Otto von Bismarck’s Birthday
Source: ”Bismarck. Des eisernen Kanzlers Leben in annähernd 200 seltenen Bildern nebst einer Einführung”, released by Walter Stein in the year of Bismarck’s 100th birthday.
Today is the birthday of Otto von Bismarck, the „Iron Chancellor“ who served as German Chancellor from 1871 to 1890.
(* April 1, 1815 in Schönhausen, Germany; † Juli 30, 1898 in Friedrichsruh near Hamburg, Germany)
He was probably Germany’s most important politician in the 19th century.
Hardly any politician before Otto von Bismarck had influenced the more recent history of Germany. He started his political career as a representative for the Junkers (=squires) in conservative circles. Later he became a diplomat and finally the Minister President of Prussia. He then—because of his origin—fought for the supremacy of the monarchy against liberal political forces.
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_von_Bismarck).
After the founding of the German Empire in 1871, Otto von Bismarck was appointed first Imperial Chancellor (Reichskanzler) of the German Empire. He was chancellor till 1890.
A quote by Emperor Wilhelm I illustrates quite well the position of Otto von Bismarck: “It is not always easy to be the emperor under this chancellor”
Not long ago, we reported in our German blog how dearly the Bismarck family keeps their traditions and their family ties, today. When a new family member is born or on the occasion of a wedding, the family has silver napkin rings or silver shot glasses manufactured. Also for other occassions, the Bismarck family draws on PRO HERALDICA’s Fine-Arts collection.
Here is an excerpt from the Allgemeine Deutsche Wappenrolle (German Roll of Arms) depicting the von Bismarck coat of arms:
von Bismarck
from Stendal/Sachsen-Anhalt
Azure a clover leaf or appointed with oak leaves argent in pall reversed. On the crowned helmet with mantling azure-argent a crown or between two open buffalo horns argent-azure per fess counter-changed.
In the picture below you can see the Schönhauser line of the Bismarck family. The chart shows that Bernhard Friedrich Alexander Ferdinand Roman is a brother of Otto von Bismarck.
aus: Jochen Thies, “Die Bismarcks – Eine deutsche Dynastie”
This post is also available in: German