It did indeed draw bitter condemnation, mostly because it provided the occasion for an outbreak of war. In November 1828 his mother died, and in January 1829 Antoinette died, five days after giving birth to their son, Richard von Metternich. He was still confined, however, by the British, who were subsidizing Prussia and Russia (in September Metternich requested subsidies for Austria as well). Britain and France appeared similarly outraged, although calls for Metternich's resignation were ignored. [42], With the new consensus, the major issues concerning Poland and Germany were settled in the second week of February 1815. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/congress-vienna, "Congress of Vienna It was a loose political association, formed for mutual defense, with no central executive or judiciary. Austria had solidified its control over Lombardy-Venetia and extended its protection to provinces nominally under the control of Francis' daughter Marie Louise. Find an answer to your question . [72], In May Metternich took a much-needed holiday on his estate at Johannisberg. He declined the Pope's invitation to become a cardinal of the church. Metternich wanted no rash change of course, and at first, there was little impact on the Congress. [67] Politically, the year was one of disappointments. In time, France was established as a fifth member of the Concert. The four principal nations were allowed to keep managing the significant problems by themselves. The four main French attacks against Wellingtons army prior to 6:00 pm on June 18 all failed in their objectto decisively weaken the allied centre to permit a French breakthroughbecause they all lacked coordination between infantry and cavalry. A French abbot, Saint-Pierre, had published a book in 1713 (the same year as the Peace of Utrecht), where he criticised the balance of power as being merely an armed truce. Within Germany, he proposed the creation of a hereditary German imperial title, and he thought that Austria and Prussia should share the task of protecting Germanys western frontier. The Concert of Europe, also known as the Congress System or the Vienna System after the Congress of Vienna, was a System of dispute resolution adopted by the major conservative powers of Europe to maintain their power, oppose revolutionary movements, weaken the forces of nationalism, and uphold the balance of power. Wellingtons casualties were 15,000 and Blchers were about 8,000. [18] After an arduous trip he took up residence in August 1806, being briefed by Baron von Vincent and Engelbert von Floret, whom he would retain as a close adviser for two decades. He condemned, however, the repressive measures by which the police minister tried to achieve these aims. [12] A bored Metternich remained at Rastatt in this role until 1799 when the congress was finally wound down. The nal overthrow of Napoleon and his exile to St. Helena allowed the new system for the government of Europe as laid down by the Congress of Vienna to be tried. In 1830 Czartoryski, who found himself on the wrong side of a Polish rebellion against Russia, lamented that even though perpetual peace had become the conception of the most powerful monarchs of the Continent (he referred in particular to Tsar Alexander), diplomacy had corrupted it and turned it intovenom. Soon after, he engineered Austria's entry into the War of the Sixth Coalition on the Allied side, signed the Treaty of Fontainebleau that sent Napoleon into exile and led the Austrian delegation at the Congress of Vienna that divided post-Napoleonic Europe amongst the major powers. It was at one of these concerts where he recognized his one-time teacher, Andreas Hofmann in the audience who went to spy on England for the French. Metternich also worried that if future congresses were held in Britain, as Palmerston wanted, his own influence would be significantly reduced. The doctrine established by the participating powers wasin most casesfar more important than the specific redistribution of territories that the diplomats discussed and determined in detail. Encyclopedia of Modern Europe: Europe 1789-1914: Encyclopedia of the Age of Industry and Empire. . Who led the Congress of Vienna? - brainly.com For other people, see, Prince of Metternich-Winneburg zu Beilstein, Aachen, Teplice, Karlsbad, Troppau and Laibach, Hungarian Diets, Alexander I's death, and problems in Italy, Eastern Question revisited and peace in Europe, There is some confusion over why Metternich was selected. The King of the Belgians came to visit, as did Bismarck, and on 16 August 1857, he entertained the future Edward VII of the United Kingdom. To prevent France from ever again becoming a threat to Europe, they briefly entertained the idea of dismembering it, just as they had Poland a few decades earlier. The Congress of Vienna dissolved the Napoleonic world and attempted to restore the monarchies Napoleon had overthrown, ushering in an era of reaction. For the next two years, Ferdinand could not abdicate in favour of his nephew without a regency; Metternich believed Austria would need him in the interim to hold the government together. ." He therefore missed the arrival of Castlereagh in mid-January. Born into the House of Metternich in 1773 as the son of a diplomat, Metternich received a good education at the universities of Strasbourg and Mainz. In March 1815, in the midst of all these feverish negotiations, the unthinkable happened: Napoleon escaped