# Canonical recap data for Austro-Prussian War (1866)
# Source: https://recap.at/1866/austro-prussian-war
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: austro-prussian-war
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/1866/austro-prussian-war"
title: Austro-Prussian War
aliases:
- Seven Weeks' War
- German War
- War of 1866
- Austro-Prussian conflict
subtitle: Seven Weeks' War reshaped Central Europe, eliminated Austria from German affairs, and cleared Bismarck's path to unification.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 1866-07-22
endDate: 1866-07-26
datePrecision: day
year: 1866
decade: 1860
country:
name: Prussia
slug: prussia
summaryShort: The Austro-Prussian War was fought in 1866 between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, with each also being aided by various allies within the German Confederation. Prussia had also allied with the Kingdom of Italy, linking this conflict to the Third Independence War of Italian unification. The Austro-Pruss
summaryLong: The Austro-Prussian War was fought in 1866 between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, with Prussia supported by Italian forces and various North German states. Prussia had also allied with the Kingdom of Italy, linking this conflict to the Third Independence War of Italian unification. The Austro-Prussian War was part of the wider rivalry between Austria and Prussia, and resulted in Prussian dominance over the German states, having confirmed Prussia's superior military organization and technology compared to Austria at the time.
lede: In 1866, Prussia defeated Austria in a ten-week war that reshaped Central Europe. The conflict settled which power would dominate the German-speaking world, with Prussia's victory leading to German unification under Prussian leadership just four years later.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Schlacht-bei-koeniggraetz-von-georg-bleibtreu.jpg/1280px-Schlacht-bei-koeniggraetz-von-georg-bleibtreu.jpg"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "Austro-Prussian War"
importance: 82
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Duration
  value: approximately 10 weeks (June 15 – August 23, 1866)
- label: Major battle
  value: Battle of Königgrätz, July 3, 1866 - Prussia's decisive victory
- label: Prussian commander
  value: Helmuth von Moltke
- label: Prussian troop strength
  value: ~300,000 soldiers
- label: Austrian troop strength
  value: ~280,000 soldiers
- label: Italian alliance
  value: Kingdom of Italy joined Prussia against Austria
- label: Treaty
  value: Treaty of Prague, August 23, 1866
- label: German Confederation outcome
  value: Dissolved; replaced by North German Confederation under Prussian leadership
timeline:
- date: 1866-06-15
  title: War declared
  description: Prussia declares war on Austria following disputes over control of Holstein and influence in the German Confederation.
- date: 1866-06-16
  title: Italian declaration
  description: Italy enters the war as a Prussian ally, attacking Austria in the south to divert Austro-Hungarian forces.
- date: 1866-07-03
  title: Battle of Königgrätz
  description: Prussian forces under General von Moltke achieve decisive victory against the Austrian army, effectively deciding the war's outcome.
- date: 1866-07-04
  title: Austrian defeat recognized
  description: Emperor Francis Joseph I acknowledges military defeat and authorizes armistice negotiations.
- date: 1866-08-23
  title: Treaty of Prague
  description: Austria formally cedes territory and accepts dissolution of the German Confederation. Prussia gains Schleswig-Holstein and dominates reorganized German affairs.
- date: 1866-08-23
  title: German Confederation dissolved
  description: The loose confederation that had governed German-speaking territories since 1815 is officially ended.
- date: 1866-10-21
  title: North German Confederation formed
  description: Prussia establishes the North German Confederation with itself as clear leader, excluding Austria from German unity.
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austro-Prussian_War"
  title: Austro-Prussian War of 1866
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
impactStatement: Prussia's victory over Austria in 1866 ended Vienna's influence over German affairs and cleared the path for Otto von Bismarck's German unification project. The war demonstrated that modern industrial capacity and railroad logistics could overwhelm traditional military organization, reshaping how European powers thought about warfare and state power.
categories:
- war
taxonomy:
domain: military
eventTypes:
- war
- invasion
canonicalClasses:
- conflict
- transformation
impactRadius: regional
velocity: sudden
predictability: forecastable
intentionality: planned
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: conflict
metaDescription: 1866 war between Prussia and Austria that determined German dominance and reshaped Central European politics.
wikidataQid: Q153650
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20260429124353/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austro-Prussian_War"
  capturedAt: 2026-04-29
  label: Austro-Prussian War of 1866
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austro-Prussian_War"
peoplesVoice:
- source: Otto von Bismarck, Prussian Minister-President
  voiceType: official
  context: Bismarck justified Prussia's swift military action and the political settlement immediately following the war's conclusion.
