Bavaria and Prussia: From Adversaries to Unifiers

The historic relationship between the Kingdom of Bavaria and Prussia remains a complex and intriguing matter in the annals of German history. Often, the notion that Bavaria hated Prussia is overturned by the reality that their ties were more nuanced and strategic than one sided resentment.

Prussia: The Backbone of Modernity

While the idea of Bavaria hating Prussia might seem exaggerated, it is clear that subordination to Prussia was not the initial preference for Bavaria and the other German kingdoms and duchies. Prussia, however, stood out as the most modernized state among the German entities. This contrasts with the aristocratic and idealistic notion of unification centered around Prussia, which the common people embraced in 1848. The unification was driven by the pragmatic ideal of modernizing the German states under a single flag.

The Undermining of Revolutionary Ideals

The revolutionary aspirations did not materialize. One of the staunchest opponents of such ideals, Otto von Bismarck, capitalized on the failures of revolution from above, using a top-down approach to achieve unification. When France became the common enemy, and a significant victory was secured with a bit of luck, Bismarck skillfully used the sentiment of unity among the aristocracy to proclaim, "Yes! Let's Unite!" This dramatic turn of events culminated in the official unification of Germany, marking a historic moment in Paris, at the Mirror Salon of Versailles, an embarrassing moment for the French.

The Strategic Decision Behind Unification

The natural relationship between Bavaria and Germany as a whole transcended the initial feelings of animosity towards Prussia. Bavaria, despite its disagreements, adhered to the tightest union within Germany, becoming the second most powerful federal state after Prussia in 1871. This decision was part of its historical trajectory, from being an electorate of the Holy Roman Empire to being part of the German Empire. Only Austria remained outside the 1871 German Empire, and this was due to its own self-interest in maintaining its multinational empire.

Shared Languages and Historical Connections

The deep-rooted linguistic and historical connections between Bavaria and Austria played a significant role in Bavaria's unification with Prussia. Both regions share the use of Austro-Bavarian alongside standard German, and Austria's historical role as a Margraviate of Bavaria 1000 years ago further cemented their relationship. While Bavaria may have had a more favorable stance towards Austria than it did towards Prussia, the Prusso-Austrian conflict in 1866 left Bavaria aligned with Prussia. Austria's material interests in maintaining its empire also influenced its decision not to join the German unification.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the unification of Germany was not solely driven by the hatred of Bavaria for Prussia, but rather by strategic and pragmatic considerations. The symbolic embrace of unity by the Bavarian aristocracy and the broader German population paved the way for the formal unification, leading to the creation of the 1871 German Empire. This event marked a significant shift in the historical map of Central Europe, highlighting the complex dynamics between regional powers and the broader goal of national unification.