When Diplomacy Fails Podcast
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Age of Bismarck #20: Who's Foolin' Who?
🕑 Added 2025-06-26 05:30:01 +0000 UTCAs we know, Bismarck engineered the Hohenzollern candidacy for the Spanish throne, but what is generally not known, is that Napoleon watched him do it. In this episode, we examine this strange French behaviour. With his domestic affairs mostly in order, Napoleon was in a strong position as 1870 dawned. However, he had not taken his eye off foreign affairs. The French court was well informed about the Hohenzollern intrigue, and Napoleon had even encouraged it forward.
In Napoleon's mind, providing evidence of clear Prussian wrongdoing to Europe would represent a diplomatic triumph for Paris. It would expose Bismarck's nakedly devious schemes, and all Europe would see how he and his Spanish aids worked to arrange this improper succession. Once confronted with this scandal, Bismarck would be forced to back down, in the face of indignant European opinion. That, at least, was the plan, but Napoleon did not consider the reactions of his ministers, or the growing sense of urgency within the court, which would demand nothing less than war.
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