Austro-Prussian War

The Austro-Prussian War, fought in 1866, was a conflict between the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire, primarily over the control of German territories. It stemmed from tensions regarding leadership in German unification. Prussia, led by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, used modern military strategies and technology to defeat Austria quickly. The war resulted in Prussia's dominance in northern Germany, the exclusion of Austria from German affairs, and laid the groundwork for the eventual unification of Germany under Prussian leadership in 1871. This conflict significantly shifted the balance of power in Europe.