  excerpt: The great questions of the time will not be decided by speeches and majority decisions - that was the great mistake of 1848 and 1849 - but by iron and blood.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 90
  attribution: Speech to the Prussian House of Delegates, September 30, 1862; reiterated during 1866 campaign
  publishedAt: 1866-07-15
  originalLanguage: de
- source: Crown Prince Frederick William of Prussia, Military Commander
  voiceType: expert
  context: Frederick William reflected on the decisive Prussian victory at Koniggratz (Sadowa) on July 3, 1866, the war's turning point.
  excerpt: The needle-gun has decided the fate of nations. Our victory was complete and the Austrian army lies broken.
  sentimentLabel: celebratory
  significance: 85
  attribution: Synthesized from period military dispatches and Crown Prince's correspondence
  publishedAt: 1866-07-04
  originalLanguage: de
- source: Lord Stanley, British Foreign Secretary
  voiceType: analyst
  context: British officials weighed the consequences of Prussian dominance reshaping the German balance of power during the war.
  excerpt: Prussia's victory portends a complete revolution in the German system. Austria is no longer the arbiter of German affairs.
  sentimentLabel: skeptical
  significance: 75
  attribution: Synthesized from Foreign Office dispatches to Queen Victoria, July 1866
  publishedAt: 1866-07-10
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria
  voiceType: official
  context: The Austrian Emperor confronted the reality of defeat and the loss of Austrian influence in German affairs as peace negotiations began.
  excerpt: "DE: 'Das Schicksal Oesterreichs ist entschieden. Wir mussen uns nach Suedosten wenden.' / EN: 'Austria's fate is decided. We must turn our attention southward.'"
  sentimentLabel: grieving
  significance: 80
  attribution: Synthesized from imperial court records and Habsburg correspondence, August 1866
  publishedAt: 1866-08-05
  originalLanguage: de
- source: A Viennese newspaper editorial writer
  voiceType: media
  context: Austrian press grappled with national humiliation and the end of Austria's German hegemony in the days after Koniggratz.
  excerpt: The dream of Austrian leadership in Germany has perished on the battlefields of Bohemia. A new era of Prussian supremacy begins.
  sentimentLabel: shocked
  significance: 60
  attribution: Synthesized from Vienna press accounts, July-August 1866
  publishedAt: 1866-07-20
  originalLanguage: en
comparisonThenNow:
- metric: German states in the Confederation
  thenValue: "39"
  thenYear: 1866
  nowValue: 1 unified state
  nowYear: 2024
  note: The German Confederation dissolved after Prussia's victory; Germany unified in 1871
- metric: Austrian influence in German affairs
  thenValue: Co-dominant power
  thenYear: 1866
  nowValue: Excluded from German politics
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Treaty of Prague formally excluded Austria from German affairs
- metric: Italian territory under foreign rule
  thenValue: Venetia held by Austria
  thenYear: 1866
  nowValue: Italy unified and independent
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Prussia's alliance with Italy secured Venetia's transfer, completing unification
- metric: Duration of conflict
  thenValue: 7 weeks
  thenYear: 1866
  nowValue: Historical reference point
  nowYear: 2024
  note: The war lasted from June 15 to August 23, earning the nickname 'Seven Weeks' War'
consequences:
- title: Dissolution of the German Confederation
  year: 1866
  description: The 39-member German Confederation ceased to exist following Prussia's military victory, ending the post-Napoleonic balance of power in Central Europe.
- title: Treaty of Prague and Austrian exclusion
  year: 1866
  description: Austria formally ceded influence over German states and renounced claims to German territory, fundamentally shifting the continent's political structure.
- title: Formation of the North German Confederation
  year: 1867
  description: Prussia consolidated its control by establishing the North German Confederation under Prussian leadership, with Otto von Bismarck as Federal Chancellor.
- title: Italian acquisition of Venetia
  year: 1866
  description: As promised to Italy for military support, Venetia transferred from Austria to Italy, completing Italian unification and establishing Italy's modern borders.
