the Bundestag in [[Frankfurt]], the council of the [[German Confederation]]. Following this, Bismarck served as envoy to [[Russian Empire (1721–1917)|Russia]] from 1859 to 1862 and envoy to [[French Empire (1852–1870)|France]] in 1862.<ref name=":0" /> | From 1851 to 1859 he served as Prussia's representative to the Bundestag in [[Frankfurt]], the council of the [[German Confederation]]. Following this, Bismarck served as envoy to [[Russian Empire (1721–1917)|Russia]] from 1859 to 1862 and envoy to [[French Empire (1852–1870)|France]] in 1862.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
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== Chancellor == | == Chancellor == | ||
Upon the formation of the [[North German Confederation]] in 1867 Bismarck became | Upon the formation of the [[North German Confederation]] in 1867 Bismarck became Bundeschancellor, before becoming Reichschancellor upon the formation of the German Empire in 1871. As chancellor Bismarck consolidated the control of the Junker-bourgeois block; implementing [[Protectionism|protectionist]] policies that were advantageous to them whilst attempting to reduce the popularity of the [[Socialism|socialist]] movement by implementing some minor social reforms. Bismark's government was particularly concerned about the threat of the Polish national liberation movement and attempted to "germanize" the Polish population whilst seeking closer relations with [[Austro-Hungarian Monarchy (1867–1918)|Austria-Hungary]] and Russia.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
Bismarck's foreign policy revolved around the suppression of the threat of [[French Republic (1870–1940)|France]] whilst keeping the full territorial integrity of his unified German state. To this end he concluded | Bismarck's foreign policy revolved around the suppression of the threat of [[French Republic (1870–1940)|France]] whilst keeping the full territorial integrity of his unified German state. To this end he concluded the Three Emperor's League with Austria and Russia in 1873 with the former continuing to fall increasingly under German influence with the alliance with Austria in 1879 and the formation of the [[Triple Alliance (1882)|Triple Alliance]] with them and [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1922)|Italy]] in 1882. Bismarck preferred expansion within Europe, particularly in the [[Balkans]] but did also allow for Germany to build its own [[Colonialism|colonial]] empire in the 1880s which would bring it into conflict with the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|British]].<ref name=":0" /> | ||
In March 1890 Bismarck would be forced into retirement by German Emperor Wilhelm II following failures in suppressing the workers movement and foreign policy.<ref name=":0" /> | In March 1890 Bismarck would be forced into retirement by German Emperor Wilhelm II following failures in suppressing the workers movement and foreign policy.<ref name=":0" /> | ||