Age of Bismarck #4: The Queen's Gambit (Patreon)

[PATRONS]

In March 1866, Queen Victoria was spurred into action. Duke Ernst of Coburg wrote a pleading letter requesting her intercession to prevent the Austro-Prussian War. The Queen could hardly ignore her brother in law, and so began a month's long diplomatic initiative to leverage her vast network of royal relatives against one man above all - Bismarck.

Bismarck knew better than to dismiss the threat they posed - he was already rivaling Queen August of Prussia, the Crown Prince, and Crown Princess - but still, nothing could stand in his way. The Iron Chancellor had persuaded his King, and even though all of Europe suspected it, they could not imagine what he would do with this incredible power.