The Ems dispatch of 1870

I was reading about the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) and wanted to find out more about the reasons why the war started. I then came across one of the events that helped to spark it off: the Ems dispatch. This is a very interesting moment in history. First because it looks like it is just a footnote in the events leading to the Franco-Prussian War, but it was enough to drive France to war. Secondly, because Otto von Bismarck had a plan and it worked exactly as he thought it would. And thirdly because it shows the sometimes disastrous influence of media, faulty translations and diplomacy on highly inflammable situations.

After the Glorious Revolution (1868) in Spain, the Spanish throne was vacant. One of the candidates was the Prussian Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. The French were afraid that, if Leopold would ascend the throne, they would become sandwiched between Hohenzollern powers, with the North German Confederation, led by Prussia, on one side and Spain on the other.