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Leo von Caprivi
Georg Leo Graf von Caprivi de Caprara de Montecuccoli (English: Count George Leo of Caprivi, Caprara, and Montecuccoli; born Georg Leo von Caprivi; 24 February 1831 – 6 February 1899) was a German general and statesman. He served as the imperial chancellor of the German Empire from March 1890 to October 1894, succeeding longtime chancellor Otto von Bismarck.
Caprivi was born into a Prussian noble family of Italian origin. After graduating from the Prussian Staff College, he rapidly rose through the ranks and distinguished himself in particular during the Franco-Prussian War, where he served as chief of staff of the X Army Corps. In 1883, he was appointed chief of the Imperial German Navy, but upon the ascension of Wilhelm II he quickly came into conflict with the Emperor, who envisioned an offensive navy capable of challenging the British. He resigned in 1888 and returned to the Imperial German Army.
In 1890, Wilhelm forced Bismarck's resignation and named Caprivi chancellor; he simultaneously became minister-president of Prussia. During his tenure, Caprivi promoted industrial and commercial development, and attempted to reconcile opposing domestic forces through a series of social reforms. As part of Wilhelm's "new course" in foreign policy, Caprivi abandoned Bismark's military and political alignment with the Russian Empire by electing not to renew the Reinsurance Treaty. He aimed to forge closer ties with Britain, acquiring for Germany the archipelago of Heligoland and the Caprivi Strip in southern Africa in exchange for recognizing British authority in Zanzibar, though improvement of relations ultimately did not result in an alliance. Caprivi also pursued an aggressive trade policy and concluded numerous bilateral treaties for reduction of tariff barriers, reversing the protectionist policies implemented by his predecessor.
Caprivi's policies were met with significant domestic opposition, particularly from right-wing nationalists, pro-colonial groups and large landowners. The failure of his educational reforms marked the beginning of his downfall and led to his resignation as Prussian minister-president in 1892. His position becoming more untenable as conflict arose over a new military bill, Wilhelm dismissed him as Chancellor in 1894, after which he withdrew from public life.
Leo von Caprivi was born in Charlottenburg (then a town in the Prussian Province of Brandenburg, today a district of Berlin), the son of jurist Julius Leopold von Caprivi (1797–1865), who later became a judge at the Prussian supreme court and member of the Prussian House of Lords. His father's family was of Italian origin (Caprara Montecuccoli, from Modena). The Caprivis were ennobled during the 17th century Ottoman–Habsburg wars. They later moved to Landau in Silesia. His mother was Emilie Köpke, daughter of Gustav Köpke, headmaster of the Berlinisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster and teacher of Caprivi's predecessor Otto von Bismarck. Caprivi's brother was lieutenant general Raimund von Caprivi and his nephew, Leo von Caprivi was an aide-de-camp to Emperor Wilhelm II.
Caprivi's origins differentiated him from the majority of the Prussian upper class, since he was not a large landowner. Accordingly, he later described himself as "without are and straw." He was a Protestant. On a personal level, Leo von Caprivi was an affable man with few close friends, who remained unmarried.
Caprivi was educated at the Friedrichswerdersches Gymnasium in Berlin. After graduating in 1849, he enlisted in the 2nd (Emperor Francis) Guards Grenadiers of the Prussian Army. As a second lieutenant, he attended the Prussian Staff College and from 1860 he was a Hauptmann in the topographic division of the German General Staff. He served in the Second Schleswig War of 1864 as a member of the staff of the 5th Division and in 1865 he was made the commander of an infantry company. He served in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 as a major in the staff of Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia. Afterwards he was appointed to the general staff of the Guards Corps and then in spring 1870 he was temporarily appointed chief of staff of the X Army Corps.
Caprivi had gained a reputation as one of the most gifted students of Helmuth von Moltke and was confirmed in his post as chief of the general staff of the X Army Corps with the rank of lieutenant colonel during the Franco-Prussian War. This appointment brought the comparatively young Caprivi to public attention. During the war, he distinguished himself at the Battle of Mars-la-Tour, the Siege of Metz and the Battle of Beaune-la-Rolande, receiving the military order Pour le Mérite.
