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FINAL PROJECT

Congress of Vienna
A study on concepts, techniques, provisions and life

Submitted to: Dr. Priyadarshini Submitted by: Inzmamul Haque Student, 1st year, 2nd semester, Roll-933 Chanakya National Law University

Table Of Contents

Chapter

Page No

Acknowledgement-----------------------------------------1. Introduction------------------------------------------a) Objective -------------------------------------b) Research methodology------------------------------2. Achievements----------------------------3. Final act------------------4.

Conclusion ----------------------------------------Bibliography -------------------------------------

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am feeling highly elated to work on the topic Congress of Vienna under the guidance of my history teacher Priyadarshini. I am very grateful to her for his exemplary guidance. I would like to enlighten my readers regarding this topic and I hope I have tried my best to pave the way for bringing more luminosity to this topic. I also want to thank all of my friends, without whose cooperation this project was not possible. Apart from all these, I want to give special thanks to the librarian of my university who made every relevant materials regarding to my topic available to me at the time of my busy research work and gave me assistance. And at last I am very much obliged to the God who provided me the potential for the rigorous research work. At finally yet importantly I would like to thank my parents for the financial support.

-----------------Thanking You

1. Introduction
The Congress of Vienna was held from September of 1814 to June of 1815. After the downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte, this international conference was called to create a balance among the European powers in such a way so as to prevent future wars and maintain peace and stability on the European continent. The means of achieving this goal would be through a major reshaping of European interior borders. The Congress of Vienna was an international conference. Many territorial decisions had to be made in the conference that was held in Vienna, Austria. A series of meetings in Vienna, known as the Congress of Vienna, were called to set up policies to achieve this goal. Originally, the Congress of Vienna was scheduled to last for four weeks. Instead, it went on for eight months.1 The delegates at the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) were motivated to a surprisingly large degree by the desire to benefit Europe as a whole, and this is reflected in their purpose in calling the Congress together and the settlement they reached. National interest was modified for the sake of the general interest of Europe. The Congress of Vienna was held in order to draw up a plan to alter Europe politically and territorially so as to prevent the extensive expansion of any one great power, such as that Napoleon had brought about. Creating a balance of power among the powerful nations of Europe, reinstating conservative regimes, containing France, and reaching an agreement to cooperate with each other were the goals of the Congress, which illustrated the altruistic attitude of the national representatives present and supported the overall purpose of preventing future widespread conflict.2 Although the separate ambitions of the victors at the Congress to gain territory were mostly fuelled by naked self- interest, they were forced to compromise in order to establish a balance of power. Alexander I of Russia felt the nation was owed all of Poland while Prussia had designs on Saxony. In the final settlement, however, Russia had to share claim to Poland with Austria and Prussia, and Prussia received only half of Saxony with additional territories in the Rhineland as compensation. In this way, national interest was modified for the sake of maintaining the balance of power, which was in the general interest of Europe.

Main idea, http://jmcentarfer.tripod.com/ch23_5.pdf, last accessed on 21-04-2014 at 01:33 History, http://teacherweb.ftl.pinecrest.edu/snyderd/mwh/projects/cov/history.htm, last accessed on 21-04-2014
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Besides the fact that the final settlement at the Congress of Vienna allotted the territory Napoleon had conquered to the victors in such a way as to prevent any one of them from becoming too powerful, the spoils were distributed in order to create a buffer against France. The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed, Prussia acquired part of the Rhineland, Switzerland regained independence and the right to neutrality, and Austria dominated Northern Italy according to the terms of the settlement, leaving France boxed in and unable to assert itself. Due to the influence of Prince Talleyrand, France received no punishment more severe than containment, and this benefited Europe in that it kept France from becoming too weak and destroying the balance of power. The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European powers; organizer was an Austrian minister of foreign affairs, Klemens von Metternich. Congress took place from September 1814 to June 1815 in Austria, Vienna. Main ideas and aims of congress were to renew borders of European countries as were before French Revolution, return lost lands to their owners, install feudal organization and return thrones to original European royal families.3 In addition to creating a balance of power and containing France, the final settlement at Vienna demonstrated altruistic designs for Europe in that the Concert of Europe was organized. This was the first international group to attempt to deal with European affairs, the main purpose of the Concert being to preserve the balance of power and protect conservative governments from being overthrown. The fact that the Congress of Vienna was conducted with the aim of preventing universal war, which led to proposals of creating a balance of power, establishing "better" conservative governments, containing France and cooperation between the great powers to meet these ends clearly demonstrates that the welfare of all of Europe was a relevant concern. After much deliberation, the delegates succeeded in creating a final settlement which adjusted the selfish goals of the individual nations to acquire large expanses of territory to support the balance of power. The containment of France and the formation of the Concert of Europe were two other aspects of the settlement which maintained the balance of power, thus promoting the good of Europe. The members of the Congress were all afraid of a strong France, so they created strong Border States. The Netherlands and the Italian Kingdom of Piedmont were created to this end. Prussia got the left bank of the Rhine, while Austria took territory in northern Italy, including Tuscany and Milan. In Naples, Murat actually kept his throne for a
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Congress of Vienna, http://www.ssag.sk/SSAG%20study/DEJ/CONGRESS%20OF%20VIENNA.pdf, last accessed on 21-04-2014 at 03:23 IST

