INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR ON ROMANIA
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR ON ROMANIA

Summary/Abstract: The Franco-German War or the Franco-Prussian War represented the conflict of 1870-1871 between France and Prussia, the latter enjoying the support of the North German Confederation and some South German states. On the continent, the end of the war meant, on the one hand, the unification of Germany and the formation of the German Empire led by Wilhelm I of Prussia, and on the other hand, the end of the reign of Napoleon III, the end of the Second French Empire and the replacement to that of the French Third Republic. For Romania, this conflict had significant implications, both externally and internally. Externally, Romania's neutrality towards the Franco-Prussian war became necessary for the Great Western Powers, their goal being to block the expansionist tendencies of Russia and the Habsburg Empire. On the internal level, the Romanian political groups perceived the confrontation between France and Prussia differently, which caused a series of disturbances that the young Prince Carol I faced. Two directions prevailed: one of those who believed that Romania was indebted to the bias of France and one who believed that prudence should prevail. However, no matter the side, the entire Romanian political class continued to faithfully follow the national objectives, hoping that the end of the war would bring with it the independence of the Romanian state.

• Details
• Contents