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Introducing an occasional series profiling celebrated figures from the past and the dogs on whom they doted.
And who better to inaugurate this feature than the Iron Chancellor himself, Prince Otto Von Bismarck (1815-1898)?
First Chancellor Of Germany and Prime Minister of Prussia under William I, Bismark came to fame as the unifier of Germany in the 19th century after the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War. A great dog lover, he gravitated toward (what else?) big beautiful black Great Danes, two of whom he called “Tyras,” after the Greek name for the Ukranian river Dniester (which, before World War II, formed the border between Romania and the Soviet Union) .
But, we digress. Tyras I was Bismarck’s constant companion during his studies of law and agriculture at the U of Gottingen. Tyras II, another magnificent black Great Dane, given to him by Kaiser Wilhelm II, was known to be Bismarck’s companion in his old age.
(Ruth Maystead image, from Dogstuff’s notecard collection)
Devoted to his dogs, the Iron Chancellor spoke of the passing of Tyras I:
“A few minutes before the faithful old dog died I spoke to him. He had not the strength to wag his tail; but he opened his eyes, and as he looked at me an expression came over his face that told me, as plainly as if he had spoken, that he recognized me, and wished me well.”
Bismarck’s summed up his attitude toward canines this way ” Great men have great dogs”.