Otto von Bismarck (1815–1898), known as the “Iron Chancellor,” was the Prussian statesman who played the central role in unifying Germany in 1871 and became the German Empire’s first chancellor. Renowned for his shrewd diplomacy and practical approach to power, known as Realpolitik, he used strategic alliances and wars against Denmark, Austria and France to establish a united Germany under Prussian leadership. As chancellor until 1890, Bismarck sought to preserve European stability through a complex network of alliances while introducing pioneering social insurance programmes for workers. His authoritarian leadership and campaigns against political opponents remain controversial, but his influence on modern Germany and European history was profound.
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