Otto von Bismarck: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Also Known As	Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince von Bismarck, Count von Bismarck-Schönhausen, Duke von Lauenburg
Born	April 1, 1815 • Prussia
Died	July 30, 1898 (aged 83) • Germany
Title / Office	chancellor (1871-1890), German Empire • foreign minister (1862-1871), Prussia • Chamber of Deputies (1849), Prussia
Role In	Austro-German Alliance • Congress of Berlin • Dreikaiserbund • Ems telegram • Erfurt Union Parliament • Franco-German War • German-Danish War • Kulturkampf • Reinsurance Treaty • Schleswig-Holstein question • Seven Weeks’ War • Triple Alliance

Military leaders were suspicious of what they perceived as excessive moderation from Bismarck.
Despite his lack of real military service, Bismarck publicly wore a general's uniform for much of his life.
Bismarck engineered a government dependent on his ability to manipulate political interests within and outside Germany.