The Congress of Vienna met in 1814-1815 to redraw the map of Europe in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars. It was attended by representatives of the main European powers of Austria, Prussia, Russia, Britain and France. The Congress was largely dominated by the Austrian statesman Klemens von Metternich, who believed in restoring the old monarchical order and resisting revolutionary forces. The goals of the Congress were to maintain the balance of power in Europe, contain French power, and legitimize existing governments. It established a system through which the major powers could collectively intervene to suppress future revolutionary movements, helping maintain peace in Europe for decades. However, it also represented a deliberate step back from the democratic and liberal

1. The Congress of Vienna

2. As agreed at the first Treaty of Paris in 1814, a
congress of the Great Powers of Europe met at
Vienna to settle the future boundaries of the
continent. Almost every state in Europe was
represented. The emperors of Austria and
Russia, the kings of Prussia, Denmark, Bavaria
and Württemberg and many German princes
including the Elector of Hesse, the Grand Duke
of Baden and the dukes of Saxe-Weimar,
Brunswick and Coburg, attended in person.

3. Vienna
The Congress was one of the most significant
international political summits in Europe. It also helped
Viennese balls
and waltz dancing
rise to international
fame. For 10 months,
Vienna became the
center of the world.

4. On a more mundane note,
the Congress was a cultural
Olympiad without
comparison. For ten months,
Vienna entertained more than
200 delegates from all over
Europe with a marathon cultural
calendar. It consisted
of daily balls and
society events to cater to
the vanities and
emotional well-being of it
top guests.

5. Four great powers meet
Austria
Prince Klemens Wenzel
Von Metternich
1773-1858
Prussia
Prince Karl August
vonHardenberg
1750-1822

6. Lord Castlereagh, and later, Duke of Wellington
France’s representative
Talleyrand was invited
Great Britain
Tsar Alexander I
of Russia 1777-1825
AND

7. Klemens von Metternick
Influential Austrian
Foreign Minister
Wanted to maintain the
settlement and police the
continent
Distrusted Democracies
Planned to restore
European monarchies

8. Metternich
Supported two principles:
Principle of Legitimacy:
The best form of government was based upon a
well-established claim to the throne.
Principle of Intervention:
Since revolutions were contagious and spread
easily states should have the right to intervene if
they felt threatened, acting together if
necessary.

9. Legacy of the French Revolution
It had produced chaos, a reign of terror, a military dictatorship
and international war. Two possible responses:
Riding the tiger
A series of economic, social and political reforms enabled the aristocracy to
maintain the power and attract the support of the middle classes.

10. Stemming the torrent
To stop the process of change before it can start
According to Metternich all revolutions were lies.
“They don’t create, they destroy”

11. Metternich’s 3 goals
Legitimacy
Advocated by Metternich and Talleyrand
Former monarchs or dynasties restored in:
France Spain Piedmont
Tuscany Modena Papal States
Bourbons
Not always practical as in the German Confederation
Sometimes conflictive with other objectives

12. Contain France
Surrounded by stronger countries
Balance of powers
Reward victors punish losers
Weaken France, but not too severely
Territorial adjustments
Territories given to winners as a reward
Britain was not interested in territories in Europe

14. Assessment of the Congress
Forty years of peace
Ignoring the happiness of millions of Europeans
The Congress of Vienna re-conciled the multiple conflicts of interest between
the European powers and created a period of almost 40 years without major
European wide conflicts. On a negative note, the summit resulted in a
deliberate step back in history:
The Congress of Vienna was going
against the French Revolution and
all its democratic, egalitarian and
liberal ideals.

15. Some consequences…
• Following the battle of Waterloo, France ended
up losing key territories and was forced to pay
700 million Francs of indemnity and return the
European art treasures stolen by Napoleon.
• As the Ottoman Empire was excluded from the
Vienna Congress, the internal grievances caused
by the existing rulers were not taken into
consideration
• Other key achievements included the
proscription of slave trade, and free international
stream navigation.

16. Metternich System
Direct intervention
Indirect intervention
The final document of the Congress of
Vienna, signed on June 9, 1815, to
establish lasting peace in Europe after
the Napoleonic Wars.
Congress System
Quadruple Alliance:
Austria
Russia
Britain
Prussia
The Holy Alliance
Prussia Austria Russia
Pope Sultan Britain

17. Concert of Europe
Series of conferences to discuss matters of common interest
Aix La Chapelle 1818 (payment of indemnity)
Troppau 1820 ( agree on intervention if revolts broke out)
Laibach 1821 (King of Naples asked for help)
Verona 1822 (Greek War of Independence)
Schoenbrunn Palace - Vienna

18. Canning’s iniciative
The Spanish American
Colonies
Guaranteed their
independence
Royal Navy patrolled
the South Atlantic
Monroe Doctrine
“America for the
Americans”
Portugal
King John asked for help to be
restored
Greece
Russia sympathised with the
Greeks
Austria opposed to the
intervention
Britain unsure

19. Great Britain had a strong interest in helping with the
destruction of Spanish colonialism, and to open the
newly independent Latin American colonies to British
trade. The Latin Americans received a certain amount of
unofficial aid – arms and volunteers –. Britain also
refused to aid Spain and opposed any outside
intervention on behalf of Spain by other powers. Britain,
and especially British sea power, was a decisive factor in
the struggle for independence of certain Latin American
countries.
In 1825 Mexico, Argentina and Colombia were
recognised by means of the ratification of commercial
treaties with Britain. In November 1825 the first minister
from a Latin American state, Colombia, was officially
received in London. "Spanish America is free," Canning
declared, "and if we do not mismanage our affairs she is
English ... the New World established and if we do not
throw it away, ours."

20. Who got what after the congress
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