Europe 1867: Austro-Hungarian Compromise

At the Peace of Prague, Austria accepted the end of its influence in Germany. Prussia promptly took control in the north, annexing states which had opposed it and forming a North German Confederation with the others. Encouraged by Austria's defeats, Hungarian nationalists demanded independence but agreed to partnership in the revised Empire of Austria-Hungary.

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Main Events

23 Aug 1866 Peace of Prague

On 23 August 1866, following the acceptance of the preliminary peace of Nikolsburg by Württemberg, Baden, and Bavaria, Austria and Prussia signed the Peace of Prague, formally ending the Austro-Prussian War. By the terms of this treaty, Austria agreed to cede Venetia to Italy, to accept the loss of Schleswig-Holstein to Prussia, to recognize the dissolution of the German Confederation, to end its involvement in North Germany, and to pay Prussia reparations of 40 million thalers. However, on Bismarck’s insistence that Prussia be lenient to its opponents to ease the way for future reconciliation, the Prussians agreed to maintain the territorial integrity of Saxony and did not demand any Habsburg lands in Austria. in wikipedia

20 Sep 1866 Prussian Hanover and Hesse-Nassau

On 20 September 1866 both houses of Prussian Landtag passed a law to bring the Prussian constitution into force in the territories of the Kingdom of Hanover, the Electorate of Hesse, the Free City of Frankfurt, and the Duchy of Nassau. This effectively annexed Hanover, Hesse-Kassel, Frankfurt, and Nassau into the Kingdom of Prussia, creating a land bridge between the eastern and western parts of Prussia and greatly enlarging the Prussian state. The annexation was accepted by Duke Adolf of Nassau—who received 15 million guilders in compensation—but bitterly opposed by George V of Hanover and Frederick William of Hesse, who pushed for the restoration of their thrones for the rest of their lives. in wikipedia

9–19 Oct 1866 Cession of Lombardo-Venetia

In early October 1866, in accordance with the Treaty of Vienna, the Austrian Empire ceded the Kingdom of Lombardo-Venetia to the French Empire, which took over the administration of Venice, Mantua, and other parts of the kingdom not already under Italian occupation. Over the course of ten days France then transferred control of the territory to the Kingdom of Italy, fulfilling earlier French obligations to Italy. Italian possession was confirmed a few days later, on 21 and 22 October, when a plebiscite held in Lombardo-Venetia voted overwhelmingly in favor of annexation to Italy. in wikipedia

1 Jul 1867 North German Confederation

In April 1867 the North German Constitution was ratified by the states of Germany north of the Main, allowing for the creation of a national parliament, the Reichstag, and a federal court, the Bundesrat. That July the North German Confederation was formally established as a constitutional monarchy, with the King of Prussia as its head of state. Under this new confederation, northern Germany became increasingly unified as laws were enacted enabling freedom of movement within the confederation, creating common passports and a postal system, granting different religious denominations equal rights, and standardizing weight and measures. in wikipedia

3 Nov 1867 Battle of Mentana

Encouraged by the withdrawal of French troops from the Papal States in December 1866, the Italian revolutionary hero Giuseppe Garibaldi invaded the Papal States in October 1867 with an army of ten thousand volunteers. Anticipating Garibaldi’s move, the French emperor Napoleon III sent an expeditionary corps under General Balthazar de Polhès to reinforce the Papal army that same month and by the time Garibaldi reached Mentana, north of Rome, a combined Franco-Papal force was ready to face him. Despite their numbers, the Italian volunteers were out-matched by their better trained and armed adversaries and, after a day-long battle, Garibaldi was forced to flee back to the Kingdom of Italy with 5,100 survivors. in wikipedia

21 Dec 1867 Austrian Constitution accepts Dual System with Hungary

Austrian Constitution accepts Dual System with Hungary in wikipedia