from his place of exile on Elba and re-occupied the throne of France, starting the adventure known as the Hundred Days. Indeed, its envoys actively participated in the Congress System in the years to follow. Metternich soon convinced the "conceited and ambitious" Russian to let him dictate events. His influence was limited to foreign affairs, and his attempts to get a full Council of State reintroduced had failed. Metternich rejected the Tsar's idealistic plans for (among other things) a single European army. Moreover, he could claim credit for foreseeing the liberal Decembrist revolt the new Tsar Nicholas I had to crush. Metternich, worried that Napoleon would seize on this to demand harsher peace terms, instead agreed to become a minister of state (which he did on 8 July) and to lead negotiations with the French on the understanding that he would replace Stadion as Foreign Minister at a later date. Louis Pius Blome (1 December 1865 1930), Lensgraf von Blome. After the Congress of Vienna re-conciled the multiple conflicts of interest between the European powers it created a period of almost 40 years without major European wide conflicts. The countries concluded a first treaty that was known as the Treaty of Chaumont, and later included France, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden in their alliance. Meanwhile, Metternich was advised to go to the spa town of Karlsbad to treat the rheumatic tension in his back. Nationalism from the Congress of Vienna - History Moments Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Metternichs moderation produced a long-lasting European order. Congress of Vienna, (1814-15) Assembly that reorganized Europe after the Napoleonic Wars. Students were involved in several demonstrations, culminating on 13 March when they cheered the imperial family but voiced anger at Metternich. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Formally set up by article VI of the Quadruple Alliance, signed with the second treaty of Paris (20 November 1815). He managed to convince the Prussian chancellor Karl August, Frst von Hardenberg, that his prescription for provincial diets was right. Surprisingly, the Russian view on peace in Europe proved by far the most elaborate. This article was most recently revised and updated by, The Peace of Lunville and the Italian settlement, Great Britain, France, and the neutrals, 180002, Ulm, Austerlitz, and the Peace of Pressburg, Hanover and the Confederation of the Rhine, The Continental System and the blockade, 180711, The orders in council and Napoleons decrees of 1807, The Peninsular War and the Congress of Erfurt, 1808, The armistice and the Reichenbach treaties, Champaubert, Montmirail, Chteau-Thierry, and Vauchamps, The Congress of Chtillon and the Treaty of Chaumont, The Congress of Vienna and the Hundred Days. Yet Metternich only partly succeeded in his plans: the German imperial project came to nothing because Francis steadfastly refused to support it; the Italian confederation did not materialize; and the German confederation, when it at last did come into being in June 1815, was based only on a brief and noncommittal federal act derived from a Bavarian compromise proposal. Napoleon, however, was defeated decisively at the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June. They declined, and four meetings were held in the city itself. The charter of June 4, 1814, known as la Charte octroye ("the charter granted," as having been "granted" by the king to his . On the 18th he was tied down at Wavre by 17,000 troops of Blchers rear guard, while Blchers main force escaped him, rejoined Wellington, and turned the tide of battle at Waterloo, 8 miles (13 km) to the southwest. This arrangement worked to balance a potentially pro-British Naples, as well as an independently minded Piedmont-Sardinia, which had traditionally been a thorn in Austria's side. Supported by the British foreign secretary, Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh, Metternich sought to prevent the elimination of France, which he saw as a necessary counterweight against Russia. He was buoyed by the arrival of his family from Paris in May. Murat's defeat in May 1815 led to Ferdinand's return to Naples, courtesy of Great Britain. Spain, Portugal, and Sweden were also represented, as were many of the rulers of the minor states of Europe. He berated the quiet Nesselrode, but no offence was taken. In terms of international relations, the doctrine of the Great Powers was a resounding success, but in terms of internal policy, it was an unmitigated failure. The Concert of Europe had no written rules or permanent institutions, but at times of crisis any of the member countries could propose a conference. Alexander I Russian Czar who ruled in the early 1800's during the Napoleonic wars. It was one of the most comprehensive treaties that the continent has ever witnessed. [34] The Conference of Prague would never properly meet since Napoleon gave his representatives Armand Caulaincourt and the Count of Narbonne insufficient powers to negotiate. The administration would remain undemocratic, but there would be a new Ministry of Justice and four new chancellorseach with local remits, including one for "Italy". raeganh1. When he heard they had reached Vienna he journeyed to meet them and encouraged them to go with him back to Baden. . [3] Metternich's education was handled by his mother, heavily influenced by their proximity to France; Metternich