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| 1870–71 |
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| FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR (See July 19–1871, May 10) (See 1870–71). The power of Germany, and subsequent French weakness as revealed during the war, drastically altered European relations. Germany became the center of diplomacy as Britain remained aloof. | 1 |
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| 1872, Sept. 6–12 |
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| Meeting of the three emperors in Berlin—William, Francis Joseph, Alexander II of Russia, who invited himself, lest Austria and Germany become too intimate. No political agreements were made at the meeting, but Andrássy, the Austrian foreign minister, and Gorchakov, the Russian chancellor, discussed the Ottoman/Balkan situation and agreed to work to maintain the status quo. | 2 |
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| 1873, May 6 |
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| Military convention between Germany and Russia, concluded during the visit of Emperor William, Bismarck, and Moltke to St. Petersburg. If either party was attacked by another European power, the other was to come to its assistance with 200,000 men. | 3 |
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| June 6 |
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| Agreement between Russia and Austria (Schönbrunn convention) providing for consultation and eventual cooperation in case of attack on either. These agreements were loose in nature. Together they formed the Three Emperors' League, the main aim of which was to emphasize monarchical solidarity against subversive movements and to secure for Germany support in the event of trouble with France (May 1873, overthrow of Thiers by the French monarchists). | 4 |
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| Sept |
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| Visit of King Victor Emmanuel II to Vienna and Berlin. Italy loosely associated with the Three Emperors' League, in order to obtain assurance against action by France on behalf of the pope. | 5 |
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| Sept |
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| Completion of the evacuation of French territory by German troops. Efforts at alliance with Russia. Friction with Italy and Germany over the question of the papacy and the Kulturkampf (See 1873–78). | 6 |
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