The House of Bismarck
plays a central role in German political history.
About the House of Bismarck Schoenhausen
The legacy of a noble family
A noble family in the service of Germany
The Bismarck House (Haus Bismarck) of the Schoenhausen line is one of the most historically significant noble families in Germany, mainly due to Otto von Bismarck, the first Chancellor of the German Empire.
Our mission is to preserve our family's legacy and impact on modern politics.
Origins and Early History
The Bismarck family originated from the Altmark region in the medieval Margraviate of Brandenburg (now Saxony-Anhalt). The earliest known ancestor is Herebord von Bismarck, mentioned in 1270 as a knight in Stendal. The family name likely derives from the village of Bismark, near Stendal.
Rise to Nobility
The Bismarcks served as knights and administrators under the Electors of Brandenburg. They became part of the lower nobility (Uradel) and gradually gained land and titles.
In the 18th century, the family acquired the estate of Schönhausen (near Stendal), which became the family seat.
1865
In 1865 Otto von Bismarck received the Title of Count (Graf) von Bismarck-Schönhausen, granted by: King Wilhelm I of Prussia, after the successful Second Schleswig War against Denmark.
1871
In 1871: he received the Title of Prince (Fürst) von Bismarck, granted by: Kaiser Wilhelm I, after the victory in the Franco-Prussian War and the proclamation of the German Empire in Versailles, France.This hereditary princely title is for his legitime first born male descendants only.
1890
In 1890 he received the Title of Duke of Lauenburg (Herzog von Lauenburg), granted by: Kaiser Wilhelm II, after Bismarck’s dismissal as Chancellor. This was a non-hereditary title, granted only for Otto’s lifetime. It expired upon his death in 1898.
15K +
Books published about Otto von Bismarck worlwide
800+
Streets, and squares with his name in Germany
245+
Monuments in his honor in Germany
Prince Otto Eduard von Bismarck
Born Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck-Schönhausen, in Schönhausen, Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia on the 1st of April 1815, died in Friedrichsruh, Aumuhle on the 30th July 1898. First Prince of Bismarck, head of the House from to 1871 to 1898.
Prime Minister of Prussia (1862–1890)
Founder and first Chancellor of the German Empire (1871–1890)
Married the Prussian Noblewoman Johanna Friederike on Puttkamer Rummelsburg (1824 –1894)
Prince Herbert von Bismarck
Born Nikolaus Heinrich Ferdinand Herbert Graf von Bismarck-Schönhausen in Berlin on the 28th of December 1849, died in Friedrichsruh, Aumuhle on the 18th of September 1904. Otto’s oldest son. Head of the House from 1898 to 1904. Served as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the German Empire. Married to Countess Marguerite of Hoyos, (1871–1945) a member of the House of Hoyos a noble house from Austria, originally from Castilla (Spain).
Prince Otto Christian von Bismarck
Born Otto Christian Archibald Graf Bismarck-Schönhausen on the 25th of September 1897 in Schönhausen, died In Friedrichsruh, Aumuhle, on the 24th of December 1975.Grandson of Otto. Herbert’s oldest son. Head of the house from 1904 to 1975. Diplomat and Politician. Member of Parliament from 1924 to 1928. German Envoy to the Kingdom of Italy 1940–1943.Member of Parliament for the constituency of Herzogtum Lauenburg from 1953 to 1965, member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, served as its vice president from 1959 to 1960 and from 1961 to 1966. Married to the Swedish Ann-Mari Tengbom.(1907-1999)
Prince Ferdinand von Bismarck
Born Herbord Ivar Ferdinand von Bismarck-Schoenhausen in London on the 22nd of November 1930, died in Reinbek on the 23rd of July 2019.Great grandson of the Chancelor. Otto Christian oldest son.Head of the House from 1975–2019. A lawyer and real state developer; known for his presence in European high society. Married on the 30th of August 1960 in the Netherlands to the Belgium Elisabeth Lippens (1939-2023).
Prince Carl Eduard von Bismarck
Born Carl-Eduard Otto Wolfgang James Graf von Bismarck-Schoenhausen in Zurich on the 16th of February 1961.Great great-grandson of the Chancelor Ferdinand’s oldest son. Head of the House of Bismarck since 2019. Entrepreneur, former elected member of the Bundestag, served as Lieutenant at the Bismarck Casern in Wentorf, Germany. Member of the German Parliament, representing the CDU for the constituency Herzogtum Lauenburg, from 2005 to 2007. Married on the 21st of April 2016 in Cascais, Portugal, to the Italian, born in Brazil Alessandra Silvestri von Bismarck, from the Italian noble house Malfati Neri. Raised protestant he converted to Greek-Othodox in 2015.