spoke French better than German. There was, furthermore, a second twist to the idea of Christian Europe. The end of the Napoleonic Wars left the great powers of Europe shaken. The Congress was adjourned but, forewarned or by luck, Metternich kept representatives of the powers close at hand until the revolt was put down. The work continued through the Hundred Days, and the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna was signed less than two weeks before Napoleons final defeat at Waterloo. [84] After sleeping in the Chancellery he was advised to either take back his resignation or leave the city. Congress of Vienna Meanwhile, as he was denied his pension, Metternich was ironically reliant on loans. "Congress of Vienna Metternich then was able to delay a decision on the future of the country until after Vienna. Russia received two-thirds of the grand duchy, while Prussia annexed a third of Saxony and gained significant expansion of its territories on the Rhine. 1556332. Even a special task given to him by Franz Josef in June 1859to draw up secret papers addressing the event of Franz Josef's deathwas now too taxing. [62] The earlier Anglo-Austrian entente was thus restored,[61] and the pair agreed that they would support the Austrian position concerning the Balkans. [24] During peace talks at Altenburg, Metternich put forward pro-French proposals to save the Austrian monarchy. He still arranged to meet with King Frederick William III of Prussia at Teplitz and accompany Francis to meet Tsar Nicholas at Mnchengrtz in September 1833. Metternich travelled with Princess Dorothea von Lieven to Brussels soon after the congress broke up, and although he could not stay more than a few days, the pair exchanged letters for the next eight years. This is part of the age-old debate between pacifists and securitarians, the former believing that peace leads to security, the latter considering that security should be thesine qua nonfor peace (if you want peace, prepare for war). [4][5], In the summer of 1788, Metternich began studying law at the University of Strasbourg, matriculating on 12 November. As soon as the allies, who were still debating at the Congress of Vienna, heard of his return and of the flight of Louis XVIII, they acted with unexpected promptness and unanimity, declaring that Napoleon had placed himself outside the pale of society and recalling their armies for a fresh invasion of France. Finally, on 13 March the Big Five declared Napoleon an outlaw and the Allies began preparations for renewed fighting. When he arrived he benefitted from the hospitality of Princess Wilhelmine, Duchess of Sagan and began an affair with her that lasted several months. Kissinger, Henry. [96], Metternich's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are (names are untranslated):[99]. No other mistress ever achieved such influence over Metternich as Wilhelmine, and he would continue to write to her after their separation. Overall, however, it was an untroubled meeting. Stella Ghervas is a visiting scholar at Harvard Universitys Center for European Studies. In Vienna, a hostile post-censorship press continued to attack him; in particular, they accused him of embezzlement and accepting bribes, prompting an investigation. This period contains the time of the Holy Alliance, a military agreement. Robert Stewart, Lord Castlereagh, the British foreign secretary, stood for England. Their eventual agreement was not due to Metternich, however, and after the coalition's defeat at the Battle of Austerlitz, Prussia disregarded the agreement and signed a treaty with the French instead. The Congress of Vienna led to revolts in France because it had a Austrias status in the German confederation had been strengthened, but the emperors refusal of the German crown meant that Prussia, with equal status in the confederation, would be able to counterbalance Austria. After Napoleon's capture of Vienna Metternich was conducted to the Austrian capital and exchanged there for the French diplomats. [87] Metternich was reinvigorated, dropped his nostalgia, and lived in the present for the first time in a decade. In Germany, he gained the restoration of Hanover to the British royal family, and thereby wrested it from the Prussians, who had possessed it since 1806. He visited the Knigswart estate in the autumn before taking up his new position on 4 November. [2] The two arranged a second meeting in August. [33] Metternich increasingly worried that Napoleon's retreat would bring with it disorder that would harm the Habsburgs. Sophie Marie Antoinette Leontine Melanie Julie (17 May 1857 11 January 1941), married 24 April 1878 to Prince Franz-Albrecht of. Moritz Joseph Richard Notger (5 May 1885 4 October 1911), Hereditary Prince of Oettingen-Oettingen in Oettingen-Spielberg. Expecting a visit from Metternich's daughter Leontine and her own daughter Pauline, the family moved to a suite of rooms at Richmond Palace on 23 April 1849. [50] Representatives from most of the European states eventually signed, with the exception of the Pope, the United Kingdom, and the Ottoman Empire. But with time, people have come to realize the critical role which was played by the Congress in securing a period of peace for the continent, without which, the entire continent would have fallen apart. He wanted to secure Austrias predominance by forming two confederations, one German and the other Italian, with Austria as the leading power in both. Over the course