Mediaeval and modern history . e of the EngHsh king and his minister. 709. The Schleswig-Holstein War (1864). — The weapon whichBismarck had forged was used in three wars. The first of thesewas the Schleswig-Holstein War. Holstein was a German duchyheld by the Danish king, just as the first sovereigns of the presentdynasty in England held Hanover. W^hen, in 1863, Frederick VHof Denmark died, the male line of the royal family becameextinct, and it was held by the Germans that now this duchyand also Schleswig, for an old treaty was regarded as havingmade the duchies inseparable, should become en
Mediaeval and modern history . e of the EngHsh king and his minister. 709. The Schleswig-Holstein War (1864). — The weapon whichBismarck had forged was used in three wars. The first of thesewas the Schleswig-Holstein War. Holstein was a German duchyheld by the Danish king, just as the first sovereigns of the presentdynasty in England held Hanover. W^hen, in 1863, Frederick VHof Denmark died, the male line of the royal family becameextinct, and it was held by the Germans that now this duchyand also Schleswig, for an old treaty was regarded as havingmade the duchies inseparable, should become entirely free ofthe Danish crown, just as Hanover dropped away from Englandupon the death of William IV and the accession of Victoria in1837. The dispute soon ripened into war between Austria andPrussia and the new Danish king, Christian IX. Denmark wasoverpowered and forced to resign her claims to the duchies. Straightway the duchies became a bone of contention betweenAustria and Prussia. Bismarck was bent on annexing them to. Plate VIII. — Prince Bismarck(After a painting by Franz von LenbacJi) THE SEVEN WEEKS WAR 64I Prussia, since they would be a most valuable possession for heras a prospective sea power, giving her as they would the harborof Kiel and control of a proposed canal uniting the Baltic andthe North Sea. Austria was determined that her rival should notget them unless she received compensation in some form, — abit of Silesia, and the promise of Prussias help in case she haddifficulty with her troublesome non-German provinces. There was endless controversy over the matter. Bismarckrealized that Prussia could secure the coveted prize only throughwar with Austria, and to this extreme he was ready to go sincea war would settle not only the question respecting the owner-ship of the duchies but also the larger question as to Austrianor Prussian predominance in Germany. The hopelessly entangledGordian knot was to be cut by the sword. 710. The Austro-Prussian or Seven
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