| Summary/Abstract |
Otto von Bismarck is often seen as the classic “great man” in history who single-handedly united Germany through his ruthless application of Realpolitik. This focus on his apparently unchallenged and unprincipled conduct of foreign policy has tended to overshadow the significant contributions made by his collaborators to this success and the importance of conservative ideology as a factor in the conduct of diplomacy during the Bismarck era. A closer look at the careers of the two most important German ambassadors during the early Imperial period reveals the important role they played in Bismarck’s foreign policy triumphs. Heinrich VII Prince Reuss and General Hans Lothar von Schweinitz were not only the most influential German diplomats of that age, their commitment to conservative/legitimist principles made them at times the harshest critics and most dangerous rivals of their leader. What has until now been entirely overlooked is how closely they worked with one another to pursue a course in international affairs that did not always align with official policy and their instructions from Berlin. Their partnership and collaboration from 1871–1892 in working to preserve the existing social and political order in Eastern and Central Europe was unique in both its effectiveness and duration, although it was ultimately unsuccessful in achieving its ambitious goal of preserving the political and social status quo in Europe. This analysis explores the often volatile relationship of these men to Bismarck, their personal and professional alliance, and the conservative agenda they attempted to promote jointly as ambassadors to Vienna and St. Petersburg for over two decades.
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