of nine months, the Congress of Vienna achieved its purpose of reorganizing Europe and reestablishing conservative political order after Napoleons conquests. This short and unusual document, with Christian overtones, was signed in Paris on September 1815 by the monarchs of Austria, Prussia and Russia. [85] Metternich's resignation had been met with cheering in Vienna, and even the Viennese commoners welcomed the end of Metternich's era of social conservatism. The others were meaningless as each nation realized the Congresses were not to their advantage, as disputes were resolved with a diminishing degree of effectiveness. Marie Louise left for France soon after and Metternich followed by a different route and unofficially. That, however, must be ascribed to his diplomatic capability rather than to his political foresight. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Metternich spent four months in Italy, endlessly busy and suffering chronic inflammation of the eyelids. Personally, he was shaken in November by the death of Julie Zichy-Festetics. Shortly afterwards Metternich died in Vienna on 11 June 1859, aged 86, and the last great figure of his generation. ." Though the allies came close to blows over the partition of Poland, by February 1815 they had averted a new war thanks to a series of adroit compromises. The trip was cut short by the assassination of the conservative German dramatist August von Kotzebue. Concerns grew in Vienna that Metternich's policy was too expensive. The latter soon began to come to a head. However, the date of retrieval is often important. Diplomatically, with the war drawing to a close, he remained determined to prevent the creation of a strong, unified German state, even offering Napoleon generous terms in order to retain him as a counterweight. On arrival, he found an exiled and powerless government in a headlong retreat from the latest French advance. Ney led part of the guard and other units in the final assault on the allies. [87], In May 1851 Metternich left for his Johannisberg estate, which he had last visited in 1845. Despite securing French agreement for the first time in years from Franois Guizot over the Swiss Civil War, France and Austria were forced into backing breakaway cantons. [7] Metternich was delighted when Frankfurt was retaken in early November and, in particular, by the deference the Tsar showed Francis at a ceremony organised there by Metternich. Defeating him had required a massive joint effort from the other powers. [10] Metternich was nominated the new Minister Plenipotentiary to the Austrian Netherlands and left England in September 1794. The congress initially convened in September of 1814, which was a few months after Napoleon first abdicated. In the summers he worked with his father, who had been appointed plenipotentiary and effective ruler of the Austrian Netherlands. The repulse of the guard at 8:00 pm, followed in 15 minutes by the beginning of the general allied advance and further Prussian attacks in the east, threw the French army into a panic; a disorganized retreat began. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. Based on the principle of the balance of power, it required two opposing military alliances (initially led respectively by France and Austria). How did the Congress of Vienna lead to WWI? | Homework.Study.com Vladislaus died on 13 March 1516, and Maximilian died on 12 January 1519, but his designs were ultimately successful: on Louis's death in 1526, he was succeeded as King of Bohemia by Maximilian's grandson, Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor. Golden Civil Cross "For Merit" (1813/1814), This page was last edited on 15 July 2023, at 10:26. Metternich brokered this agreement without English consent. Talleyrand had initially secured France's position as an equal among its former enemies. Parliamentary figures, particularly Disraeli, travelled down to visit them, as did Metternich's former friend Dorothea Lieven (Melanie led a reconciliation between the two). Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Almost every state in Europe was represented. The Congress was the first occasion in history where on a continental scale, national representatives came together to formulate treaties instead of relying mostly on messages between the several capitals. [37][38] Francis rejected a final plea from Napoleon that he would abdicate in favour of his son with Marie Louise as regent, and Paris fell on 30 March. Here, those that represented more underpopulated countries not only attended the Congress, but additionally and brought along ladies and secretaries to enjoy the social life of the Austrian court. The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of Metternich tried two tacks: to intrigue for the removal of the British Foreign Secretary and to attempt (vainly) to build up cross-power bloc agreements. In return, he accepted Russian expansion in Poland and Prussian acquisitions in Germany. Ferdinand IV, the Bourbon king of Naples (r. 17591806, 18151825) and of the Two Sicilies as Ferdinand I (r. 18161825), had fled his capital in 1806 for the protection of the British in Sicily. This set the tone for the rest of Metternich's chancellorship. There they were joined by Bourbon France as a major participant and by Sweden and . The Treaty of Chaumont had bound the four principal allied powersAustria, Russia, Prussia, and Great Britaintogether in their quest to defeat Napoleon.