Heir apparent Count Alexei von Bismarck
Born Alexei Graf von Bismarck in New York on the 28th of April 2006, Great-great-great grandson of Otto von Bismarck.Carl-Eduard's oldest son. Raised in the jewish religion, Alexei's mother was born in Israel. He is currently a college student.
Tradition
The House of Bismarck never ruled a state or principality in the sovereign sense, like the Hohenzollerns or Wittelsbachs. Instead, they are a noble family of statesmen, politicians, administrators and landowners.
However, Otto von Bismarck had immense political power as Minister-President of Prussia and Chancellor of the German Empire, effectively ruling the empire under the Kaiser.
The House of Bismarck follows male primogeniture also called agnatic primogeniture
Meaning the eldest legitimate male descendant inherits the hereditary princely title Fürst (Prince) and the headship of the house; the spouse of the Fürst use the courtesy title Fürstin (Princess) von Bismarck.
Other male members use Graf (Count) von Bismarck-Schönhausen as part of their names, women born into the family are titled Gräfin (Countess) von Bismarck-Schönhausen, the Graf title is only transmitted by the legitimate males of the family, their spouses use the courtesy title of Gräfin ( Countess).
Marriage rules
The House of Bismarck historically followed Ebenbürtigkeit (equal birth), meaning: marriages should be with other nobles or individuals of socially suitable rank. However, this has relaxed in modern times, especially post-WWII.
The titles are generally retained even in non-noble marriages, as German nobility has no legal privileges after 1919.
Adoption and Illegitimacy
Titles and succession only pass through legitimate male lines. Illegitimate or adopted children do not inherit titles or the headship under traditional house rules.
Legal Standing of these rules
After the Weimar Constitution (1919), noble titles became part of the surname, and legal privileges ended.
The House of Bismarck continues to observe its traditions privately, especially for representing family legacy.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
Otto von Bismarck remains one of the most prominent figures in Germany and one of the most influential statesmen in the world’s history, his importance is reflected in his numerous achievements
Unification of Germany in 1871.
He unified the German states into a single German Empire under Prussian leadership. He used diplomacy and wars (the “Iron and Blood” strategy) to achieve this:
1864: Defeated Denmark (Second Schleswig War)
1866: Defeated Austria (Austro-Prussian War)
1870–71: Defeated France (Franco-Prussian War)
Crowning of Kaiser Wilhelm I as Emperor
He crowned Kaiser Wilhelm I as Emperor in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, France on January 18, 1871.
Bismarck created the German Constitution in 1871.
Established a federal structure.
First Chancellor of the German Empire 1871
Served as the founding Chancellor of the new empire from 1871 to 1890. Built a federal structure balancing power between states, especially Bavaria and Prussia.Maintained German dominance in Europe through careful diplomacy.
Created the role of Chancellor – Set a precedent for strong executive leadership in Germany.
“Realpolitik” and Diplomacy
He was a master of Realpolitik, a pragmatic and power based politics.
Isolated France diplomatically to prevent alliances against Germany.
Established a complex system of alliances:
League of the Three Emperors (Germany, Russia, Austria)
Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy)
Social Welfare Reforms
Otto von Bismarck set the foundation for modern European social security systems.
He introduced the world’s first modern welfare state to undermine socialist movements.
Health Insurance Law in 1883
Accident Insurance in 1884
Old Age and Disability Insurance in 1889
Anti-Socialist Laws
Repressed socialist movements and parties through strict laws (1878–1890).
Despite repression, socialism gained support, showing the limits of authoritarian control.
Maintained Peace in Europe (1871–1890)
After unification, Bismarck avoided further wars, stabilising Europe through strategic alliances and treaties.
His dismissal in 1890 marked the beginning of more aggressive German policies under Wilhelm II.
Introduced indirect taxes
Funded welfare and the military without high income taxes.
Modernized German industry, supported rapid industrial growth and modernization.
Kulturkampf (Culture Struggle)
He managed the conflict with the Catholic Church (1871–1878), aimed at reducing Church influence in state affairs.Though partially rolled back later, it asserted the primacy of the secular state.
Otto von Bismarck played a central diplomatic role in the partition of Africa through his leadership of the Berlin Conference 1884–1885. while Bismarck was initially uninterested in colonial expansion, he later used it as a tool of diplomacy and domestic politics.
Organizer of the Berlin Conference.
Host and was the chief diplomat of the Berlin Conference, which regulated European colonization and trade in Africa. 14 nations attended, including major European powers and the U.S. The conference was aimed at avoiding conflict between European powers over African territories.
Key Outcomes of the Conference
Principle of effective occupation: A country could only claim a territory in Africa if it had actual control (administration, treaties with local rulers, military presence).