while. The Bourbons were restored in Spain.4 Restoring Germany to its previous status as the chaotic, fragmented Holy Roman Empire served no one's purposes. Instead, the relatively large kingdoms of Bavaria, Wurttemberg, and Saxony remained as Napoleon created them. However, no unified Germany would emerge. Small states remained for now. The future of Napoleon's Polish Grand Duchy of Warsaw remained the most problematic issue. Alexander had desired over the territory for years, but Austria and Prussia both had parts of the old Polish kingdom. The Prussians entered an agreement with Russia, under which Russia would support Prussia's bid for Saxony and Prussia would support Russia's bid for Poland; in addition, Prussia would hand over its share of Poland to Russian. Metternich, however, feared that Russia would become too powerful in this deal. To combat the RussianPrussian alliance, on January 3, 1815, Metternich, Castlereagh, and Talleyrand signed a secret treaty agreeing to oppose the Prussians and Russians. In the end, the Congress of Vienna created a small Poland ("Congress Poland") with Alexander installed as the king. With Russia satisfied, Prussia lost its ally and only was able to get a minor piece of Saxony. Important people:Though the conference opened with a series of glittery balls and conferences, the delegates soon got down to work. Mainly, the four major powers of Europe (Austria, Russia, Prussia, and Great Britain) were left to make most of the big decisions. Austria sent Prince Klemens von Metternich, the Austrian minister of State who was also acting as a president of the Congress. The Russian Empire was represented by Alexander I, the emperor of Russia. The main delegate from Prussia was Prince Karl August von Hardenberg, and Great Britain was represented by Lord Castlereagh, and later Arthur Wellesley, the first duke of Wellington. This group of major powers decided that France, Spain, and the smaller powers would have no voice in important decisions. However, the French diplomat, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, was successful in allowing France to have an equal voice in the negotiations. Talleyrand became the deciding vote in many of the decisions. The principal negotiators were:5

Summary, http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/napoleonic/section10.rhtml, last accessed on 21-04-2014 5 The congress of Vienna, http://www.victorianweb.org/history/forpol/vienna.html, last accessed on 2104-2014 at 02:29 IST

Austria Prussia Russia Great Britain

Metternich Hardenberg and von Humbolt Nesselrode and Rasoumoffski Castlereagh, and later, Wellington Talleyrand and Dalberg.

France

Important decisions:France was deprived of all territory conquered by Napoleon. The French monarchy was restored under the rule of Louis XVIII. Austria was given back most of the territory it had lost and was also given land in Germany and Italy (Lombardy and Venice). Russia got Finland and control over the new kingdom of Poland. Prussia was given much of Saxony and important parts of Westphalia and the Rhine Province. Britain got several strategic colonial territories, and they also gained control of the seas. The Dutch Republic was united with the Austrian Netherlands to form a single kingdom of the Netherlands under the House of Orange. Norway and Sweden were joined under a single ruler. Switzerland was declared neutral and Spain was restored under Ferdinand VII.6 The major points of friction occurred over the disposition of Poland and Saxony, the conflicting claims of Sweden, Denmark, and Russia, and the adjustment of the borders of the German states. In general, Russia and Prussia were opposed by Austria, France, and England, which at one point (Jan. 3, 1815) went so far as to conclude a secret treaty of defensive alliance. The major final agreements were as follows.7 For Poland, Alexander gave back Galicia to Austria and gave Thorn and a region around it to Prussia; Krakw was made a free town. The rest of the duchy of Warsaw was incorporated as a separate kingdom under the Russian emperors sovereignty. Prussia got two-fifths of Saxony and was compensated by extensive additions in Westphalia and on the left bank of the Rhine. It was Castlereagh who insisted on Prussian acceptance of this latter territory, with which it had been suggested the king of Saxony should be compensated. Castlereagh wanted Prussia to guard the Rhine against France and act as a buttress to the new Kingdom

