Die Deutschen (The Germans) S01E09 'Bismarck und das Deutsche Reich' (Ger&Eng Subs)

The middle of Europe

in the second millennium.

A country that took a long time
to become united.

People who needed centuries
to understand themselves as German.

Who are we?

Where do we come from?

Questions about a thousand year
German history.

For democracy!

The Germans are still not
united in one state.

He is working on it to change this fact,

Bismarck

Not in the way with parliaments
but as he says:

"with blood and iron."

The foundation of the German Empire
from above.

Unity at the cost of freedom?

'Bismarck and the German Empire'

This question arises not, for him.

Ferdinand Cohen- Blind,

the 22 year old student from
southern Germany,

came only for a purpose to Berlin.

He wants to prevent the threatening war,

where stand on either sides Germans.

'War of Brothers'

For the enthusiastic patriot
are the perpetrators of war, as he writes:

"Traitors to Germany"

In order to maintain peace,
Cohen-Blind sees only one solution.

He must remove the man,

who is the driving force behind the war
for most of the Germans.

It is the Minister President of Prussia,
Otto von Bismarck.

He fights for the power of the crown in Prussia,

against parliament and democracy.

He is known as reactionary purest water.

Outwardly, he wants to unite the many
German States,

under Prussian reign.

Not because of German national sentiment,

but of prussian ambitions for power,
as some believe.

His credo: "Not with words,

but with bayonets would be solve the
major questions of that time."

This turns against him, now.

The workroom of Bismarck
in Friedrichsruhe, Hamburg.

Here is still present the memory
of the assassination.

The pistol of the offender
is the personal bequest of Bismarck.

A gun that could has changed
the course of history.

The stuffed bullet holes show

that Bismarck was hit by several bullets.

But on that day, his thick clothing
dampened their force,

and the firepower of the gun
was too weak.

Bismarck suffers only bruises.

What would have happened
if the assassination had succeeded?

-In 1866, if Bismarck would had been assassinate,

then it would certainly not had come
to this form of war.

Nobody in Germany
wanted the German 'War of Brothers'.

-Except him....

The pistol of the offender
who commits suicide in prison,

keeps Bismarck all his life.

He sees his salvation as divine sign,

to decide the fight about Germany, now .

Germany ...

that are 30 independent states
at this time,

which created a loose association,
the 'German Confederation'.

The major powers
Austria and Prussia set the tone.

But when Prussia,

wants to incorporate the duchies of
Schleswig and Holstein against Austria's will,

becomes the dispute
a showdown.

Who has the final say in Germany,

Austria or Prussia?

The decision falls in the free
Imperial City, Frankfurt am Main.

The city that once elected German Emperors,
is the place of the 'German Confederation'.

This place should ensure peace
among the German States...

and a common
defence, outwardly.

Near the cathedral
at the Palais Thurn und Taxis,

the Federal Assembly meets
a month after the assassination...

the decision-making body.

They vote about
the motion of Austria,

which contains the mobilisation
against Prussia...

then they consider the occupation of the duchies
Schleswig and Holstein as wrong.

All the eyes are focused on him,

the Prussian ambassador
Karl Friedrich von Savigny.

Which instructions
gave him Bismarck?

The ambassador of Austria has the chair.

"Let us vote!...

In the name of his Majesty
the Emperor of Austria...

I agree to the present motion.

And now the ambassador of Prussia has the word."

"On behalf of the Government of Prussia...

I protest vehemently against
this vote,

which is without doubt a clear breach
of the federal law."

"We protocol the protest.

Now, I give the floor to the
ambassador of the Kingdom of Bavaria."

"On behalf of my Government, I agree to the motion
of the Imperial Government Austria's."

"The ambassador of Saxony.... "

Prussia is isolated.

The princes do not want a German Confederation,
which is dominated by Prussia.

"...Wurtemberg?"

"Agree! ..."

The motion of Austria passes
with nine to six votes,

and declares the mobilization
of the armed forces against Prussia.

"In the name of his Majesty,

the King of Prussia,
I pronounce...

firstly...

Prussia consider
this vote as a declaration of war...

and so secondly...the previous federal treaty
is null and void for Prussia...."

"Where will this lead us?"

"... and by the king's order...

I pronounce that I have done
my work at this assembly."

-1866/67 ends the 'German Confederation',

because the states do go to war
with each other,

what was actually out of question.

