Königgrätz had been the decisive battle of…

Königgrätz had been the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War; an armistice signed at Prague three weeks later, on August 23, provides a great opportunity for Prussian statesmen, by clearing a path toward German Unification, in particular with the Little Germany, or Germany without Austria solution, with the subsequent foundation of the North German Confederation, by which twenty-one states north of the Main River join a German North Confederation led by Prussia.

This effectively incorporates most of Germany, barring the German lands of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, into the Prussian state, ending Austrian dominance of Germany.

The French public resents the Prussian victory and demands "Revanche pour Sadova" or "Revenge for Sadowa", which will form part of the buildup to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.