Important decisions, http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/removed/vienna.html, last accessed on 2104-2014 at 02:42 IST 7 Congress of Vienna, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/628086/Congress-of-Vienna, last accessed on 21-04-2014 at02:54 IST

of the Netherlands, which comprised both the former United Provinces and Belgium. Austria was compensated by Lombardy and Venice and also got back most of Tirol. Bavaria, Wrttemberg, and Baden on the whole did well. Hanover was also enlarged. The outline of a constitution, a loose confederation, was drawn up for Germanya triumph for Metternich. Denmark lost Norway to Sweden but got Lauenburg, while SwedishPomerania went to Prussia. Switzerland was given a new constitution.

Research methodology:For the purpose of research the researcher has relied on primary sources to look for information relating to laws and statutes relating to Congress of Vienna. The researcher has aimed at doctrinal research and tries to critically analyse and provide an unbiased account. Researcher has used various books, journals and online websites for gathering required information used in research.

Objectives: To know about the congress of Vienna To know about the achievements of congress of Vienna To know about the chief territorial agreement made at Vienna To know about its extent up to which it was successful

Achievements:Valuable articles were agreed to on the free navigation of international rivers and diplomatic precedence. Castlereaghs great efforts for the abolition of the slave trade were rewarded only by a pious declaration. The Final Act of the Congress of Vienna comprised all these agreements in one great instrument. It was signed on June 9, 1815, by the eight (except Spain, who refused as a protest against the Italian settlement). All the other powers subsequently acceded to it. As a result, the lines laid down by the Congress of Vienna lasted, except for one or two changes, for more than 40 years. The Congress of Vienna was a victory for conservatives. Kings and princes resumed power in country after country, in keeping with Metternichs goals. Nevertheless, there were important differences from one country to another. Britain and France now had constitutional monarchies. Generally speaking, however, the

governments in Eastern and Central Europe were more conservative. The rulers of Russia, Prussia, and Austria were absolute monarchs.8 Conservative Europe The rulers of Europe were very nervous about the legacy of the French Revolution. They worried that the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity might encourage revolutions elsewhere. Late in 1815, Czar Alexander I, Emperor Francis I of Austria, and King Frederick William III of Prussia signed an agreement called the Holy Alliance. In it, they pledged to base their relations with other nations on Christian principles in order to combat the forces of revolution. Finally, a series of alliances devised by Metternich, called the Concert of Europe, ensured that nations would help one another if any revolutions broke out. Across Europe, conservatives held firm control of the governments, but they could not contain the ideas that had emerged during the French Revolution. France after 1815 was deeply divided politically. Conservatives were happy with the monarchy of Louis XVIII and were determined to make it last. Liberals, however, wanted the king to share more power with the legislature. And many people in the lower classes remained committed to the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Similarly, in other countries there was an explosive mixture of ideas and factions that would contribute directly to revolutions in 1830 and 1848. Despite their efforts to undo the French Revolution, the leaders at the Congress of Vienna could not turn back the clock. The Revolution had given Europe its first experiment in democratic government. Although the experiment had failed, it had set new political ideas in motion. The major political upheavals of the early 1800s had their roots in the French Revolution. Long-Term Legacy The Congress of Vienna left a legacy that would influence world politics for the next 100 years. The continent-wide efforts to establish and maintain a balance of power diminished the size and the power of France. At the same time, the power of Britain and Prussia increased. Nationalism began to spread in Italy, Germany, Greece, and to other areas that the Congress had put under foreign control. Eventually, the nationalistic feelings would explode into revolutions, and new nations would be formed. European colonies also responded to the power shift. Spanish colonies took advantage of the events in Europe to declare their independence and break away from Spain. At the same time, ideas about the basis of power
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Political change beyond vieena, http://jmcentarfer.tripod.com/ch23_5.pdf, last accessed on 21-04-2014 at 03:00 IST

