League of the Three Emperors

League of the Three Emperors

The League of the Three Emperors (German: Dreikaiserabkommen, Russian: Союз трёх императоров) was an unstable alliance between Tsar Alexander II of Russia, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary and Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany.

Contents

Formation 1873

On 22 October 1873, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck negotiated an agreement between the monarchs of Austria–Hungary, Russia and Germany. The alliance sought to resurrect the Holy Alliance of 1815 and act as a bulwark against radical sentiments the conservative rulers found unsettling.[1] It was preceded by the Schönbrunn Convention signed by Russia and Austria–Hungary on 6 June 1873.

Background and policy

Bismarck often led the League as it assessed challenges centered on maintaining the balance of power among the states involved and Europe at large. This cornerstone of his political philosophy included dedication to preserving the status quo and avoiding war. Despite German victory in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, the violence remained fresh in the newly united state’s memory and made Germany reluctant to antagonize the French, but keen as ever to limit their power. According to the coalition, radical socialist bodies like the First International represented one of the other key threats to regional stability and dominance. For this reason, the League actively opposed the expansion of their influence.[2] The League also met crisis in the East where Bulgarian unrest elicited violent reaction from the Ottoman forces there, which in turn met with horror from observing states. The account of the insurrection from an Englishman named Sir Edwin Pears [3] both describes the atrocities in gruesome detail and reveals British surprise at their extent.

First dissolution 1878

The collective initially disbanded in 1875 over territorial disputes in the Balkans as Austria-Hungary feared that Russian support for Serbia might ultimately ignite irredentist passions in its tenuously grasped Slav populations.[4] Russian authorities likewise feared insurrection, should a Pan-Slavism movement gain too much clout.[4] The body’s first conclusion in 1879 gave way to the defensive Dual Alliance between Austria-Hungary and Germany to counter potential Russian aggression. In 1882 Italy joined this agreement to form the Triple Alliance[2].

Revival 1881-1887

The 1878 Treaty of Berlin left Russia feeling cheated of her gains made in the Russo-Turkish War. Her key role in European diplomacy was not, however, forgotten by Bismarck. A more formal, officially documented League of the Three Emperors was concluded on 18 June 1881 [5]. It lasted for three years; it was renewed in 1884 but lapsed in 1887. Both alliances ended because of conflicts of interest between Austria-Hungary and Russia in the Balkans.


Notes

  1. ^ Gildea 2003, p. 237.
  2. ^ Henig, Ruth Beatrice (2002). The Origins of the First World War. Routledge. p. 3. ISBN 0415261856. 
  3. ^ Sir Edwin Pears, Forty Years in Constantinople, 1873-1915, (New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1916), pp. 16-19, reprinted in Alfred J. Bannan and Achilles Edelenyi, eds., Documentary History of Eastern Europe, (New York: Twayne Publishers, 1970), pp. 191-194. found at [1], last visited June 24 2011
  4. ^ a b Gildea 2003, p. 240.
  5. ^ Text of the actual agrement, last visited June 24 2011

References

  • Gildea, Robert (2003). Barricades and Borders: Europe 1800-1914. Oxford University Press. p. 237. ISBN 0199253005. 

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Three Emperors' Corner — today: Before 1918 the left side of this scene was German, the middle Russian and the right side Austrian Three Emperors Corner (Polish: Trójkąt Trzech Cesarzy, German: Dreikaisereck, Russian: Угол трёх императоров) is a form …   Wikipedia

  • Three Emperors' League — German Dreikaiserbund. Diplomatic alignment of the empires of Germany, Austria Hungary, and Russia devised by Otto von Bismarck in 1872. Its aim was to neutralize disagreement between Austria Hungary and Russia over spheres of influence in the… …   Universalium

  • Year of the Four Emperors — – 69 Galba Otho Vitellius Vespasian …   Wikipedia

  • The Byzantine Empire —     The Byzantine Empire     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► The Byzantine Empire     The ancient Roman Empire having been divided into two parts, an Eastern and a Western, the Eastern remained subject to successors of Constantine, whose capital was at …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • league — league1 /leeg/, n., v., leagued, leaguing. n. 1. a covenant or compact made between persons, parties, states, etc., for the promotion or maintenance of common interests or for mutual assistance or service. 2. the aggregation of persons, parties,… …   Universalium

  • Three Principles of the People — Sun Yat sen, who developed the Three Principles of the People Traditional Chinese 三民主義 Simpli …   Wikipedia

  • The Cantos — by Ezra Pound is a long, incomplete poem in 120 sections, each of which is a canto . Most of it was written between 1915 and 1962, although much of the early work was abandoned and the early cantos, as finally published, date from 1922 onwards.… …   Wikipedia

  • Covenant of the League of Nations — Signed 28 June 1919 Location Paris, 1919 Effective 10 January 1920 Parties League of Nations members Depositary League of Nations …   Wikipedia

  • three — /three/, n. 1. a cardinal number, 2 plus 1. 2. a symbol for this number, as 3 or III. 3. a set of this many persons or things. 4. a playing card, die face, or half of a domino face with three pips. adj. 5. amounting to three in number. 6. three… …   Universalium

  • The Empire (Warhammer) — In Games Workshop s Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe, The Empire is one of the human political factions and armies, and is featured in many games and novels. In terms of location, language, culture, and society, it bears a strong resemblance… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”