May 10 2021 marks the 150th anniversary of the Treaty of Frankfurt, which officially ended the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. Though largely forgotten in Britain today, this conflict ushered in transformative changes to the European geopolitical system, and had a profound impact on the development of the modern state.

French and German nationalism were both significantly shaped by this event, which also brought about wider political and social changes in education, health policy, and, of course, the theories and practices of the conduct of war.

This two-day conference, organized under the auspices of King’s College London’s Sir Michael Howard Centre for the History of War, in conjunction with the Embassy of France in the UK, seeks to interrogate the significance and legacies of some the key political, social, cultural, and military transformations brought about by this crucial turning point in both European and world history.

View the conference programme here.