taking control of the separate German states. The Schleswig-Holstein Question also became tied up in the debate; the Second Schleswig War saw Denmark lose to the combined forces of Austria and Prussia, but Prussia would later gain full control of the province after the Austro-Prussian War, thus saw Austria being excluded from Germany. After the Franco-Prussian War, Germany was unified under Prussia to become the German Empire in 1871, and the rivalry is often seen as subsiding after the Congress of Berlin in 1878. Germany, led by Prussia, had become the superior power to Austria-Hungary. See also German question War of the Austrian Succession War of the Bavarian Succession Fürstenbund German confederation Erfurt Union Punctation of Olmütz Austro-Prussian War Unification of Germany References 18th century in the Holy Roman Empire 19th century in Germany 18th century in the Habsburg monarchy Austrian Empire Geopolitical rivalry Foreign relations of Prussia 19th century in the Habsburg monarchy History of Central Europe