But the majority of German
States were on the side of Austria...

and Prussia was
virtually the villain,

who breached the 'German Confederation',

and against whom they
form a coalition for making war.

- The war begins the day after the
Frankfurt ballot.

The decision will be taken at the beginning of July in Königgrätz,
today's Czech Republic...

in Austrian Bohemia back then.

Bismarck sets his hope on him,

the Prussian Chief of General Staff
Helmuth von Moltke.

His plan:
"march separately, strike together".

He divided the Prussian forces
into three armies.

They advance faster if they are seperated
but they can only strike together.

But the Third Army remains behind.

Only if the Third Army
arrives the battle on time,

can succeed Motlkes generalship.

The Third Army nears in a rush.

Around noon, the Army reached
the battlefield just in time.

The nothern Austrian flank
is being overrun.

The Austrians and their allies
have no choice.

If they want to avoid an encirclement,

then they have to stop
the Prussians by a Counterattack.

The assault of the Austrian reserves
is the turning point of the battle.

Now, the Prussians can
play their trump card...

the Prussian 'Needle Gun'.

The first well-functioning
breechloader,...

where the ammunition is load
from rear of the unit.

If the trigger is activated then pierces
a steel firing pin the cartridge,

and ignites the ignition,
which drives the projectile forward.

A deadly advantage,

towards the with muzzle loader
armed Austrians.

The Prussians are able to reload quicker
while laying down.

The soldier remains in cover
at the same time.

The rapid fire of
the 'Prussian Needle Rifle',

crashes the Austrian counterattack.

In nearly half an hour,
thousands get slayed.

Thier death clinches the battle.

Only narrowly, the Austrian army,

and its allies escape a
total kill.

At the end of the day, around
15 000 Austrians are death or missing.

The Prussians lost only 2000 men.

The war is over for the wounded of both sides

but not the fear of death.

There is the Red Cross
for almost two years,

that the suffering barely ease
on the battlefield.

The Battle of Königgrätz
decided the war.

Austria is defeated.

The government of Vienna has no choice.

They send a peace offer to
the Prussian headquarters,

Mikulov Castle.

Austria is offering to Prussia
immediate peace,

and free hand in the
'German Confederation'.

The only condition...

Austria does not want
to give up any territory.

Bismarck agrees,

but not his king,
Wilhelm I. of Prussia.

"The Prussian army is on the victorious course.

Do you expect from me seriously,

that I stop them now
in front of Vienna?"

"We have achieved our goal, Majesty.

Each further day bears the risk that
Austria receives help.

We have to make peace now!"

"Nonsense!

We should be able to say in Prussia,

that we have impaired Austria...

and became chastised
by losing some of their land.

Austria owe us at least
a certain territory.

I show you some...

e.g. could be a part of Austria
'German-Bohemia'?"

"Absolutely impossible Majesty!"

"Austrian-Silesia?"

"Impossible Majesty!"

"Moravia??"

"Majesty impossible!!"

"Impossible? ...

I tell you which is impossible.

An behaviour like yours!

In Prussia, the politic is still made...
by the King.

You can go."

-Wilhelm simply thought
if we won the war,

then we have to gain territorial,

and also experience
a emotional triumph.

But Bismarck was a forward thinker.

Bismarck said:

"We need to spare Austria,
so that we have a partner in the future."

-Because of the resistance of the King,

Bismarck reacted with
an outburst of fury.

He himself still remembers it decades later.

Finally, Bismarck gave the monarch a choice...

if Wilhelm finally refuses the offer of Vienna...

then he, Bismarck will resign.

Only now the King relents.

Austria retains his territory and
soon reconciled with the victor.

And he achieved his goal.

The struggle about the supremacy in
Germany is ruled...

in the interest of Bismarck.

-With the decision of 1866 was clear
that Germany and Austria...

would go different ways...

And that was actually a enormity in the point of view,

of his contemporaries.

Austria used to be a part of Germany
for centuries.

Now it was decided, the German Empire
is established without Austria...

and Austria and Germany are
separated from 1866 on.

- Separated by him...
Otto von Bismarck

The victory over Austria
makes the bogeyman to the triumphator.

Prussia erects a monument
on behalf of his victory.

The Victory Column in Berlin

Till nowadays, it is the central symbol
for the German unification by Bismarck.

