Bismarcks rising

Welcome to The Iron Chancellor! In this game your goal is to become ruler of an united German Empire by making the right decisions. You play as Otto von Bismarck, a figure that turned out to have big impact on history..... [[I want to become chancellor!->A new life]]

The year is 1815. A french general called Napoleon Bonaparte was just defeated at the grounds around Waterloo, Belgium. Because Napoleon had conquered a great deal of Europe, the continent had a new era lying ahead. The German states were now allianced in a association called the German Confederation in which no state had power over the others. Two states were however far more powerful than the others: Austria and Prussia. And Prussia is the place where, on 1 april, you open your eyes for the very first time...... [[Start my story!->Starting your story]]

At the University of Göttingen you become a member of the Corps Hannovera and you have great time living life to the fullest. After two additional years of studying at the University of Berlin your study is finished. You are only 23 and the world is laying at your feet. What do you do now? [[Start practical training as a lawyer in Aachen->A lawyer in the making]] [[Join the Prussian military->The military service]]

You join the military service in the Prussian army. The army is a hard place, but you do enjoy your time and you do learn a lot. After a year you become officer in the Landwehr. Not long after gaining your new position terrible news reaches you: Your mother has just passed away and your familiy need your help at the estate. [[Go back to the family estate->The family man ]] [[Stay officer in the Landwehr->A career in the army]]

Back at your familiy estate, you live peacefully in the region you grew up in. You meet and marry Johanna von Puttkamer and start going to church regularly. After living this way for 8 years, suddenly a message reaches you: You are invited to become member of the Landtag, a part of the Prussian parlement. [[Accept the invitation and become member of the Landtag->Become member of the Landtag]] [[Continue to live peacefully at your family estate->A German farmer]]

Using your intelectual and social skills, you quickly rise ranks in the Landwehr. During a mission in Hannover you get decorated because you save the life of a general. You start participating in political activity because this interest you and you seemingly gain the attention of the Prussian parlement. Then in 1847 suddenly a message reaches you: You are invited to become member of the Landtag, a part of the Prussian parlement. If you accept you can get into politics, but you also have a bright future in the army ahead of you. What do you decide to do? [[Become member of the Landtag]] [[Stay in the army->Iron and blood]]

After joining the Landtag at 32 years of age, your political influence is still not that strong. The Landtag is not a hugely important political instance and the king, Fredrich William IV holds a lot of power. But during your first year you start gaining a reputation as a reactionary and royalist politician with great rethoric skills. Then in 1848 revolutions start to fire up all over Europe. Prussia was no exception to this: a big revolution started that wanted to overthrow Fredrich William IV. Bismarck now stood before an important choice: which side is the one to support? [[Choose to support the king->In support of the king]] [[Choose to support the revolution->The revolution]]

The revolution wants to create a unified Germany, but you do of course not want such a thing, as this would mean a downfall to your homeland of Prussia. You fiercly start to defend the king. Using your rethoric skills you become known as one of the most important anti-revolutionaries in Europe. After the revolution is swept down, you have now gained the favor of the king, Friedrich Wilhelm IV. In 1851, he decides to appoint you to an important position as ambassador to the city state of Frankfurt. [[Become ambassador to Frankfurt!->An ambassador to Frankfurt]]

Now stationed in Frankfurt, you gain a great deal of intel about international politics. It becomes clear to you that Austria is becoming very powerful in the German confederation, perhaps so powerful it could overthrow Prussia in the future! In 1857, you are offered a position as Prussian ambassador to the Russian empire. This is a very important position, but also moves you away from having impact on German political events. [[Become ambassador to the Russian Empire!->Ambassador to the Russian Empire]] [[Stay in Frankfurt->A man of German politics]]

Stationed in St. Petersburg, you learn a lot about foreign affairs. You use your time here wisely and become familiar with the European rulers. You analyze the relationships between the different countries and see that Napoleon III is becoming very powerful as ruler of France. In 1861, Friedrich Wilhelm IV passes away. He is succeeded by his brother Wilhelm I. Wilhelm I does not manage to keep his grasp on the parlement and nearly evokes a enormous crisis in Prussia. He desperately turns towards the only person he sees able to avoid this crisis: you! Wilhelm I wants you to become prime minister in order to fix his mistakes. Do you take his offer? [[Become Prime minister of Prussia!->Prime minister of Prussia]] [[Stay in St. Petersburg->A man of German politics]]

