The Franco-Prussian War 1870/71

France’s growing distrust of Prussia formed the backdrop for the conflict that escalated in 1870. Prussia was seen as an extremely threatening competitor after the victorious wars against Denmark (1864) and Austria (1866), and France saw its supremacy on the European continent threatened. After the Spanish crown was offered to the Prussian Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1835-1905), the feared "nightmare" of encirclement seemed to become reality. Leopold renounced his candidacy for the throne, but France demanded guarantees against another candidacy and an apology. The Prussian King Wilhelm I (1797-1888) dismissed the French envoy in Bad Ems with this request. The Prussian Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898) published the rejection in the so-called "Emser Depesche" (Ems Dispatch) to exert pressure on the southern German states and persuade them to mobilise.

For France this was an affront and the French Emperor Napoleon III (1808-1873) declared war on Prussia. In accordance with the defensive and offensive alliance of 1866, the Kingdom of Bavaria was the first of the southern German states to recognise the case for the alliance on 16 July 1870. The motivation for this was the obligations resulting from the defensive and offensive alliance. With a telegram written in French, Ludwig II issued orders for mobilisation from Berg Castle on the same day. Ludwig and Hohenlohe saw this as an opportunity to have a better negotiating position with Prussia in the event of a victory against France.

During a visit by the Prussian Crown Prince Friedrich (1831-1888), Ludwig II raised the existential desire to preserve Bavarian sovereignty and formulated this in a letter written on 28 July 1870. In a letter referring to this, dated 5 August 1870, the Prussian King Wilhelm I comments: "I thank you for your frank discussion and know that my son has yet found opportunity to assure you how I agree with the wishes you express in regard to the independence and integrity of Bavaria (...) This sentiment of mine (...) will become, through the faithful brotherhood in arms (...), an unshakable foundation of the right and self-reliance of each of the allied states."

Julia Misamer