At the bottom is a bronze relief
of the battle of Königgrätz.

The gilded pipes of captured enemy
cannons are in the middle.

At the top, a goddess of victory which wearing
the Prussian eagle helmet.

A stonily triumph.

The victorious Prussians ...
rules Germany now.

While Austria is spared,

Prussia annexed opponents
as the Kingdom of Hanover,

and associated with others to
the North German Confederation.

But this only reaches
to the Main.

By a French veto,
South Germany remains independently.

-France was against the German unity.

The reasons were mainly power-political,

then France was the first power
on the continent.

And if now Prussia would
climb to a postion power

which happened in an enourmes tempo,

and would triumphed again,

then France would had seen it as dangerous.

As if the French side try
to keep within limits the German side,

especially to keep within limits
the Prussia.

-Not only France want to
keep within limits the Prussia.

Especially many south Germans from Bavaria
and Württemberg,

want to maintain
their old independence,

and especially their rulers.

Only an impetus from the outside put
everything in motion again.

It begins in the
Swabian town Sigmaringen.

Here reside the
Princes of Hohenzollern.

A branch of the Prussian
Royal dynasty.

In 1870, the Spaniards offers,

to the oldest son of the Prince,
hereditary prince Leopold,

the Spain's royal crown.

The Prince hesitates...
then he accepts.

Not really on his own free will,

as Bismarck's letters in Sigmaringer
city archive show.

Leopold agreed only at his entreaty.

Bismarck knows,

the French Emperor is against
a Hohenzollern on the throne of Spain.

He fears any further
increasing power of Berlin.

But a conflict with France seems for
Bismarck almost inevitable,

if he wants to unite
the North and South of Germany.

Bismarck purposefully provokes
France with Leopold.

-The question was...

if the solution of 1866 is permanently

or it is an intermediate step
to a German Empire.

And according to Bismarck which is
probably irrefutable,

it actually needed still
the war against France.

-The news of Leopold's commitment,

alarmed the French Foreign Minister, Gramont.

A Hohenzollern on the throne of Spain,

is incompatible for him
with the power of France,

and the prestige of its ruler,
Emperor Napoleon III.

"Your Majesty"

"So it is true.

Leopold aspires to be a King."

"Sir...another triumph of Prussia

and the French will not
demand Bismarck's head anymore,

but yours."

"What do you suggest?"

"The Prussian King must
withraw Leopold's candidatur,

in public and irrevocably for all time."

"The King will not easily accept,

such kind humiliation."

"He will do it otherwise
we force him to do so."

The man who schould be forced,

is in Bad Ems to take a cure.

King Wilhelm experience here about
the french protest and interferes.

Leopold withdraw
his candidatur with his approval.

France won.

The conflict seems avoided.

A delusion.

The waiver of Leopold
is not enough for the French Emperor.

He wants to humiliate Prussia.

"This is a dispatch from the King.

The matters bears no delay.

Apparently the ambassador of France, Benedetti,
personally visited the King,

already this morning
in Bad Ems."

"Your Majesty,
please on a word!"

The King announced
in his dispatch to Bismarck...

Benedetti had demanded of him,
to guarantee in the public,

that no Hohenzollern
will ascend the throne of Spain.

An affront.

"The King must not had
talk to him.

Leopold has waived.
That is enough."

"The King has probably noticed his mistake.

He sent his secretary,

to make it clear that he
can not do more and want."

"His Majesty aligns to you...

that he has been confirmed in Sigmaringen about
the waiver of Leopold.

He had no further communication
to make to the Ambassador."

"That was it."

"Wait!

All is not lost yet.

We will shorten a little bit
the despatch.

Et voilà!

We strike out the message
from Sigmaringen.

And just write ...

'His Majesty had no further communication
to make to the Ambassador'

Full stop!"

"Excellent, now it sounds
clearly different.

As if the King had slammed
the door in his face."

"If I give this to the newspapers

then it will be publicised before midnight in Paris.

Let's see how France reacts?"

Bismarck's plan works.

The publication of the 'Ems Dispatch'
is perceived as a slap in the face for Napoleon.

The one who wanted to humiliate Prussia,
feels humbled himself now.

He acts as expected from Bismarck ...

France declares war on Prussia.

-Napoleon is under
domestic political pressure at the time,

and can not afford any foreign scandal.