At the age of 47, you are now the Prime minister of Prussia. Using your rethoric and political skill you quickly obtain a big influence over king Wilhelm I, making you the most powerful man in Prussia. In a number of speeches before the Prussian parlement, you elaborate on you political vision of iron and blood. You tell the parlement that it is time to act and to stop democratizing every decision. In order to stop Austria, Germany needs to be unified under Prussian rulership and the only way to do this is by waging war and rapid industrialization! [[Let`s take action!->Disputed territory]]

You decide to declare war on Denmark, but you are planning for a greater scheme. Before waging war you convince Austria to join your side, claiming that Prussia would otherwise gain the upperhand in the German Confederation and this would not be good for balance. After the war is won, Prussia recieves Schleswig while Austria recieves Holstein. But a big result of the war is that Austria loses a lot of allies for participating in this seemingly unnecessary war. Now that Austria has lost a lot of allies, there are more opportunities to explore. You start exchanging messages with Napoleon III, using your contacts from your time in St. Petersburg. Napoleon III assures you that he will not back Austria in case of a Prussian invasion. Austria is very powerful and waging war could lead to big defeat. What is your next step? [[Wage war against Austria->The Austro-Prussian war]] [[Keep peace in order to build a stronger economy->A Prussian ruler]]

You make an unreasonable claim on Holstein, ensuring a war against Austria. Your military general Von Moltke quickly invades Austria in the Bohemian. The Prussian and the Austrian army collide at Königgrätz. Because of your politics of industrialization, the Prussian army has access to far superior equipment. Largely because of this, the Austrian army quickly gets defeated. Austria is now laying on it`s back and your army is about to march on Vienna. What do you decide to do? [[Invade Vienna->The conquerer ]] [[Offer the Austrians a treaty->A peaceful solution]]

You offer a treaty to Austria. Accepting the treaty let the Austrians keep all their land, but they have to declare to never take part in a united Germany. The Austrians have no choice but to accept and the Prussian troops retreat. Because Prussia is becoming a lot more powerful under your rulership, tensions between Prussia and France are slowly rising. [[Continue as Prime minister]]

After you change the text a rude objection of the French demands, you publish the text for the rejection to become widely available. This leaves Napoleon III no choice: Already feeling threatened by Prussian influence and humiliated by the rejection he decides to declare war on Prussia. Because France was now suddenly an aggressor, other German states were also afraid to be in danger. You make all the German states an offer: "If every state participates in a unified Germany, Prussia will protect everyone during the war." Afraid of a French offense, nearly every German state accepts. [[Fight the French!]]

After a few years of work in München, you start to be interested in political activism. Because this is of course not to be combined with working in a court, you decide to keep this to yourself. Then in 1847 suddenly a message reaches you: You are invited to become member of the Landtag, a part of the Prussian parlement. [[Keep working at the court->The supreme court!]] [[Become member of the Landtag]]

Because you decide to stay in the army you see chance to make even more promotion. In 1852 you are leading a mission to invade Holstein, a duchy North of Prussia. You compartment gets surrounded by a part of the Danish army and you get shot, bleeding to death in a place far from home.... [[The end]]

You decide to support the revolutionaries. Opposing against the king, you take matters in your own hands by mobilizing farmers to riot. Unfortunately the revolution is swept down by Fredrich Wilhelm IV. After the royal power is fully restored in 1851, you have lost all your political influence and have to turn back to your family. [[Turn back to your family estate->A German farmer]]

Your aspirations of making it into national politics have completely dried up. You are now living your life as an average German farmer. You become father of 3 kids live happily with your wife until the end of your days. You do not become Chancellor of a united Germany! [[The end]]

After hesitating to accept your new position, you decide you are happy to be where you are. You continue do your work in an excellent fashion, but a new opportunity for promotion does not come. While you do achieve quite a bit in Prussian politics, you are not able to become ruler of a united Germany. [[The end]]

