The Congress of Vienna
-An influential legacyNapoleon Bonaparte was known as one of the most intelligent and powerful historical
figure from France. Under his reformations, France was able to experience its very heights; but
the fortune did not last for more than four-five years. The deadly mistakes Napoleon later
committed peeled Frances glory and left other European countries in chaos as well. The decline
of Napoleon Bonaparte resulted in the Europeans desire for a time of long-lasting peace and
stability. As a result, the Congress of Vienna was established [as agreed in the first Treaty of
Paris] by the four European powers that defeated Napoleon of France: Russia, Great Britain,
Prussia and Austria in attempt to prevent a similar leader like Napoleon to seize almost all of
Europe. Later on, Great Britain recognized France, which had established a new monarchical
government, as an ally. France became the fifth great European power of the congress. These
European heads of government, along with representatives from other European states, intend to
achieve three main goals set by the chairman, Austrian statesman Klemens Wenzel von
Metternich, through the peace conferences:
1. to prevent future French aggression by surrounding France with strong countries
2. to establish a balance of power among European nations
3. to restore the former monarchs to their thrones in belief that it will stabilize political
relations among nations
The conference was initially designed to hold for four weeks privately in Vienna, but ended up
lasting for eight months, counting from September-October 1814 to June 1815.
Despite the destruction France had brought about to the rest of the European countries,
the congress was mild in punishing France. Instead of completely taking away its power (which
may lead to further protest and unrest), surrounding states and territories were strengthened to
balance with France. This was achieved by allocating certain states to another country, forming
confederations, and putting the royalty on the thrones in order to extend a certain nations
influence. The containment of France and the balance of powers enabled a balanced settlement
and eliminated major conflicts for another forty years. The congress also prevented Europeanwide wars for a century because no one country had extensive power. Instead, most all of the
European nations were standing side by side each other during the period, providing aid and
military support.
Through the initiation of Congress of Vienna, a new set of civilian governments based on
constitutional monarchy were put into place. Although the government was not long-lasting,
there was a good result. Europe during that period developed its own approach to public
administration, finance, arts, culture and science. Through the congress, a fair policy of no great
rewards and no great punishments was established. The congress also outlawed the Atlantic slave
trade.
Overall, the Congress of Vienna inserted a long period of stability and security in the
history of Europe because it introduced peace negotiations [and not another war], in which the
period of peace is sometimes referred to as the pax Europaea. It ensured that European nations
will have balanced authorities so that no one nation will be able to declare a war without the
coalition of other nations. It determined boundaries that still impacts Europe today. And it had
set an example for future congresses to follow.
The ultimate goal of the congress was to restore the chaotic European continent that
Napoleon had left behind and to strengthen Europe as a whole. Aside from successfully
achieving its primary agendas, the congress itself served as a basis for the establishment of the
League of Nations in 1920 and the United Nations in 1945, where both organizations promote
international cooperation and the security and stability of their members. Although frequently
criticized by historians to have temporarily ignored liberal impulses, the works of the congress
increased Europeans sense of nationalism. The Congress of Vienna was certainly one of the
most important international summits that was extremely influential, as was mentioned by Adam
Zamoyski:
The reconstruction of Europe at the Congress of Vienna is probably the most seminal episode in
modern history. Not only did the congress redraw the map entirely. It determined which nations
were to have a political existence over the next hundred years and which were notIt entirely
transformed the conduct of international affairs. Adam Zamoyski, Rites of Peace: The Fall of
Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna (HarperPress, 2007), p. xiii.
Despite the aftermaths, the Congress of Vienna achieved a triumph in diplomacy during its
period.
Sources:
Farmer, A. (n.d.). Congress of Vienna. Retrieved October 6, 2015, from
http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=congress_of_vienna
The Congress of Vienna. (2011, January 10). Retrieved October 6, 2015, from
http://europetransformed.blogspot.com/2006/12/congress-of-vienna.html
(2008). Retrieved October 6, 2015, from https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081012101044AACfsYR
Congress of Vienna and the Hundred Days. (n.d.). Retrieved October 6, 2015, from
http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/napoleonic/section10/page/2/
