188 WILHELAM DER SIEGREICHE 
Hanoverians were defeated at Langensalza, the Elector 
of Hesse was captured and sent to Stettin as prisoner of 
war. His armies had already entered Bohemia after 
several victorious encounters, when the king on July 2 
assumed the chief command at Gitschin. The Austrian 
Commander, von Benedeck, a brave and tried general, was 
Preparing for a pitched battle near Sadowa. As soon as 
the king heard of this, he dispatched his adjutant to the 
crown-prince at Königinhof with orders that he should 
start at once, so as to join in the impending battle with his 
entire force. The attack of the Austrians began early in 
the morning. On both sides the troops fought likc tigers. 
The Austrians held a most favourable position, and their 
artillery was most effective. The king was very angious. 
At three oclock in the afternoon Aloltke galloped up to 
the king, and reported: "“ Majesty, the Crown-prince has 
arrived and has already attacked.) The news spread like 
wildfire; at the same time the Austrian centre begapnp 
to waver, and ere long the retreat of the Austrians 
degenerated into a wild flight. When the king met 
the Crown-prince, who by almost superhuman efforts had 
managed to reach the battlefield in time, father and son 
wept for emotion. The battle of Königgrätz, as it is 
Called by the Cermans, was decisive. In the peace which 
was now concluded Prussia obtained Schleswig- Holstein 
and a considerable war- indemnity. The kingdom of 
Hanover and the electorate of Hesse and Nassau were 
incorporated in the kingdom of Prussia. 
VII (pp. 41-43) 
Prussia now tock the lead in the North German 
federation. Bismarck became its Chancellor. All Europe 
beheld with astonishment what little Prussia had accom- 
plished in an incredibly short time. What wonder that 
these successes aroused the jealousy of Napoleon, whose 
government was accustomed to rule the roost in European. 
politics? The cry of “ Kezanche Sonz- Sadomz“ became