The Congress of Vienna

The Congress of Vienna was an international conference that was convened with the purpose of remaking Europe after the demise of Napoleon I. The main purpose was to preserve peace by creating a balance of power, sometimes known as realpolitik. Diplomats were sent from Prussia, Russia, France, and Great Britain, along with many other countries. Because it was held in Austria, a prominent Austrian diplomat was present to preside over the congress. He had a great influence on the gathering, because his was the host country. Some of the accomplishments of the congress included: Switzerland being declared neutral, the Dutch Republic becoming united with the Austrian Netherlands to form the Netherlands under the House of Orange, and the French becoming deprived of all territories conquered by Napoleon I. In the end, the congress was very successful in achieving its goal, for the peace in Europe went uninterrupted for almost 40 years. The key people during the congress of Vienna were Prince Klemens von Metternich, Alexander I, Prince Karl August von Hardenberg, and Lord Casltereagh. It was initially decided that France, Spain and other small powers would not have a say in making significant decisions. However, through the efforts of the sneaky French diplomat, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, France was allowed to have an equal voice in negotiations.

To fully understand the Congress of Vienna, you must understand the participants and their motives at the gathering. One powerful representative was Charles de Talleyrand, the French diplomat who fought his way into having a say at the Congress of Vienna. However, he did not have nearly as much power as The Big Four. The Big Four were the most powerful diplomats at the Congress. They were: Prince Klemens von Metternich of Austria, Alexander I, the Russian emperor, Lord Casltereagh, the British diplomat, and Prince Karl August von Hardenberg, the main representative of Prussia. The biggest motivation of the Big Four was the achievement of worldwide peace, but on the terms set by themselves and no one else. Each member of the Big Four had their own reasons for the actions they took during this time.

Metternich, an extremely conservative man, resented liberalism, nationalism, and revolution. At the Congress of Vienna, Metternich therefore supported a conservative government. He also wanted a balance of power. This, in part, was the driving force that allowed him to stop Russian plans for the annexation of all of Poland and the Prussian attempt to gain Saxony. He wanted to stop Russia from gaining more power because it could throw off his plans for equal control of the territory in Europe.

Alexander I attempted to annex all of Russia, but he was stopped by Metternich. His motivation was his desire to gain more land for his country. In doing so, he, as a ruler, would have become the most powerful ruler of Europe. By setting up the Holy Alliance with Prussia and Austria, Alexander was trying to attain the understanding of High Christian ideals in all nations of Europe.

Prince Karl August von Hardenberg was in the Holy Alliance and tried to gain Saxony for the country he represented, Prussia. In diplomacy, he could not compete with Metternich, whose power soon overshadowed Hardenberg's in the Councils of Europe, Germany, and - in the end - Prussia itself. At the Congress, despite the powerful support of Alexander I of Russia, he failed to secure the annexation for all of Saxony