And Bismarck knows that the Emperor
can not simply say...

"well, never mind."

But a great power as
France must respond on this.

And then both offensives
of France and Prussia cannon into.

-Both sides are guilty of the war.

But Bismarck has a
decisive advantage.

France is considered as aggressor
because the declaration of war.

Now, in Munich as in all South of Germany,

even self-declared opponents of Prussia,

want to fight on the side of the
North German Confederation against France.

The public mood leaves
the South German princes no choice.

Even the Bavarian King Ludwig II.,

gives mobilization order
against France.

In Bavaria as everywhere in Germany,

citizens follow willingly
the call to arms...

craftsmen, teachers, workers, farmers, even youths.

The youngest volunteer is only 15 years old
and comes from Bavaria.

The war against France united the nation.

Once again, Moltke surprised the opponent
by a rapid deployment.

A part of the French troops
is encircled in Metz.

From Chalons, Napoleon III. rushes
for the liberation of the town.

It comes to the 'Battle of Sedan'.

Napoleon's army
is in poor condition.

Heavy marches, an indecisive leadership
and too little food supplies,

have afflicted
the moral of the troops.

For the 1. September, the Emperor
allows his soldiers a rest.

A serious mistake.

The German troops
encircle their positions.

"They fall into our mousetrap" Moltke said.

The chief of staff relies on artillery this time
and not on rifles.

The use of ordnance
from the armory Krupp,

shall bring about the decision,
according to Moltke's plan.

The French are almost defenseless,

in their improvised positions
against the German fire.

Fire!

three salvos per minute

up to 800 on this day

The French army breaks
under a barrage of German artillery.

Regiments, battalions,
even companies dissolve.

The 'Battle of Sedan'...

is later declared as a German
national myth.

On the afternoon of the 1. September,
Napoleon III. capitulates.

He let hoist the white flag
above a gate of the fortress.

- The 'Battle of Sedan' was
firstly a military success.

A tremendous success.

Because as a result,
the French Empire,

was theoretically militarily defeated.

It was a military victory.

But it was also an
emotional uplifting feeling,

for the majority of Germans.

On that day (of Sedan), they defeated
the power which was for decades,

a barrier for the Germans, as it seemed.

-The war is still a legitimate
instrument of politics.

This view is shared
by both counterparties.

On a country road nearby Sedan,
at the request of Napoleon,

it comes to a historical meeting,

between the vanquished and the victor.

"Your Majesty...
I await your orders."

"I give no orders, anymore."

"So, let's talk about
peace negotiations."

"Too late ...

I'm here to offerable my sword to the king."

"Is it the sword of France?"

"It is only my own.
I 'm your prisoner.

My government alone
decides in Paris about peace."

Napoleon III. goes in captivity
at the head of 100,000 soldiers.

Three years later,
he died in English exile.

When the news arrives in Paris
about the defeat, there is a revolt.

The empire collapsed.

But the war progresses.

Paris is surrounded by German troops,

and shelled by heavy artillery.

All that lead to deep devisions for decades
between the Germans and the French.

The siege is commanded
in Paris, Versailles.

The prefecture in the city center
is royal Prussian headquarters.

From here, the next steps are prepared
that pave the way for German unity.

Bismarck wants to use the national euphoria
after the victory of Sedan,

to move the South German States,

to join voluntarily
the North German Confederation.

But there are resistance.

To overcome those,
Bismarck writes a letter

to the Bavarian King Ludwig II.

He knows the monarch is not in favor to lead,

his kingdom into a united Germany,

as the majority of people and its
own government wants.

And he knows the weaknesses of the King ...
and intends to exploit it.

Dream castles...
who should pay for it?

Bismarck, with a
secret donation of millions.

Romance instead Power

Therefor, the King of Bavaria writes
a letter which is pre-formulated by Bismarck.

On behalf of all the German princes,
he offers King Wilhelm of Prussia

the title 'German Emperor'.

Bismarck is near the finish
with the letter from Ludwig.

The proclamation of Wilhelm I. as German Emperor,

should launch
the united German Empire.

"And now the German unity is made...

and the Emperor, as well."

But he still has to convince one.

"What does Ludwig think?

My ancestors were
King of Prussia enough."

"Your Majesty don't want to remain a neuter...

in the new German Empire,
which they call presidium."

