The Congress of Vienna

1. The Congress of Vienna AurelieAveta, Elena Borovskis, Diana Ferati, Danielle Galloway, Natalie Lin, Samantha Mayer

2. Vienna, Austria “The streets of Vienna are paved with culture, the streets of other cities with asphalt.” – Karl Kraus

3. The Congress of Vienna • September 1814 to June 1815 in Vienna, Austria • Conference between European Ambassadors • Chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich • The first group of international meetings – came to be known as the Concert of Europe • Attempted to create a peaceful balance of power throughout Europe • Model for League of Nations and United Nations

4. The Congress of Vienna • Was not actually a congress – it did not meet in plenary session • Discussions were informaland face-to-face • Involved the Great Powers of Austria, France, Russia, the UK, and occasionally Prussia • The first time when national representatives came together to formulate treaties

5. Preliminaries • Prior to the Congress of Vienna, the Treaty of Paris had determined that a “general congress” should take place in Vienna • Some settlements had already been reached at the Treaty of Paris between France and the Sixth Coalition • The Treaty of Kiel covered issues raised regarding Scandinavia

6. Preliminaries • All Powers “engaged on either side in the present war” were invited • Was scheduled to begin in July 1814 • Immediately before was Napoleonic France’s defeat and surrender in May of that year • Ended 25 years of continuous war

7. objectives • To settle issues arising from the French Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, and dissolution of the Roman Empire • Resulted in the redrawing of Europe’s political map • Created borders for France, the Duchy of Warsaw, the Netherlands, the states of the Rhine, the German province of Saxony, and Italian territories • Created spheres of influence

9. Representatives of the Four Great Powers • Austria: Prince Metternich, the Foreign Minister & his deputy, Baron Johann von Wessenberg • The UK: Viscount Castereagh, the Foreign Secretary, then the Duke of Wellington • Prussia: Prince Karl August von Hardenberg, the Chancellor & Wilhelm von Humboldt • Russia: foreign minister Count Karl Robert Nesselrode and Tsar Alexandar I • France: foreign minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord and the Minister Plenipotentiary the Duke of Dalberg

10. The four great powers & the bourbons • The Four Great Powers had previously formed on the core of the Sixth Coalition (alliance between Austria, Prussia, Russia, the UK, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, and German States that defeated Napoleon) • They outlined their position in the Treaty of Chaumont • Negotiated the Treaty of Paris (1814) with the Bourbons • Talleyrand had already negotiated the Treaty of Paris (1814) for Louis XVIII of France; the king did not trust him and was secretly negotiating with Metternich

11. Signatories of the Treaty of Paris, 1814 • The parties that were not part of the Chaumont agreement, but joined the Treaty of Paris • Spain, Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves, Sweden and Norway, Republic of Genoa • Basically, every state had a delegation in Vienna • Over 200 states and princely houses • Representatives of cities, corporations, religious organizations, special interest groups • Noted for its lavish entertainment: “it did not move, but danced”

12. Course of the congress • The four main powers wanted to exclude France from negotiations • Talleyrand was still able to participate • He allied with the Committee of Eight Lesser Powers (Spain, Sweden, Portugal) • He was close but not friendly with the Marquis of Labrador (Spain) • He used the committee to become part of the inner circle, then left • The major allies had a preliminary conference on protocol in order to prevent protest from the lesser powers

13. Conflict over Poland & Saxony • Russia wants Poland from Prussia, the buffer territory between Russia and Prussia • Prussia wants Saxony from Russia • The trade of land ensues • Austria and the UK oppose • France convinces Russia and Prussia to cancel their agreement (again angered the UK) • Russia gained a small portion of Poland and Prussia gained 2/5 of Saxony

14. Polish-Saxon Crisis • Most controversial topic at the Congress • The Russians and Prussians proposed a deal in which Russia gained Prussian and Austrian territories in Poland • Prussia gained Saxony • Austrian, France, Britain did not approve • They signed a secret treaty on January 3, 1815: agreed to go to war to prevent the Russo-Prussian plan • Settlement on October 24, 1815: Russia received most of the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw

15. Other changes • Principal results were the enlargement of Russia and Prussia • Germany went from being made up of 300 states to 39 states • The Papal States were restored to the pope • The UK and Ireland gained parts of the West Indies

16. The Vienna Settlement

17. The final act

18. The final act • Embodied all of the separate treaties • Signed on June 9, 1815 • The map of Europe was rearranged so that each country gained new territories • The slave trade was condemned • Free navigation of rivers • Headings: Legitimacy, Security, Compensation

19. The Vienna Settlement • The UK, Austria, Russia, and Prussia agreed to remain allied until final victory and then hold a European conference (Treaty of Chaumont – 1814) • In the beginning (1814) the great powers could not agree on how to divide Polish territory • The Allies convened to sign the Final Act on June 9, 1815 • June 9, 1815 – one month before the defeat of Napoleon

20. Headings of the Final Act • Legitimacy: restoration of dynasties that were destroyed during the reign of Napoleon, including the Bourbon lines to France, Spain, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies • Security: the states near or adjacent to France were enlarged to prevent possible aggression • Compensation: certain territories would be compensated for the land they lost

21. Conclusions of Settlement • The Holy Roman Empire became a confederation of 39 states under Austria • The Concert of Europe sough to preserve the Vienna Settlement for at least 20 years • The Vienna Settlement brought about the restoration of a conservative order in Europe • These establishments were dissolved in the long run

22. Criticism • Frequently criticized by 19th century and recent historians for ignoring national and liberal impulses, and for creating conflict • Conservative Order: civil rights and liberties from the American and French Revolutions were de-emphasized for a balance of power • In the 20th century, historians admired the statesmen whose work prevented war • An example to its own delegates of how to achieve successful peace

25. Jeopardy