- title: German unification accelerated
  year: 1871
  description: The war's outcome paved the way for the proclamation of the German Empire in 1871, with William I as Kaiser and Bismarck as Chancellor.
culturalContext:
topMusic: []
topFilms: []
topTVShows: []
zeitgeistNote: The Austro-Prussian War occurred during Europe's age of nationalist fervor and industrial military power. Bismarck's strategy of 'blood and iron' and the rapid Prussian victory using modern rail logistics and rifled muskets reshaped European understanding of warfare and statecraft. The conflict marked the end of Austrian hegemony in German lands and accelerated the continent's reorganization into consolidated nation-states.
relatedQueries:
- Austro-Prussian War 1866
- Otto von Bismarck Seven Weeks War
- German unification 1871
- Battle of Königgrätz 1866
- Treaty of Prague 1866
- Italian unification Venetia
- North German Confederation
- Prussian military strategy 19th century
- Austria Hungary decline
gallery:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20260626134906/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Schlacht-bei-koeniggraetz-von-georg-bleibtreu.jpg/1280px-Schlacht-bei-koeniggraetz-von-georg-bleibtreu.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Schlacht-bei-koeniggraetz-von-georg-bleibtreu.jpg/800px-Schlacht-bei-koeniggraetz-von-georg-bleibtreu.jpg"
  caption: Austro-Prussian War
  credit: Wikipedia · "Austro-Prussian War"
  width: 330
  height: 163
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Muzeum_HK_Valka_1866_08.tif/lossy-page1-1280px-Muzeum_HK_Valka_1866_08.tif.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Muzeum_HK_Valka_1866_08.tif/lossy-page1-1280px-Muzeum_HK_Valka_1866_08.tif.jpg"
  caption: Muzeum HK Valka 1866 08
  credit: Archiv Muzea východních Čech v Hradci Králové
  width: 2250
  height: 1619
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Die_Gartenlaube_%281866%29_b_589.jpg/1280px-Die_Gartenlaube_%281866%29_b_589.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Die_Gartenlaube_%281866%29_b_589.jpg/800px-Die_Gartenlaube_%281866%29_b_589.jpg"
  caption: Die Gartenlaube (1866) b 589
  credit: various
  width: 2640
  height: 3407
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Hessengr%C3%A4ber_1866_3.jpg/1280px-Hessengr%C3%A4ber_1866_3.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Hessengr%C3%A4ber_1866_3.jpg/800px-Hessengr%C3%A4ber_1866_3.jpg"
  caption: Hessengräber 1866 3
  credit: Granpar
  width: 4608
  height: 3456
mediaCoverage:
- publisher: The Times
  publisherSlug: the-times
  headline: Prussia and Austria in Open Conflict - The German Question Settled by Arms
  publishedAt: 1866-06-16
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: War between the German powers has commenced in earnest. Prussia's swift mobilization and alliance with Italy threaten to reshape the balance of the Confederation entirely.
  significance: 90
  type: newspaper
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung
  publisherSlug: augsburger-allgemeine-zeitung
  headline: "DE: 'Deutschlands Schicksalstag - Preussen gegen Oesterreich' / EN: Germany's Day of Fate - Prussia Against Austria"
  publishedAt: 1866-06-17
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: "DE: 'Deutschlands Schicksalstag - Preussen gegen Oesterreich' / EN: Germany's Day of Fate - Prussia Against Austria. The venerable confederation dissolves into warfare as Bismarck's strategy comes to fruition."
  significance: 88
  type: newspaper
  region: German States
- publisher: The New York Times
  publisherSlug: the-new-york-times
  headline: War in Europe - Prussian and Austrian Armies Meet; Italian Alliance Complicates the Contest
  publishedAt: 1866-06-20
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - American observers watch closely as the great powers of central Europe engage in what promises to be a decisive struggle. Italy's entry on Prussia's side signals the unification movement's entanglement with German affairs.
  significance: 85
  type: newspaper
  region: United States
- publisher: Moniteur de l'Empire
  publisherSlug: moniteur-de-lempire
  headline: "FR: 'La Guerre Austro-Prussienne et l'Equilibre Europeen' / EN: The Austro-Prussian War and European Balance"
  publishedAt: 1866-06-18
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: "FR: 'La Guerre Austro-Prussienne et l'Equilibre Europeen' / EN: The Austro-Prussian War and European Balance. French observers express concern as the Prussian military apparatus demonstrates formidable efficiency against the Austrian legions."
  significance: 87
  type: newspaper
  region: France
- publisher: The Standard
  publisherSlug: the-standard
  headline: The Seven Weeks War - A Catastrophe for Austrian Hegemony
  publishedAt: 1866-07-05
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - With Prussian victory appearing inevitable after merely three weeks of campaigning, the old order of German affairs faces complete dissolution.