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Leo von Caprivi
Georg Leo Graf von Caprivi de Caprara de Montecuccoli (English: Count George Leo of Caprivi, Caprara, and Montecuccoli; born Georg Leo von Caprivi; 24 February 1831 – 6 February 1899) was a German general and statesman. He served as the imperial chancellor of the German Empire from March 1890 to October 1894, succeeding longtime chancellor Otto von Bismarck.
Caprivi was born into a Prussian noble family of Italian origin. After graduating from the Prussian Staff College, he rapidly rose through the ranks and distinguished himself in particular during the Franco-Prussian War, where he served as chief of staff of the X Army Corps. In 1883, he was appointed chief of the Imperial German Navy, but upon the ascension of Wilhelm II he quickly came into conflict with the Emperor, who envisioned an offensive navy capable of challenging the British. He resigned in 1888 and returned to the Imperial German Army.
In 1890, Wilhelm forced Bismarck's resignation and named Caprivi chancellor; he simultaneously became minister-president of Prussia. During his tenure, Caprivi promoted industrial and commercial development, and attempted to reconcile opposing domestic forces through a series of social reforms. As part of Wilhelm's "new course" in foreign policy, Caprivi abandoned Bismark's military and political alignment with the Russian Empire by electing not to renew the Reinsurance Treaty. He aimed to forge closer ties with Britain, acquiring for Germany the archipelago of Heligoland and the Caprivi Strip in southern Africa in exchange for recognizing British authority in Zanzibar, though improvement of relations ultimately did not result in an alliance. Caprivi also pursued an aggressive trade policy and concluded numerous bilateral treaties for reduction of tariff barriers, reversing the protectionist policies implemented by his predecessor.
Caprivi's policies were met with significant domestic opposition, particularly from right-wing nationalists, pro-colonial groups and large landowners. The failure of his educational reforms marked the beginning of his downfall and led to his resignation as Prussian minister-president in 1892. His position becoming more untenable as conflict arose over a new military bill, Wilhelm dismissed him as Chancellor in 1894, after which he withdrew from public life.
Leo von Caprivi was born in Charlottenburg (then a town in the Prussian Province of Brandenburg, today a district of Berlin), the son of jurist Julius Leopold von Caprivi (1797–1865), who later became a judge at the Prussian supreme court and member of the Prussian House of Lords. His father's family was of Italian origin (Caprara Montecuccoli, from Modena). The Caprivis were ennobled during the 17th century Ottoman–Habsburg wars. They later moved to Landau in Silesia. His mother was Emilie Köpke, daughter of Gustav Köpke, headmaster of the Berlinisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster and teacher of Caprivi's predecessor Otto von Bismarck. Caprivi's brother was lieutenant general Raimund von Caprivi and his nephew, Leo von Caprivi was an aide-de-camp to Emperor Wilhelm II.
Caprivi's origins differentiated him from the majority of the Prussian upper class, since he was not a large landowner. Accordingly, he later described himself as "without are and straw." He was a Protestant. On a personal level, Leo von Caprivi was an affable man with few close friends, who remained unmarried.
Caprivi was educated at the Friedrichswerdersches Gymnasium in Berlin. After graduating in 1849, he enlisted in the 2nd (Emperor Francis) Guards Grenadiers of the Prussian Army. As a second lieutenant, he attended the Prussian Staff College and from 1860 he was a Hauptmann in the topographic division of the German General Staff. He served in the Second Schleswig War of 1864 as a member of the staff of the 5th Division and in 1865 he was made the commander of an infantry company. He served in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 as a major in the staff of Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia. Afterwards he was appointed to the general staff of the Guards Corps and then in spring 1870 he was temporarily appointed chief of staff of the X Army Corps.
Caprivi had gained a reputation as one of the most gifted students of Helmuth von Moltke and was confirmed in his post as chief of the general staff of the X Army Corps with the rank of lieutenant colonel during the Franco-Prussian War. This appointment brought the comparatively young Caprivi to public attention. During the war, he distinguished himself at the Battle of Mars-la-Tour, the Siege of Metz and the Battle of Beaune-la-Rolande, receiving the military order Pour le Mérite.
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