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Imperial Germany’s Romeo & Juliet
What happens when a conqueror’s granddaughter falls for the heir to the kingdom her family stole?
The problem started with Prussia. In 1866, Prussia picked a fight with Austria to take over as shot-caller among Europe’s German-speaking territories. Those territories now had to pick a side in the war that followed.
King George of Hanover chose Austria. Turns out, he chose poorly.
Prussia trounced Austria and her allies in a matter of weeks. Then Prussia annexed Hanover and seized George’s property and assets, leaving the royal family jobless and homeless. But George refused to abdicate — he’d been crowned and anointed, chosen by God to rule his kingdom. No Prussian could change that.
So he moved to Austria, where his court in exile became a focal point for the anti-Prussian sentiment. When George died, his son — sharing his bitterness against Prussia — also refused to abdicate.
The feud showed no signs of abating as the years wore on.