The term German has been applied to different areas in different periods for a long time. At one time it was applied to all German - speaking units of the Holy Roman Empire. From 1815 - 1866 it referred to the German Confederation a league led by Austria.
Germany became a single country in 1871. In that year William of Prussia was proclaimed German Emperor and the country became unified for the first time. Before 1871 Germany consisted of many independent states whose feudal lords fought to retain their independency. |