If I agree
to become Emperor...

then I wish the title
'Emperor of Germany'...

and certainly not
'German Emperor'."

"Your Majesty...

the Princes will never accept an 'Emperor of Germany'!

They were afraid that your Majesty
wants to rule alone, without them."

"Shall I only play the figurehead?

The title 'German Emperor'...

is unacceptable!"

-Bismarck has always
believed that...

'you have to do tough policy
with gentle formulations',

and it was not about the title.

'German Emperor' was...
german is an adjective in this sense.

'Emperor of Germany' would mean...

'I am the boss of Germany!
I'm the commander!'

A total different meaning.

With this formulation,
he would never have,

convinced the South German princes,

which are still be full of sap.

-The castle of the French
Monarchs at Versailles.

A masterpiece of the baroque.

Built in the 17th century, to glorify
the Sun King Louis XIV.

The palace is used by the Germans
during the siege of Paris.

Now, they are treat the wounded
German soldiers in the famous Hall of Mirrors.

On this day,
they have to vanish.

"Comrade give me a hand!"

"What are you doing?"

"Orders from above."

Still at war, will be formed on hostile ground,

which French and Britons
have already achieved long ago.

The unity of the nation.

"How is the situation?

What does the king think now?

How does it strike him?"

"He still wants to be 'Emperor of Germany'...
and nothing else."

"Doesn't he understand our situation?

We are balancing
on a knife edge.

'Emperor of Germany' is impossible!

He has to accept that."

Just before the proclamation,
the title question is not clearified.

Is the Prussian king
proclaimed as 'German Emperor',

as Bismarck and the princes want

or as 'Emperor of Germany'
as Wilhelm claims?

Now, it depends on him,
Grand Duke Friedrich von Baden.

He should acclaim
the new emperor.

"Long live His Majesty ...

Emperor Wilhelm!"

Hooray! Hooray!...(Audience )

The Grand Duke avoids the éclat
with a deft formulation.

"Hail to thee in victor's crown (Song)

At the end, Wilhelm agrees the condition
of Bismarck and the princes.

The title 'German Emperor' remains.

"...Feel in the throne's splendor
The high ecstasy in full
To be darling of thy people!..."(Song)

The grudge of the monarch
lasts only a short while.

He refused to shake hands with
Bismarck after the proclamation.

But only two months later,
he raises him to the prince.

"...To be darling of thy people!
Hail to thee, emperor!" (Song)

France capitulated, soon after.

Bismarck has achieved his goal,

the Prussian-German national state.

Germany is united.

-In 1871, the Bismarck Reich
is seen, experienced and witnessed,

as culmination of German history
almost of all Germans,

and it provided for decades that what
the majority of Germans wanted...

National Unity, Imperial Splendour

-and Greatness.

Now, the new German Empire
also includes

South Germany and the
French Alsace-Lorraine.

This Empire is saturated
for its founder Bismarck,

without any further territorial claims.

From now on, he wants to
secure what has been achieved and preserve peace.

The return to Berlin is
a triumphal procession.

An eyewitness writes ...

"Whereby did we
earn the grace of God,

to experience such great
and mighty things."

At the parade of the victorious Army through
the Brandenburg Gate on the 16th of June 1871...

jubilates Berlin.

The new Empire
satisfied many needs of the Germans...

splendour, unity and
a piece of participation.

In 1871, a all-German Parlament is elected,
the Reichstag.

All men over 25 years
are entitled to vote.

Politics is still
a pure man's thing.

Later, it accruses this buidling
which is the new Reichstag,

and which passes legislations
and the budget.

However the parliament does not
decide about the chancellor,

but the Emperor does.

A Constitution as
intended by the author,

Germany's first chancellor.

-Bismarck gave the Germans a piece of democracy,

in form of a general and
equal electoral law for men.

Namely a stronger piece of democracy
than liberal model monarchies

such as the UK or
Belgium knew it at the time.

But the Germans did not receive
a responsible government in the German Empire.

-The foundation of the Empire provides the impetus
for a rapid recovery.

'Founding Years' (Gründerjahre)

The Berlin of the margraves and kings
becomes a modern metropolis.

The population of the new
German Capital doubled by 1912,

from one million up to
2 million inhabitants.

Berlin is so the fourth largest city in the world,
after London, New York and Paris.