Free navigation on the Congo and Niger Rivers.
Free trade in the Congo Basin.
The Congo Free State was recognised as the personal possession of King Leopold II of Belgium
Bismarck’s actions facilitated the “Scramble for Africa” by setting the rules.
Bismarck’s motives: balance of power, used colonial diplomacy to strengthen ties with Britain and France.
Internal politics: Appeased German industrialists and nationalists who were demanding colonies.
Wanted to maintain peace in Europe, not expand Germany’s empire aggressively.
Germany’s Entry into Colonialism
Under Bismarck’s leadership: Germany acquired its first African colonies:
Togo and Cameroon (1884)
German South West Africa (now Namibia)
German East Africa (now Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi)
These colonies were declared “Schutzgebiete” (protectorates), not formal colonies at first.
Withdrawal from Colonial Ambitions. Bismarck remained skeptical of colonies, viewing them as a burden and potential source of conflict.
In 1888, he told the Reichstag: “Your map of Africa is very nice, but my map of Africa lies in Europe.”
Indirect Impact on the African Borders
The Berlin Conference is often cited as a formal starting point for the imperialist partition of Africa, with long-lasting consequences for the continent. It had an Indirect Impact on Borders, while borders were not drawn at the conference, it triggered the “Scramble for Africa”, where European powers rapidly occupied and divided the continent. As a result, European powers negotiated and imposed borders later, often arbitrarily and unilaterally with no regard for ethnic, linguistic, or cultural realities.
These colonial borders eventually became the modern national borders after African countries gained independence in the 20th century. This led to many post-independence conflicts, since the imposed borders divided ethnic groups or forced rival groups into the same country.
Exeptional Statesman
Here are some of the most powerful and widely attributed quotes from Otto von Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor of Germany.
On Politics and Power
“Politics is the art of the possible.” Perhaps his most famous quote, showing his pragmatism.
“The great questions of the day will not be decided by speeches and majority decisions… but by iron and blood.” From a speech in 1862, emphasizing force over diplomacy in national affairs.
“A statesman… must wait until he hears the steps of God sounding through events, then leap up and grasp the hem of His garment.”On the importance of timing and divine providence in leadership.
On War and Diplomacy
“Preventive war is like committing suicide for fear of death.”
A striking criticism of preemptive military action.
“We must always have two irons in the fire.”
On maintaining multiple diplomatic options and flexibility.
“Fools say they learn by experience. I prefer to profit by others’ experience.”
A reflection of his cautious and strategic nature.
On Germany and Unity
“The Balkans aren’t worth the bones of a single Pomeranian grenadier.”
Dismissing involvement in Balkan conflicts as unworthy of German blood. “One day the great European War will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans.”
A prophetic statement decades before World War I.
“The secret of politics? Make a good treaty with Russia.”
Reflecting Bismarck’s strategic diplomacy.
On Leadership and Realpolitik
“When you want to fool the world, tell the truth.”A paradoxical insight into his strategic use of honesty.
“Never believe in anything until it has been officially denied.”
A cynical view of political truth and government denials.
“People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war, or before an election.”
"With a gentleman, I am always a gentleman and a half; and with a fraud, I try to be a fraud and a half.”
On matching others’ behavior to maintain control.
Bismarck-Museum Friedrichsruh (Schleswig-Holstein)
• Location: Friedrichsruh, near Hamburg
• Significance: This is the main museum dedicated to Otto von Bismarck.
• Highlights: Personal belongings, historical documents, portraits, and gifts from foreign dignitaries. The museum is next to the Bismarck Mausoleum, where he is buried.
Bismarck-Museum Schönhausen (Saxony-Anhalt)
• Location: Schönhausen (Elbe), his birthplace
• Significance: Situated in the remains of the manor where Bismarck was born in 1815.
• Highlights: Exhibits focus on his early life, education, and the Bismarck family. The original house was destroyed in WWII, but a section was reconstructed as a museum.
Deutsches Historisches Museum Berlin
• Note: Not exclusively about Bismarck, but features a substantial section on his role in German unification and the German Empire.
• Good for context, especially if you’re in Berlin.
The Princes of the House of Bismarck-Schoenhausen have remained influential in political, economic, and social spheres across Europe, Africa and Americas along the centuries.
Today, the Head of the House of Bismarck, Prince Carl Eduard and his wife are comitted to social impact to mitigate poverty and climate change, they participate to several Summits and Conferences worldwide.
A Bismarck Family association exists in Germany, with 377+ members worldwide who bore the same last name, but only less than 20% of these members descends from the Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.
His direct descendants live in France, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, United States and Singapore, they are businessmen, social workers, artists and musicians.
Contact
info@houseofbismarck.com
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