1. Putting Europe Back Together: Congress of Vienna (1815)
(September 1, 1814 – June 9, 1815)

2. Europe in 1812

3. The Big Players Britain: Lord Castlereagh Austria: Metternich
Russia: Tsar Alexander I
Britain: Lord Castlereagh
Metternich, Austria’s foreign minister, represented Austrian Emperor Francis I and hosted the Congress. AKA “The Doctor of Revolutions” because of his conservative outlook and diplomatic role until the mid 19C.
Castlereagh, British foreign secretary. Lots of influence b/c Britain led the final drive to defeat Napoleon.
Tsar Alexander of Russia.
Frederick William III of Prussia, who was represented by his minister Prince Karl von Hardenberg.
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, French foreign minister, representing the interests of a defeated country.
Austria: Metternich
Prussia: King Frederick William III
France’s Talleyrand

4. Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) Austria – Prince Metternich
European monarchs sought to turn back the clock to 1789 and restore Europe’s Old Regime
Members included the “Big Four” and France
Austria – Prince Metternich
England – Duke of Wellington and Lord Castlereagh
France – Talleyrand
Prussia – Frederick William III, Hardenberg, and Humboldt
Russia – Tsar Alexander I
Anecdote: Even though France had lost under Napoleon, Talleyrand was able to play the “Big Four” off one another and ensure that France was not severely punished. 4

5. Main Objectives Maintain a balance in power in Europe
It’s job was to undo everything that Napoléon had done:
Reduce France to its old boundaries  her frontiers were pushed back to 1790 level.
Restore as many of the old monarchies as possible that had lost their thrones during the Napoléonic era.
Maintain a balance in power in Europe
Supported the resolution: There is always an alternative to conflict.

6. Metternich (1773-1859) Conservative leader at the Congress
Opposed democracy and nationalism
Claimed that he was guided by the
principle of legitimacy:
lawful monarchs from the royal families that had ruled before Napoleon would be restored to power
Anecdote: Discussion of how Napoleon had spread the ideals of the French Revolution throughout the lands he conquered. 6

7. Compensation and Legitimacy
Napoleon’s enemies rewarded with land
Other nations compensated for land taken
Redrew the map of Europe
Coalition forces would occupy France for 3-5 years.
France would have to pay an indemnity of 700,000,000 francs.
Legitimacy
Restoration of pre-Napoleon rulers
House of Bourbon – France, Spain, and the two Sicilies
House of Braganza – Portugal
House of Orange – Netherlands
House of Savoy – Sardinia
German princes – territories in the Confederation of the Rhine
Pope and Catholic Church – Papal States
Anecdote: Metternich restored the European dynasties of the Old Regime. 7

8. Territorial Changes
Austria gained Lombardy, Modena, Parma, Tuscany, and Venetia (all are areas in Italy)
England gained Cape Colony, Ceylon, Heligoland, Guiana, and Malta (areas in Africa, the Americas, and Asia)
Holland gained Austrian Netherlands (Belgium)
Prussia gained part of Poland, land along the Rhine River, 40% of Saxony, Swedish Pomerania, and Westphalia
Russia gained Finland and part of Poland
Sweden gained Norway
Anecdote: The main idea to be gained here is that imperialism was confirmed in these territorial changes, and that no consideration was given to the thoughts of the “regular people” who lived in these areas. 8

9. Europe After the Congress of Vienna

10. Fate of Nationalism People had no say over territorial changes
Language, nationality, and religion weren’t taken into consideration
Ideas of democracy and self-government were rejected by European leadership
Soon enough, concessions were made
Anecdote: For the next 100 years, a few groups were able to gain concessions. For the most part, however, nationalistic drives were directly opposed to the status quo. 10

11. Louis XVIII of France No more divine right of kings
Charter (Constitution) granted in 1814
Could not restore feudalism and serfdom
Continuing religious toleration guaranteed
Anecdote: Discussion of concessions, with France as the example. 11

12. Quadruple and Holy Alliances
Metternich desired to maintain the status quo and make the Vienna treaties permanent
Quadruple Alliance of 1815
Austria, England, Prussia, and Russia
France joined in 1818
Pledged to put down democratic or nationalistic revolts
Holy Alliance
Organized by Tsar Alexander I of Russia
Most European monarchs joined
Pledged to govern with charity, justice, and peace
But none of them did so

13. Buffer States Designed to prevent France from again becoming a threat
Holland and Sardinia enlarged and strengthened
European nations guaranteed Switzerland’s neutrality
Anecdote: Discussion of continuing Swiss neutrality and the purpose of buffer states. 13

14. Results of the Congress of Vienna
Concert of Europe – group of leading nations which periodically met to discuss issues regarding stability
Temporary suppression of democratic and nationalistic ideals
The Principle of Intervention: the great powers of Europe had the right to send armies into countries where there were revolutions in order to restore legitimate monarchs to power; Great Britain did not agree with this policy
International peace – no general war in Europe until World War I (100 years later)
Crimean War ( )
Austro-Prussian War (1866)
Franco-Prussian War ( )
Anecdote: Discussion of how those wars which did break out were in large part expressions of the leading European countries’ own desires for nationalism and unification. 14

15. Legacy of Congress of Vienna
“Balance of Power” doctrine
Restoration of monarchies
New political map of Europe
New political philosophies (liberalism and conservatism)

16. Review Questions
What countries made up the “Big Four” at the Congress of Vienna?
What were the principles of compensation and legitimacy?
How did the Congress of Vienna redraw the map of Europe?
What was the purpose of the Quadruple Alliance?
What were the results of the Congress of Vienna?

17. The Germanic Confederation, 1815

18. Prussian gains Saxony
Prussia lost most of Poland to Russia, but in return she was compensated with 40% of Saxony, the Duchy of Westphalia, and Swedish Pomerania. She also received the new, consolidated Rhineland.

19. Austrian Netherlands
The Netherlands acquired the Austrian Netherlands (Belgium). This enlarged Kingdom of the Netherlands was meant to serve as a check against future French aggression. (Later, in 1830, a revolution against Dutch rule broke out in Belgium, and it won its independence with a liberal constitution and guaranteed neutrality in 1831.)

20. Finland & Sweden
Russia kept Finland, which it had taken from Sweden in 1809, but Sweden kept Norway (which it had seized during from Napoleon’s ally, Denmark) as compensation.