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THE CONGRESS OF VIENNA
Aurelie Aveta, Elena Borovskis, Diana Ferati,
Danielle Galloway, Natalie Lin, Samantha Mayer
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
“The streets of Vienna are paved with culture, the streets of other cities with asphalt.” – Karl Kraus
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
THE CONGRESS OF VIENNA
Was not actually a congress – it did not meet in
plenary session
Discussions were informal and 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
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
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
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
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
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
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”
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
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
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
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
THE VIENNA SETTLEMENT
THE FINAL ACT
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
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
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
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
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
JEOPARDY
