Bavaria in the Seven Weeks' War of 1866

Preferring Neutrality, Ludwig II Relectantly Supported Austria

Apr 23, 2009

The Seven Weeks' War destroyed the German Confederation and shifted power from Vienna to Berlin, but Bavaria was treated leniently and her independence was preserved.

At the outbreak of the Seven Weeks’ War between Prussia and Austria in the summer of 1866, Bavaria’s King Ludwig II was twenty years old. The unexpected death of King Maximillian II in 1864 had brought to the throne a disinterested youth whose passions gravitated to Richard Wagner’s operas and who detested modern warfare. Ultimately allied with Austria, the Bavarians were resoundingly defeated at Kissingen by the Prussian General von Falkenstein.

Prussian Aims of German Unification

Otto von Bismarck, the architect of German Unification, forged an alliance with Austria in 1864 to fight Denmark in the quest to annex the two Danish duchies Schleswig and Holstein. Without interference from other European powers, the war was successful and the duchies were divided between Prussia and Austria, each power providing administration. In Bavaria, King Maximillian had opposed Bismarck’s actions, calling for an independent Schleswig-Holstein. Maximillian died in 1864 and his 18-year old son, Ludwig, became the king.

Altercations between the Prussians and Austrians in the occupied duchies played into Bismarck’s hands and in 1866 war was declared by both countries. Bismarck allowed the Austrians to mobilize a full week before responding, projecting the further illusion that Austria had begun the war. The Prussians, however, had a superior rail system to transport troops and the “breech-loading” rifle gave them battlefield superiority.

Ludwig’s solution was neutrality. He even met with the French Emperor, Napoleon III, to discuss a possible alliance. Napoleon III, however, characteristically underestimated Prussian capabilities and fully expected Austria to win.

By May, under intense pressure from his ministers, Ludwig reluctantly gave the mobilization order, pledging in early June to support Austria. Although his mother was the sister of the Prussian king, Ludwig and the Bavarians had a closer affinity with the Austrians. Additionally, Ludwig was close to his cousin, the Austrian Empress Elizabeth.

Bavarians feared the aggression of the Prussians. Ludwig himself was deeply concerned with preserving Bavarian independence. As part of the German Confederation opposing Prussia, Bavaria joined Saxony, Hanover, Wurttemberg, Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt, and Hesse-Nassau in resisting Prussia as allies of Austria. The Bavarian army, however, despite its colorful uniforms, was ill-prepared for war. Showing signs of years of neglect, the army was under-manned and poorly paid.

Prussian Victory and the Peace Treaty

The decisive battle took place on June 3rd at Sadowa or Koniggratz in Bohemia where Prussian General Helmuth von Moltke defeated an Austrian army commanded by Marshal Benedek. The Austrians suffered 45,000 casualties compared with 10,000 Prussian deaths. Von Moltke did not purse, however, because Bismarck did not want to further humiliate the Austrians, looking toward a future alliance against France.

Military historians point out that von Moltke’s decision was based more on the cavalry superiority of Benedek’s forces; neither side had fully used their cavalry. Historians also speculate how the tide of battle might have changed had the Bavarians joined Benedek at Sadowa.

The Bavarian army, commanded by the 70-year old Prince Karl, was part of the Seventh Army Corps. Ludwig had declined to lead his men into battle. The Bavarians were more interested in protecting Bavaria from Prussian invasion and thus chose a different theater of operations.

The German Confederation army, much like the Austrians, was poorly led (Benedek, who had achieved a solid reputation fighting in Italy, vigorously protested his command assignment with Emperor Franz Joseph). Defeated at Kissingen in Lower Franconia by von Falkenstein, the Bavarians awaited their fate.

Otto von Bismarck allowed Napoleon III of France to mediate the peace. To his relief, Ludwig’s Bavaria retained its independence, as did Baden and Wurttemberg, but had their armies placed under Prussian command. Forfeiting some territory and paying a moderate indemnity of $30 million, Bavaria remained intact.

A secret clause in the treaty called for mutual aid, a phrase that would serve Bismarck’s purposes well in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 as he fulfilled the goals of German Unification.

The copyright of the article Bavaria in the Seven Weeks' War of 1866 in German History is owned by Michael Streich. Permission to republish Bavaria in the Seven Weeks' War of 1866 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.