An informal alliance among the rulers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia, the Three Emperors’ League was an attempt to preserve the status quo in eastern and central Europe and maintain French isolation before it was superseded by the Dual Alliance of Germany and Austria and by another Three Emperors’ alliance in 1881.
The formation of the Three Emperors’ League was a joint effort by Germany’s William I, Russia’s Alexander II, and Austria’s Francis Joseph I to adjust their foreign policies to the status quo of the year 1871. As a result of the victory of Prussia over France during that year, Otto von Bismarck, who was then the chancellor of the North German
Bismarck was satisfied with his achievement at home. He had no further territorial ambitions. For him, the German Empire was a “saturated” power. Consequently, his domestic policy was aimed at consolidating the new Germany, but on the international front, he had to restore good relations with Austria-Hungary and continue Prussia’s friendship with Russia to ensure the perpetual isolation of France. Given Germany’s central location in Europe, the realization of such policies were, in Bismarck’s mind, essential for the survival of the state that he had created.
It was fortunate for Bismarck that the rulers of Russia and Austria-Hungary were also eager to cement relations among the three empires. Despite the defeat of Austria by Prussia in the Seven Weeks’ War of 1866
In 1871, Francis Joseph appointed Count Gyula Andrássy,
This alliance resulted from several imperial conferences and meetings of the emperors in 1872 and 1873. The most important was attended by all three emperors in Berlin from September 6-12, 1872, at which time Gorchakov
Central and Eastern Europe
Together with other conferences, this meeting of the emperors led first to a Russo-German military convention, signed by William
More than an entente but less than a full military alliance of the type to come later, the Three Emperors’ League lasted only five years. The Balkan Crisis of 1877 and the subsequent Congress of Berlin
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Beller, Steven. Francis Joseph. London: Longman, 1996. Part of a series of biographies of rulers, this volume examines Francis Joseph’s long reign and attempts to put it in a broad historical perspective. -
Calleo, David. The German Problem Reconsidered: Germany and the World Order, 1870 to the Present. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1978. Argues that the “German Problem,” or Germany’s diplomatic culpability, has been distorted by favoring Germany’s victors. German aggressiveness can be best explained by the international order of nations. Places the league in its international context. Erudite and challenging. -
Feuchtwanger, Edgar. Bismarck. London: Routledge, 2002. Brief biography that offers an accessible evaluation of Bismarck’s role in nineteenth century European history. -
Langer, William L. European Alliances and Alignments, 1871-1890. 2d ed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1950. Provides background of the league. Describes the goal of monarchical solidarity on one hand, with the inability of the league to address problems, especially those in the Balkans, on the other. Both descriptive and interpretative. -
Lerman, Katharine Anne. Bismarck. New York: Pearson Longman, 2004. A contribution to the publisher’s Profiles in Power series, this volume examines Bismarck’s exercise of power as way to understand his complex personality and statecraft. -
Moss, Walter G. A History of Russia. 2d ed. 2 vols. London: Anthem Press, 2002. General history of Russia that offers a useful overview of Alexander II’s government reforms and foreign policies. -
Palmer, Alan. Twilight of the Habsburgs: The Life and Times of Emperor Francis Joseph. New York: Grove Press, 1995. Comprehensive biography of the ruler of Austria-Hungary that seeks to provide a balanced portrayal of Francis Joseph. -
Waller, Bruce. Bismarck. London: Basil Blackwell, 1985. Brief but substantive account of Bismarck’s leadership in establishing the league, but at the same time, his difficulty in balancing the contrary interests of Russia and Austria, Germany’s partners in the league. A concise biography.
Second Peace of Paris
Bismarck Becomes Prussia’s Minister-President
North German Confederation Is Formed
Austrian Ausgleich
German States Unite Within German Empire
Bulgarian Revolt Against the Ottoman Empire
Congress of Berlin
Triple Alliance Is Formed
Franco-Russian Alliance
Alexander II; Otto von Bismarck; Francis Joseph I.