Because you do not wage war, Prussian economy is able to keep growing. Your politics of industrialisation seem to work and Prussia is growing to be a power of European size. However, Austria is growing economically as well. You try to unify the German states, but it fails each time because Austria does not want to the states to be under Prussian influence. While you live out your time as a great ruler of a flourishing state, you are not becoming ruler of a united Germany. [[The end]]

You take over Vienna and completely obliterate the Austrian army. The whole country loves you and you have just won a succesful war. However, because of this victory you have gained control over both Austria and Prussia, which makes you a big threath to the other European powers. In 1871, Napoleon III declares war on Prussia, backed by the other German states. Because of the much bigger size of the opposing army, your army gets defeated. The rest of your days are spent in a French prison cell. You are not becoming ruler of a German empire! [[The end]]

Because you do not risk war, Prussian economy is able to keep growing. Your politics of industrialisation seem to work and Prussia is growing to be a power of European size. Because you have risked war a lot in the past, the German states are not wanting to be your ally and grow more towards French influence. While you live out your time as a great ruler of a flourishing state, you are not becoming ruler of a united Germany. [[The end]]

Being born to aristrocrat parents, your youth is fairly peaceful. Your parents are not insanely rich, but not poor either, and they are both well-educated. After reaching the age of 17, you move away from home to start your study of law at the University of Göttingen. [[Move to Göttingen->Time for study]]

Afer having trained as a lawyer for 3 years in Aachen, you are now ready to get to work. Showing exeptional skill during your training period, you are quickly get offered a job at the court of München. Not long after this offer comes in, you get a message with terrible news: Your mother has just passed away and your family wants you to come live at the family estate. [[Go back to your familiy estate->The family man ]] [[Pursue your career in München->A career in München]]

One of the first big events for you as a Prime minister is the passing of the duke of Schleswig and Holstein. Schleswig and Holstein are two duchies that are now being claimed by the king of Denmark. This is quite a valid claim, but there now lies an opportunity to wage war. What do you do? [[Wage war against Denmark->The Schleswig war]] [[Do not wage war in order to keep your allies->A Prussian ruler]]

The year is 1870 and the Spanish throne is in need of a new ruler. One of the most prominent candidates is Prince Leopold von Hohenzollern, a German prince. Napoleon III of France, already feeling treatened by the rising powers of Prussia, does not want to be enclosed in German influence. Therefore, Napoleon III sends his ambassador to Wilhelm I to ask him to stop backing Leopold as an candidate to the Spanish throne. Wilhelm I accepts because he does not want to risk conflict with the French. Napoleon III now sends another ambassador to be assured that Leopold von Hohenzollern will never mount the Spanish throne. Wilhelm I declines and sends a letter to Napoleon III, politely stating that he is not able to ensure this. Before the letter gets send to Napoleon, the text gets passed by you in order to make alterations. Do you want to change something? [[You change the text in order to accept the demands->A true prime minister]] [[You change the text in order to make the text more offensive to the French->Uniting the forces]] [[You do not edit the text->A true prime minister]]

With the support of the German states behind them, your army marches on France. The France are no match for your modern weapons and well organized logistics. Within a few months most of the French army is defeated and your army takes over Paris. [[Finish the war->The unification]]

Thank you for playing!

Because of your rethoric and social skill you quickly climb the ladder as a jurist. After 10 years of service in München you get appointed to the supreme court in Berlin. While you make a great career in Law, you do not see a chance to rise to high political ranks: You unfortunately do not become Chancellor of a united Germany! [[The end]]

On January 18 in 1871, you travel to the old symbol of power in France: The palace of Versailles. Together with Wilhelm I and rulers of the other German states, you sign a treaty. This treaty takes Elzas-Lotharingen and makes sure the French have to pay back an enormous amount to Prussia. But the most important result is that the German states are finally unified in a German Empire. The Chancellor of the German Empire? It is you! Congratulations, you have finally reached your goal of becoming ruler of a unified Germany! You are only 57 and you certainly have a long career ahead of you, but for now our story ends here! [[The end]]