Caprivi de Caprera de Montecuccoli was a German soldier and statesman.
Background
Caprivi de Caprera de Montecuccol was born on the 24th of February 1831 at Charlottenburg. The family springs from Carniola, and the name was originally written Kopriva. In the 18th century one branch settled in Wernigerode, and several members entered the Prussian service. The father of the chancellor held a high judicial post, and was made a life member of the Prussian House of Lords.
Education
Caprivi de Caprera de Montecuccol was educated in Berlin, and entered the army in 1849.
Career
Caprivi de Caprera resigned in 1888, when the command was separated from the representation in parliament, and was appointed commander of the 10th army corps.
Bismarck had supported the colonial parties in Germany in pretensions to which it was impossible for Great Britain to give her consent, and the relations between the two powers were in consequence somewhat strained.
But the abandonment of an aggressive policy in East Africa and in Nigeria, and in the withdrawal of German claims to Zanzibar (in exchange for Heligoland) aroused the hostility of the colonial parties, who bitterly attacked the new chancellor.
Caprivi had, however, by making the frontiers of the Congo Free State and German East Africa meet, " cut " the Cape to Cairo connexion of the British, an achievement which caused much dismay in British colonial circles, regular treaties having been obtained from native chiefs over large areas which the chancellor secured for Germany.
Caprivi's fall was probably the work of the Agrarians, but it was also due to the fact that, while he showed very high ability in conducting the business of the country, he made no attempt to secure his personal position by forming a party either in parliament or at court.
He interpreted his position rather as a soldier; he did his duty, but did not think of defending himself.
The last years of his life were spent in absolute retirement, for he could not return even to the military duties which he had left with great reluctance at the orders of the emperor.
Connections
Caprivi died unmarried on the 6th of February 1899, at the age of sixty-eight.