Congress of Vienna

• 1. The War That Shattered Europe

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  In May 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte surrendered to the Sixth Coalition, ending twenty-three years of nearly continuous warfare across the continent. The Congress of Vienna convened shortly after this defeat to discuss a new political layout for Europe. Representatives from all European powers gathered in the Austrian capital between September 1814 and June 1815. Their goal was not merely to restore old boundaries but to resize main powers so they could balance each other. Conservative leaders like Klemens von Metternich sought to restrain revolutionary movements that had upended the constitutional order of the ancien régime. They aimed to create a long-term peace plan by settling critical issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars through negotiation.

• 2. Metternich's Diplomatic Framework

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  Austrian Foreign Minister Klemens von Metternich developed the congress format as an innovative diplomatic organizational framework. Before this event, diplomacy involved exchanging notes sent back and forth among several capitals with separate talks in different places. This cumbersome process required much time and transportation. The Congress brought national representatives together in one city at the same time to formulate treaty conditions. Friedrich von Gentz assisted Metternich in creating this structure. The format served as inspiration for later conferences including the 1856 Congress of Paris that settled the Crimean War. It gave birth to the Concert of Europe, which guided foreign policy until the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

• 3. The Redrawing Of Borders

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  Prussia added territory from smaller states including Swedish Pomerania and most of the Kingdom of Saxony. Austria gained much of northern Italy while Russia acquired central and eastern parts of the Duchy of Warsaw. All parties agreed upon ratifying the creation of the new Kingdom of the Netherlands as a buffer between Germany and France. A German Confederation of thirty-nine states formed under Austrian presidency replacing three hundred states of the Holy Roman Empire. Switzerland received guaranteed neutrality through a federal pact recommended in strong terms. Sweden ceded Norway to Denmark in January 1814 before selling Swedish Pomerania to Prussia. Portugal sought restoration of Olivenza but Spain never signed the treaty regarding its return.

• 4. Talleyrand's Secret Maneuvers

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  Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand skillfully inserted himself into inner councils during the first weeks of negotiations despite initial exclusion by victorious powers. He allied with a Committee of Eight lesser powers including Spain Sweden and Portugal to control proceedings. Once he became part of inner negotiations he abandoned his allies again. The major Allies' indecision led to calling a preliminary conference on protocol which Talleyrand attended alongside Marquess of Labrador. Congress Secretary Friedrich von Gentz reported that Talleyland protested against adopted procedures for two hours. Talleyrand skirted additional articles suggested by Labrador regarding Spanish fugitives and looted documents. His policy demanded close but not amicable relationships with representatives from other nations.

• 5. The Polish-Saxon Crisis Resolution

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  Russia wanted most of Poland while Prussia desired all of Saxony whose king had allied with Napoleon. Tsar Alexander I hoped to become king of Poland creating potential Russian dominance over Europe. Austria analyzed this could make Russia too powerful a view supported by Britain. Talleyrand proposed admitting France to the inner circle so it would support Austria and Britain. Three nations signed a treaty on the 3rd of January 1815 agreeing to go to war if necessary. When the Tsar heard of the treaty he agreed to compromise satisfying all parties on the 24th of October 1815. Russia received most of the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw as Congress Poland with the tsar ruling independently. Prussia received sixty percent of Saxony becoming part of new Province of Saxony from 1816 onward.

• 6. Bribery And The Final Act

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  Diaries of master of affairs Von Gentz reveal diplomatic tactics possibly included bribing during negotiations. He notes receiving £22,000 through Talleyrand from Louis XVIII while Castlereagh gave him £600 accompanied by wildest promises. His diary is full of such entries regarding financial exchanges between delegates. The Final Act embodying separate treaties was signed on the 9th of June 1815 nine days before Battle of Waterloo. Representatives from Austria France Portugal Prussia Russia Sweden-Norway and Britain signed the document. Spain did not sign initially due to aggressive Austrian influence in northern Italy and lack of non-great power involvement. Spain ended up signing the treaty in 1817 after Ferdinand IV regained control of Kingdom of Naples following Murat's defeat.

• 7. A Century Of Relative Peace

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  Historians have criticized outcomes for causing suppression of national democratic and liberal movements benefiting traditional monarchs. Others praise the Congress for protecting Europe from large widespread wars for almost a century. Henry Kissinger studied the event in his 1954 doctoral dissertation A World Restored. Historian Mark Jarrett argues the format marked true beginning of modern era through deliberate conflict management. Paul Schroeder contends old balance of power formulae were destabilizing while Vienna set stable benign equilibrium rules. Before opening Paris peace conference of 1918 British Foreign Office commissioned history as example for achieving successful peace arrangements. The Congress served model for later organizations including League of Nations in 1919 and United Nations in 1945.