Beginning in 1862, Bismarck began to consolidate his power under Wilhelm I.  Wilhelm I and Bismarck did not like each other very much but each needed the other to keep and gain power.  Bismarck often dismissed Wilhelm I but was a royalist and supported the monarchy and needed his support to unite Germany.  In 1863 the president of Denmark died without an heir and Bismarck took advantage of the situation.  Bismarck went aginst the liberals and in 1864 led the successful war between Prussia and Denmark to take over the German speaking territories of Schleswig-Holstein.  In 1866, Bismarck started the Austro-Prussian War where Austria was defeated.  In a compromise with all parties, Bismarck decided not to levy a war tax on Austria.  Bismarck then tricked France and Prussia into war from 1870-71.  The war was won by Prussia, with help from it's German allies, and  King Wilhelm I of Prussia was declared Kaiser of the German Empire in 1871.  Otto von Bismarck was named Chancellor of the German Empire on March 21, 1871.  With the creation of the German Empire, Bismarck had achieved his dream of a united Germany.