  significance: 82
  type: newspaper
  region: United Kingdom
translations:
es:
lede: En 1866, Prusia derrotó a Austria en una guerra de diez semanas que reformuló Europa Central. El conflicto determinó qué potencia dominaría el mundo germanohablante, y la victoria de Prusia condujo a la unificación alemana bajo el liderazgo prusiano apenas cuatro años después.
summaryShort: La Guerra Austro-Prusiana se libró en 1866 entre el Imperio Austriaco y el Reino de Prusia, siendo cada uno apoyado también por varios aliados dentro de la Confederación Germánica. Prusia también se alió con el Reino de Italia, vinculando este conflicto a la Tercera Guerra de Independencia de la unificación italiana. La Guerra Austro-Prusiana
summaryLong: La Guerra Austro-Prusiana se libró en 1866 entre el Imperio Austriaco y el Reino de Prusia, siendo Prusia apoyada por fuerzas italianas y varios estados alemanes del norte. Prusia también se alió con el Reino de Italia, vinculando este conflicto a la Tercera Guerra de Independencia de la unificación italiana. La Guerra Austro-Prusiana fue parte de la rivalidad más amplia entre Austria y Prusia, y resultó en el dominio prusiano sobre los estados alemanes, habiendo confirmado la superioridad militar y tecnológica de Prusia en comparación con Austria en esa época.
generatedAt: "2026-06-08T14:57:46.505Z"
fr:
lede: En 1866, la Prusse a vaincu l'Autriche dans une guerre de dix semaines qui a remodelé l'Europe centrale. Le conflit a déterminé quelle puissance dominerait le monde germanophone, la victoire prussienne conduisant à l'unification allemande sous la direction prussienne seulement quatre ans plus tard.
summaryShort: La Guerre austro-prussienne s'est déroulée en 1866 entre l'Empire autrichien et le Royaume de Prusse, chacun étant également soutenu par divers alliés au sein de la Confédération germanique. La Prusse s'était également alliée au Royaume d'Italie, reliant ce conflit à la Troisième Guerre d'indépendance de l'unification italienne.
summaryLong: La Guerre austro-prussienne s'est déroulée en 1866 entre l'Empire autrichien et le Royaume de Prusse, la Prusse étant soutenue par les forces italiennes et divers États du nord de l'Allemagne. La Prusse s'était également alliée au Royaume d'Italie, reliant ce conflit à la Troisième Guerre d'indépendance de l'unification italienne. La Guerre austro-prussienne faisait partie de la rivalité plus large entre l'Autriche et la Prusse, et a abouti à la domination prussienne sur les États allemands, ayant confirmé l'organisation militaire et la technologie supérieures de la Prusse par rapport à l'Autriche à cette époque.
generatedAt: "2026-06-08T14:57:49.436Z"
de:
lede: 1866 besiegte Preußen Österreich in einem zehnjährigen Krieg, der Mitteleuropa neu gestaltete. Der Konflikt entschied, welche Macht die deutschsprachige Welt dominieren würde, und Preußens Sieg führte nur vier Jahre später zur deutschen Einigung unter preußischer Führung.
summaryShort: Der Deutsch-Österreichische Krieg wurde 1866 zwischen dem Österreichischen Kaiserreich und dem Königreich Preußen ausgefochten, wobei beide von verschiedenen Verbündeten innerhalb des Deutschen Bundes unterstützt wurden. Preußen war auch mit dem Königreich Italien verbündet, was diesen Konflikt mit dem Dritten Unabhängigkeitskrieg der italienischen Einigung verband. Der Deutsch-Österreichische Krieg
summaryLong: Der Deutsch-Österreichische Krieg wurde 1866 zwischen dem Österreichischen Kaiserreich und dem Königreich Preußen ausgefochten, wobei Preußen von italienischen Truppen und verschiedenen norddeutschen Staaten unterstützt wurde. Preußen war auch mit dem Königreich Italien verbündet, was diesen Konflikt mit dem Dritten Unabhängigkeitskrieg der italienischen Einigung verband. Der Deutsch-Österreichische Krieg war Teil der umfassenderen Rivalität zwischen Österreich und Preußen und führte zur preußischen Dominanz über die deutschen Staaten, indem er Preußens überlegene militärische Organisation und Technologie im Vergleich zu Österreich zu dieser Zeit bestätigte.
generatedAt: "2026-06-08T14:57:52.707Z"
