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Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck lived from 1815 to 1898 and was also called "Iron Chancellor". As Prince (Duke of Lauenburg), Diplomat and statesman, Bismarck became chief architect of the German Empire created trough war and led by his native Prussia. Organised by a series of confrontational policies, including using the dispute over Schleswig-Holstein to bring about the Austrian defeat at Koniggratz and provoking the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1, Bismarck demonstrated an exellent grasp of European politics. Dismissed by the new Emperor William II in 1890 Bismarck's policies have had a huge effect on Europe in the 20th century, fundamentally changing the balance of power far quicker than democratic politics ever could. (KEYSTONE/CAMERA PRESS/ILN)