Otto von Bismarck was the skillful statesmen responsible for the unification of all the German principalities and Prussia into a German state. He called the whole series of political and diplomatic moves that would lead to the creation of Germany:
- he waged war against Denmark in 1864 in order to put an end to Denmark's political influence over the northern German states
- in 1866, he waged war against the Austrian Empire, Prussia's main opponent, so that it would not interfere with the process of uniting Germany
- in 1870, he waged war against Napoleon III's France, the only country opposing the plan of a strong German state on its borders
- upon defeating France, Bismarck had King Wilhelm I of Prussia crowned as Kaiser (German form of ancient Roman "Caesar" or "emperor") of Germany in 1871, thus officially creating the German State
