The+Congress+of+Vienna

The Congress of Vienna The Congress of Vienna was an international conference held between September 1814 and June 1815 to negotiate territorial decisions within Europe after the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars. There were four representatives from Europe led by Prince Klemens Wenzel Von Metternich the Austrian Foreign Minister. The other statesmen were Prince Karl August von Hardenberg from Prussia, Charles Maurice Talleyrand from France and Czar Alexander I from Russia. Latter the congress was joined by Castlereagh from Britain. The Congress sought to rebuild international order, to tie together intercontinental link and to create a ‘Balance of Power’.

Germany was an important issue that was discussed at the congress. It was considered weak but the aim was to consolidate Germany not to unify it as it was expanding. Germany consisted of 300 states which were soon to become 30 naming it as the German Confederation. It was seen as too strong to be attacked but too weak to attack others. Metternich whom developed many of the conclusions at the congress believed that democracy was predictable and he also believed strongly that they needed to preserve authority of the Monarch. This was achieved by the restoration of those rulers who were overthrown during the Napoleonic disturbance. The other important issue that was discussed was France. Most wanted France severely punished, however Metternich claimed Europe would be much safer if France was restored its territory.



Two alliances were made from this the first being the Quintuple Alliance consisting of Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia and they sought to prevent trouble started by France. The other alliance was the Holy Alliance consisting of Austria, Prussia and Russia; this was proposed by Alexander I this was sought to preserve domestic status of European Nations and to support Monarchs. The one failure of the congress was that there were no allowances made for the emerging ideas of political liberalism and nationalism. This would result in further tension during the nineteenth century. media type="youtube" key="3igypsAnIm0&hl=en" height="355" width="425" You Tube video a lecture on the Congress of Vienna.