Gastein Convention
Bad Gastein, Salzburg, Austria
What happened
Austria and Prussia agreed the convention, negotiated by Otto von Bismarck and the Austrian envoy Gustav von Blome. After defeating Denmark in 1864, Austria and Prussia jointly ruled the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, which caused quarrels. At the spa town of Bad Gastein they split them: Prussia would run Schleswig and Austria Holstein. Prussia also bought the small duchy of Lauenburg.
Why it matters
Why it matters: Bismarck said it only papered over the cracks. It was the last peaceful attempt to settle rivalry between Austria and Prussia.
What came next
Less than a year later, Prussian troops entered Holstein and the Austro-Prussian War began. Prussia won and took both duchies.
Did you know?
Lauenburg was bought, not conquered: Prussia paid 2.5 million Danish rigsdaler for it.
Timeline
- 14 August 1865The Gastein Convention is signed.
- June 1866Prussian troops enter Holstein.
- 23 August 1866Peace of Prague.
- 1868Prussia creates the Province of Schleswig-Holstein.