The city is the symbol for the German
seven-mile-step into the modern.

That what tangible the progress
is eliminated.

The engine of the tremendous upheaval
all over the country...

is the first German
economic miracle.

In the first four decades
after the foundation of the German Empire,

the German national product triples.

The Industrial Revolution is
in massive growth in Germany.

In 1890, more Germans work in industry
than in agriculture for the first time.

The economic changes
are also reflected in the political life.

In the block of flats of Berlin
and other cities,

a new confident class is growing up...

the working class.

"The class rule,
the class antagonism... "

A new political force recruited
here their base voter.

The Social Democrats represent not only
the social interests of the workers,

but also a new
view of the state.

Monarchy and aristocracy are
relics of bygone times for them.

The future belongs
to the workforce.

"...The workers of the... "

For Bismarck means those thoughts
treason and revolution.

Social Democrats are
all demagogues, for him.

" ... as long as, the propertied classes
own the dominion,

are all refrom efforts... "

"Open the door!
In the name of the law!"

Bismarck can ban the party
with the so-called Anti-Socialist Law.

Their gatherings and newspapers
are illegal, now.

People face fines and imprisonment
in the case of a breach.

"The Social Democrat...
Take him away"

"Pappa! Pappa! Pappa!"

"You will not see him
again for a long time."

Bismarck not only fights and
persecuted Social Democrats

but also the Catholic Church hits
the excommunication of the Imperial Chancellor.

"We will not go to Canossa!" he says.

Bismarck has made a policy which
were looking for enemies of the Empire,

and that certainly belongs to the dark side
of Bismarck's policies.

Not only against the workers' movement
but also against the Catholics,

and increasingly towards
national minorities...

e.g. towards the Polish in Prussia.

-A carrot-and-stick policy.

In rapid succession, Bismarck introduces an
health, accident and pension insurance,

milestones on the way
to the social state.

But their actual purpose, to divest
the members of the Social Democrats,

don't accomplished the new laws.

Despite the ban, Social Democrats
can vote and be elected.

In 1881, they receive 6% of the votes
in the Reichstag elections.

In 1890, they already reach 20%.

The opponents Bismarck's have the majority
in the new Reichstag (parliament).

The Chancellor is finished as far as
domestic policy is concerned.

And all his power depends
on one dying man.

For 26 years, he is Minister President
of Prussia under Wilhelm I.

For 17 years, he is also chancellor.

Bismarck's power depends
on his confidence.

Only the Emperor can dismiss him
according to the constitution.

"It was not always easy
to be Emperor among you."

"Majesty was often more difficult to convince
than the Austrians

and even than the French."

"You must assist my grandson, now.

He has mind....
but is short on experience...."

He has to lead
the dynasty in the future,

Prince Wilhelm.

"...and ambitious plans."

His father, the Crown Prince
is already terminally ill,

and is going to die a few months
after the Emperor.

After a 90 year old Emperor
will follow a 29 year old one.

Wilhelm II. do not want to
be Emperor among Bismarck.

I give him a rest for 6 months,

but then I run the country by myself..
he explains autocratically.

At the opening of the Reichstag
by the new emperor,

the painter moves Bismarck
into the centre once again.

But he stands alone and isolated.

The majority of the palarment
is against him,

and Wilhelm prefers to govern by his own.

In March 1890, Bismarck receives
his certificate of discharge.

He will never forgive the new Emperor
the exclusion from power,

despite all the honors that
he is overwhelmed by Wilhelm II.

"Hypocrite! ...

You will ruin everything."

His government ends as it
began...

in dispute with the Emperor.

What remains from
the founder of the empire?

Bismarck's picture remains ambivalent.

He has united the Germans
but he also has divided them.

He led them to thier most brilliant
day of history in 1871,

but after a productive foreign policy
it folowed very fast,

a dubious domestic policy from him.

- After the dissmissal,
Bismarck retires,

at his manor in Fridrichsruh
by Hamburg.

He will live there
another 8 years.

His departure is perceived as the
end of an era, even abroad.

"Dropping the Pilot"

writes and draws
the English newspaper 'Punch'.

Farewell of a man who
unified opposites in his era.

He was a conservative who created
the modern German national state.

Outwardly, he sucessfully
unified Germany

but inwardly, he
has deferred the unification.

The empire which he created...

his successors
are going to lose it.