Luxembourg+Crisis

In 1867, the German Confederation (led by Austria) was defeated by Prussia in the Austro-Prussian war. Prussia was then one of the main superpowers in Europe. Before the war, Prussia ensured that France would not interfere and help Austria. Prussia’s Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck arranged a meeting with the French Emperor Napoleon III. Though the terms of the meeting were not official they trusted each other to abide by them.

The terms of their agreement were written so that France would stay out of the Austro-Prussian war and Prussia would not interfere with the expansion of France into Luxembourg. Once the war was over, France made an offer of 5,000,000 Guilders to the Grand Duke of William III for Luxembourg. William III accepted Napoleon’s offer, but Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck declared that he opposed the deal. Since Prussia was now one of the largest superpowers in Europe the deal would never happen without trouble from Prussia.

The deal between Napoleon III and William III was dissolved. Prussia had not kept its word and interfered with the deal. The only action France could take against Prussia was force the Prussian soldiers out of the Luxembourg Fortress, but this event was still not enough to make the deal with the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. If the deal had been made Luxembourg might be part of France.