# Bismarck Becomes Minister-President (1862)

URL: https://germany-history.com/timeline/1862-bismarck-becomes-minister-president
Location: Berlin
Categories: main-event

On 23 September 1862 King Wilhelm I appointed Otto von Bismarck Minister-President of Prussia. He said the great questions of the day would be decided 'by iron and blood'. He governed without parliamentary budget approval.

## Why it matters
Bismarck would unify Germany under Prussia.

Ruler at the time: [Wilhelm I](https://germany-history.com/rulers/wilhelm-i)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia – Otto von Bismarck](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_von_Bismarck)
- [Wikipedia – Blood and Iron (speech)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_and_Iron_(speech))
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica – Otto von Bismarck](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Otto-von-Bismarck)