Archduke Johann of Austria (1782 — 1859) was called upon to serve as regent of the empire. He was the head of state in the German federation until the free elections. His appointment was the ...

This was the case of Prussia, a former duchy that in the early 1700s emerged from the shadow of Poland and the Holy Roman Empire. Growing to encompass much of northern and central Europe ...

a new imperial constitution was set up within the now unified German states Wilhelm I, was officially recognised as Emperor (Kaiser) of the German Empire ...

the German states remained independent the anti-nationalistic Austrian Empire was the dominant force in Central Europe Attempts at a political union, mainly on the Prussian side, had failed.