dec 31, 1850 - Austro‑Prussian conflict that followed the war with Denmark,

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Short version (for your timeline)
After defeating Denmark, Prussia and Austria split Schleswig and Holstein under the Gastein Convention (1865). Disputes over the duchies led to the Austro‑Prussian War of 1866, where Prussia crushed Austria at Königgrätz. The Treaty of Prague pushed Austria out of German affairs, and the following year Austria reorganized itself as the Dual Monarchy of Austria‑Hungary.



⭐ 1. After defeating Denmark (1864), Prussia and Austria seized Schleswig & Holstein
Prussia and Austria had fought Denmark together in 1864.
They won, and Denmark surrendered:
• Schleswig
• Holstein
These duchies were the “spoils” of the war.
Everyone assumed they would be handed to the German duke (Augustenburg), but Bismarck had no intention of giving them away.
He wanted them for Prussia.
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⭐ 2. 1865: The Gastein Convention — Prussia and Austria split the duchies
Instead of giving the duchies to the duke, Prussia and Austria made a deal:
Gastein Convention (1865)
• Prussia would administer Schleswig
• Austria would administer Holstein
This arrangement was temporary and designed to fail.
Bismarck wanted friction with Austria — it gave him a reason to start the next war.
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⭐ 3. Austria “breaks” the agreement → Bismarck gets his excuse
Austria eventually violated the spirit of the Gastein Convention by:
• supporting the Augustenburg claimant
• interfering in Schleswig‑Holstein affairs
• appealing to the German Confederation against Prussia
Bismarck used this as the legal pretext he needed.
He declared that Austria had broken the agreement.
This is exactly what he wanted.
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⭐ 4. 1866: The Austro‑Prussian War (Seven Weeks’ War)
Prussia invaded Holstein.
Austria mobilized.
The German Confederation split.
The decisive battle was:
Battle of Königgrätz (Sadowa) — July 3, 1866
A massive Prussian victory.
This battle destroyed Austrian influence in Germany
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⭐ 5. Treaty of Prague (1866) — Austria is pushed out of German affairs
The war ended with the:
Treaty of Prague (August 1866)
Key results:
• Austria was excluded from German politics
• The German Confederation was dissolved
• Prussia created the North German Confederation under its leadership
• Prussia annexed Schleswig, Holstein, Hanover, Hesse‑Kassel, and Nassau
This is the moment Prussia becomes the dominant German power.
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⭐ 6. 1867: Austria reorganizes itself → Austria‑Hungary is born
Austria’s defeat was so humiliating that it had to reorganize internally.
In 1867, Austria made a deal with Hungary:
Austro‑Hungarian Compromise (Ausgleich)
• Austria and Hungary became two equal halves
• They shared a monarch (Franz Joseph)
• They shared foreign policy and military
• But each had its own parliament and government
This created the Dual Monarchy of Austria‑Hungary.

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