Lot Essay
The arms on the pommel are those of Wedel of Pomerania
The inscription reads in translation: In memory of the lost bet and the pleasant days in Wiesbaden
Prince Otto, Edward, Leopold von Bismarck, Duke of Lanenburg (1815-1898) entered politics in 1847 after studying law and agriculture. He became known as an ultra-royalist and, as minister, was sent to St. Petersburg in 1859 and Paris in 1862. Recalled the same year he took the presidency of the cabinet. Following the defeat of Denmark by Austria and Prussia and the annexation of the duchies, Prussia and Austria quarrelled leading to the 'seven weeks' war', which ended with the defeat of Austria at the battle of Königgratz in 1866. Bismarck was the guiding spirit throughout the subsequent reorganization of Germany, and from being greatly disliked, became the most popular man in Germany. Following the Franco-Prussian war (1870-71) he successfully dictated the terms of peace with France and, having been made a count in 1866, he was created a prince and chancellor of the new German empire. He resigned from the chancellorship in March, 1890 and died eight years later at Friedrichsruh
The inscription reads in translation: In memory of the lost bet and the pleasant days in Wiesbaden
Prince Otto, Edward, Leopold von Bismarck, Duke of Lanenburg (1815-1898) entered politics in 1847 after studying law and agriculture. He became known as an ultra-royalist and, as minister, was sent to St. Petersburg in 1859 and Paris in 1862. Recalled the same year he took the presidency of the cabinet. Following the defeat of Denmark by Austria and Prussia and the annexation of the duchies, Prussia and Austria quarrelled leading to the 'seven weeks' war', which ended with the defeat of Austria at the battle of Königgratz in 1866. Bismarck was the guiding spirit throughout the subsequent reorganization of Germany, and from being greatly disliked, became the most popular man in Germany. Following the Franco-Prussian war (1870-71) he successfully dictated the terms of peace with France and, having been made a count in 1866, he was created a prince and chancellor of the new German empire. He resigned from the chancellorship in March, 1890 and died eight years later at Friedrichsruh