Austria and
Prussia had a long-standing conflict and rivalry for supremacy in Central Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries, termed (
German dualism) in the
German language area. While wars were a part of the rivalry, it was also a race for prestige to be seen as the legitimate political force of the German-speaking peoples. The conflict first culminated in the
Seven Years' War; however, relations were not always hostile; sometimes, both countries were able to cooperate, such as during the
Napoleonic Wars and the
Second Schleswig War.