The War Triggered by the Election of Kings

The revolution in Spain and the establishment of a provisional government garnered significant attention from many European nations.

After the Spanish parliament declared it would not abolish the monarchy and would seek a new king, many countries adopted a wait-and-see attitude, while also being curious about who the lucky individual would be to become the next Spanish king.

However, the French government soon had reason to stop smiling.

News from Spain indicated that among the various candidates for the Spanish throne, Prince Leopold of the House of Hohenzollern was a frontrunner and highly likely to become the next King of Spain.

(There are several Prince Leopolds in Germany, also known as Liopolds. The candidate for the throne here is Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern, not the one from Bavaria. Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern is the father of Ferdinand I, the King of Romania.)

This was a critical development for the French. Prussia alone already posed a significant threat to France, especially after its victory over Austria, which amplified the threat to an unprecedented level.

If someone from the House of Hohenzollern were to claim the Spanish crown, France would find itself caught between Prussia and Spain.

Although Spain was not a major power, barely qualifying as a second-rate nation in Europe, its location in southern France, protected by the Pyrenees mountain range, offered a natural defensive line.

Prussia could amass fewer than a hundred thousand troops in Spain, which would be enough to cause considerable trouble for the French and threaten numerous cities in southern France.

On June 21, 1869, the enraged French government expressed strong objections to both the Spanish and German governments, stating that the moment Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern was crowned King of Spain would be the moment France declared war on Prussia and Spain.

The threat from a European power proved effective. King William I of Prussia faltered under such pressure, even publicly stating his disapproval of his cousin, Prince Leopold, inheriting the Spanish throne.

The Spanish government also began to panic. If their choice of king led to a war with France, it would undoubtedly be a loss.

William I's concession greatly pleased the French government, and they relaxed their vigilance towards Prussia, which had just defeated Austria.

The French ambassador to Prussia even sought an audience with William I in early July, conveying Emperor Napoleon III's desire for William I to guarantee that the previously renounced candidacy would not be pursued again.

Such a demand was outright impertinent, causing a flicker of resentment in William I, who had been considering a concession.

The French could never have imagined that even with William I backing down, there were more resolute figures within Germany who were already preparing for war with France.

Angered by the impertinent treatment from the French ambassador, William I immediately sent an urgent telegram to his Prime Minister, Bismarck, seeking a reasonable solution to the crisis Prussia faced.

However, William I did not anticipate that Bismarck's solution to the crisis would be to defeat France through war, effectively eliminating the problem itself.

Upon receiving William I's telegram, Bismarck showed no signs of panic; in fact, a slight smile appeared on his face.

After confirming with Chief of Staff Moltke that there was a high probability of victory against France and receiving an affirmative response, Bismarck decided not to wait any longer.

He significantly altered the content of William I's telegram, removing all passages about long-term considerations and subtle concessions. He also added remarks at the end designed to provoke the French government and officials: "Due to your country's unreasonable demands and attitude, His Majesty King William I has decided to refuse any further contact with the French ambassador and will only communicate through this telegram, signifying that there is nothing further to discuss between our two nations."

Although this telegram, intended to provoke the French government, was not directly sent to the French government's radio station, it was released to the public through major Prussian newspapers and disseminated throughout Europe via all Prussian diplomatic missions abroad.

The resolute stance of Prussia caused an uproar in the French government, igniting the fury of the previously triumphant French.

Perhaps Carlo could not have foreseen that his minor actions would impact the world and hasten the Franco-Prussian War by a year.

On July 11, 1869, after several days of preparation, the enraged French government expelled the Prussian ambassador to France and, with a stony expression, declared war on Prussia.

However, the French did not see the expected panic and nervousness on the Prussian ambassador's face. They could only watch as the ambassador, with a relaxed demeanor, left the embassy and boarded a train back to Prussia.

Even more bewildered than the French was King William I of Prussia. While angered by the French's impertinence, he genuinely had not intended to go to war with France at that moment.

But with matters having reached this point, William I could no longer prevent the war. On July 12, William I announced a general mobilization in the North German Confederation and called upon all member states to fight for Germany.

Prussia termed this conflict the German-French War, attempting to unite Germany by urging the various states to contribute troops and resources.

France, on the other hand, referred to it as the Franco-German War, as the animosity between the French and the German regions had a long history.

This war, larger in scale than the Austro-Prussian War, erupted with lightning speed, catching the Spanish government, theoretically the direct cause of the Franco-Prussian War, by surprise.

However, in the current situation, regardless of who emerged victorious in the Franco-Prussian War, Prince Leopold of Prussia would no longer be suitable to become the King of Spain.

Furthermore, Prince Leopold himself publicly renounced his claim to the Spanish throne. While William I's opposition played a significant role, Prince Leopold's withdrawal was ultimately his own decision.

Following these events, only two princes from the House of Savoy in Italy remained among the original five candidates for the Spanish throne.

Whether Amadeo or Carlo became King of Spain, the House of Savoy would be the ultimate victor.

Beyond the shared advantage of belonging to the House of Savoy, Amadeo's strengths lay in his older age and more mature, steady demeanor. Carlo's advantages included a potentially more favorable reputation among the Spanish people and a greater likelihood of supporting reforms.

From a reformist perspective, Primo undoubtedly favored Carlo's ascension to the Spanish throne. After all, despite supporting monarchism, Primo was a thorough reformer.

Serrano, on the other hand, seemed to lean towards a neutral stance between the reformists and conservatives, also aligning with the aristocratic royalist faction.

Both were undecided between Amadeo and Carlo. For the stability of the Kingdom of Spain, Primo decided to personally travel to Italy to assess the two princes and determine the final choice for the Spanish king during this visit.

Serrano agreed to Primo's proposal, stating that he would support either Amadeo or Carlo becoming King of Spain and would pledge loyalty to the new monarch.

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