A fool only learns from his own mistakes.
The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.
(Otto von Bismarck)
Otto, Prince of Bismarck, Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen, Duke of Lauenburg (born Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck; 1815–1898) was a Prussian statesman and diplomat who oversaw the unification of Germany. Bismarck’s Realpolitik and firm governance resulted in him being popularly known as the “Iron Chancellor”.
From Junker landowner origins, Bismarck rose rapidly in Prussian politics under King Wilhelm I of Prussia. He served as the Prussian ambassador to Russia and France and in both houses of the Prussian parliament.
From 1862 to 1890, he was the minister president and foreign minister of Prussia. Under Bismarck’s leadership, Prussia provoked three short, decisive wars against Denmark, Austria, and France.
After Austria’s defeat in 1866, he replaced the German Confederation with the North German Confederation, which aligned the smaller North German states with Prussia while excluding Austria.
In 1870, Bismarck secured France’s defeat with support from the independent South German states before overseeing the creation of a unified German Empire under Prussian rule.
From 1871 onwards, Bismarck used balance of power diplomacy to maintain Germany’s position in a peaceful Europe. While averse to maritime colonialism, Bismarck ultimately acquiesced to German elite and popular opinion by building an overseas empire.
Bismarck is best remembered for his role in German unification. He became a hero to German nationalists, who built monuments honoring him.
While praised by some as a visionary who kept the peace in Europe through adroit diplomacy, he is criticized for persecution of Poles and Catholics and the centralization of executive power, which some describe as Caesarist.
He is criticized by opponents of German nationalism, as nationalism became engrained in German culture, galvanizing the country to aggressively pursue nationalistic policies in both World Wars.
