Leo von Caprivi | |
|---|---|
 Caprivi in 1880 | |
| Chancellor of the German Empire | |
| In office 20 March 1890 – 26 October 1894 | |
| Monarch | Wilhelm II |
| Deputy | Karl Heinrich von Boetticher |
| Preceded by | Otto von Bismarck |
| Succeeded by | Chlodwig von Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst |
| Minister President of Prussia | |
| In office 20 March 1890 – 22 March 1892 | |
| Monarch | Wilhelm II |
| Preceded by | Otto von Bismarck |
| Succeeded by | Botho zu Eulenburg |
| Chief of the Imperial Admiralty | |
| In office 20 March 1883 – 5 July 1888 | |
| Chancellor | Otto von Bismarck |
| Preceded by | Albrecht von Stosch |
| Succeeded by | Alexander von Monts |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Georg Leo von Caprivi 24 February 1831 Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia (Now Germany) |
| Died | 6 February 1899 (aged 67) Skyren, Prussia, German Empire (Now Skórzyn, Poland) |
| Political party | Independent |
| Awards | Pour le Mérite |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Prussia German Confederation North German Confederation German Empire |
| Branch/service |  Prussian Army |
| Years of service | 1849–1888 |
| Rank | General der Infanterie Vize Admiral |
| Battles/wars | Second Schleswig War Austro-Prussian War |
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)[1] was a German general and statesman. He served as the chancellor of the German Empire from March 1890 to October 1894.
During his tenure as chancellor, Caprivi promoted industrial and commercial development, and concluded numerous bilateral treaties for reduction of tariff barriers. However, this movement toward free trade angered Germany's conservative agrarian interests, especially the Junkers. As part of Kaiser Wilhelm's "new course" in foreign policy, Caprivi abandoned Bismarck's military, economic, and ideological cooperation with the Russian Empire, which historians consider a major mistake. Even worse, Caprivi misjudged multiple opportunities to open good relations with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Frustrated, Britain turned to the Empire of Japan and the French Third Republic for agreements. Caprivi's downfall came with trade agreements that favored German industry and urban workers over more powerful agricultural interests. However, historians praise his refusal to renew the harsh restrictions on socialists, and his success in the reorganization of the German military.[2][3]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
americanawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ John C. G. Röhl (1967). Germany Without Bismarck: The Crisis of Government in the Second Reich, 1890–1900. University of California Press. pp. 77–90.
- ^ J. Alden Nichols, Germany after Bismarck, the Caprivi era, 1890-1894 (1958) online pp 367–377.