Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)

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Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) a series of
meetings during which European leaders sought to
establish long-lasting peace and security after
the defeat of Napoleon. Five great powers
involved Prussia, Russia, Austria, Great
Britain, France. The four victors wanted to
forestall any future European empire. To achieve
this they reestablished a balance of power, which
meant they had to include France.
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Most influential person of the meetings was
Klemens von Metternich, the foreign minister of
Austria
The word 'freedom' means for me not a point of
departure but a genuine point of arrival. The
point of departure is defined by the word
'order'. Freedom cannot exist without the concept
of order.
Klemens Wenzel, Prince von Metternich (1773
1859)
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The Concert of Europe, also known as the Congress
System after the Congress of Vienna, was the
balance of power that existed in Europe from the
end of the Napoleonic Wars (1815) to the outbreak
of the First World War (1914).
The age of the Concert is sometimes known as the
Age of Metternich, due to the influence of the
Austrian chancellor's conservatism and the
dominance of Austria within the German
Confederation.
Prince Metternich, conductor of the Concert of
Europe
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Metternich had contempt for the average
Englishmans inability to speak French fluently.
He praised Lord John Dudley, British Foreign
Secretary, for his excellent French.
The common people of Vienna speak French better
than the educated men of London!
That may be so, but Your Highness will recall
that Bonaparte has not been twice in London to
teach them!
How does Dudleys reply put Metternich in his
place?
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Metternichs three goals 1. Prevent future
French aggression by surrounding her with strong
countries 2. Restore a balance of power, so that
no country would be a threat to others 3. Restore
Europes royal families to their thrones
(legitimacy)
When Paris sneezes, Europe catches cold!
Metternich
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The Containment of France Kingdom of the
Netherlands formed, and Switzerland made
independent Austria dominates new German
Confederation of 39 German states Russia and
Prussia scaled back their demands for
compensation. Russia created a small kingdom
of Poland. Kingdom of Sardinia is strengthened
by adding Genoa
Balance of Power European powers weaken France
but leave it mostly intact
Legitimacy Monarchs deposed by Napoleon are
returned to thrones to promote stability (a
victory for conservatives) E.g., Louis XVIII
becomes a constitutional monarch of France
Bourbon rulers of Spain and Sicily restored
Hapsburg princes returned to rule states in
northern Italy
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A cartoon about the creation of Belgium in 1830.
In order to establish a buffer between France and
Germany, the Congress of Vienna created a kingdom
of the Netherlands by combining Holland and
Belgium (the latter the former Austrian
Netherlands). Belgium resented Dutch rule, and
in 1830 the Catholic nobility and the
middle-class liberals joined forces in an
insurrection that resulted in the creation of the
independent state of Belgium. Here, the two
countries are caricatured as dogs on the same
leash, Belgium resisting the constraint of
Holland.
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Congress of Vienna was a triumph. Nations of an
entire continent were cooperating to control
political affairs. They agreed to meet regularly
to prevent future wars through diplomacy. This
"congress system" was successful for most of the
19th century. Because its settlements were fair
enough, it did not sow the seeds of future wars
(cf. Treaty of Versailles). European nations
agree to preserve peace, which lasts almost 40
years. None of the five great powers waged war
on one another until 1853, in the Crimean War.