and authority had changed permanently as a result of the French Revolution. More and more, people saw democracy as the best way to ensure equality and justice for all. The French Revolution, then, changed the social attitudes and assumptions that had dominated Europe for centuries. A new era had begun. Revolution in Latin America The actions of the Congress of Vienna had consequences far beyond events in Europe. When Napoleon deposed the king of Spain during the Peninsular War, liberal Creoles (colonists born in Spanish America) seized control of many colonies in the Americas. When the Congress of Vienna restored the king to the Spanish throne, royalist peninsular (colonists born in Spain) tried to regain control of these colonial governments. The Creoles, however, attempted to retain and expand their power. In response, the Spanish king took steps to tighten control over the American colonies. This action angered the Mexicans, who rose in revolt and successfully threw off Spains control. Other Spanish colonies in Latin America also claimed independence. At about the same time, Brazil declared independence from Portugal. Chief Territorial Agreements Made At Vienna, 1815 1. Napoleons Confederation of the Rhine broke up. In its place the German Confederation with its thirty nine member states were allowed self government, Austria now dominates. 2. Most of Italy goes under Austrian control. 3. Prussia got part of Saxony and all Swedish Pomerania and the left bank of the Rhine River. 4. Russia gets Poland, a divided country. 5. Holland gets Austrian Netherlands while Austria got Lombardy and Venetia. 6. Switzerland becomes independent and is guaranteed neutrality. 7. Sweden gets Norway from Denmark, while Russia in turn gets Finland and Sweden. 8. Britain maintains control of all colonies, and gets Cape of Good Hope, Malta, Ceylon, Mauritius and former French West Indian possessions.

The goal of the congress was to re-establish a balance of power among the countries of Europe and have peace between the nations. The Congress proved to be highly successful in achieving its goal, for the peace in Europe was left almost undisturbed for nearly 40 years. 9 After Napoleon was defeated, it was necessary to make changes to the boundaries of Europe. Napoleons conquered territories and puppet republics needed to be reviewed. The leaders of this congress intended to make France pay for all of the disruptions that Napoleon caused. The congress was chaired by Prince Metternick who at that time was the Austrian Prime Minister. Metternick was under orders from his emperor to make sure that the monarchy would be preserved as well it should be restored in France mainly because the emperor felt threatened in his own country. Since borders between countries would be rewritten, Metternick would attempt to secure for Austria all its former territories and more if necessary. The congress would undertake most of its policies in a very conservative way (it is better to exclude liberal ideas which would lead to revolution in Europe). The French Revolution would be criticized by the delegates at the congress mainly because of the legacy that it left behind (Nationalism and the execution of the monarchs). The Conference of Vienna was bases on three principles: 1. Legitimacy this meant that only the legal rules of the European countries should be monarchs. 2. Compensation France would have to pay more than 700 million francs to countries that Napoleon invaded and caused damage. France would have to give up any claim to conquered territories. 3. Security it was decided that in order to prevent somebody like Napoleon from coming to power again, the great monarchies of Europe would enter into alliances with each other. In 1815, the Holy Alliance came into effect, including Russia, Austria and Prussia. The Quadruple Alliance of Russia, Austria, Prussia and Britain was also formed in 1815. In 1818 the Quintuple Alliance would be formed, Russia, Prussia Austria, Britain and France. This system of alliances was only a temporary measure and unfortunately it did not prevent war from happening in Europe. France was deprived of all territory conquered by Napoleon
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Results of the meeting, http://thelessonlocker.com/materials/history/congress_of_vienna.pdf, last accessed on 21-04-2014 at 03:16 IST

The Dutch Republic was united with the Austrian Netherlands to form a single kingdom of the Netherlands under the House of Orange. Norway and Sweden were joined under a single ruler. Switzerland was declared neutral. Russia got Finland and effective control over the new kingdom of Poland. Prussia was given much of Saxony and important parts of Westphalia and the Rhine Province. Austria was given back most of the territory it had lost and was also given land in Germany and Italy (Lombardy and Venice) Britain got several strategic colonial territories, and they also gained control of the seas. France was restored under the rule of Louis XVIII. Spain was restored under Ferdinand VII

Final act:The Vienna Settlement refers to a series of agreements made by the European powers at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. As the peace terms with France had already been decided by the Treaty of Paris (signed earlier on May 30, 1814), the Congress of Vienna was mainly concerned with solving the problems brought about by the Napoleonic wars. To solve these problems, the four European powers reached certain agreements at the Congress of Vienna on June 9, 1815. These settlements, consisting of both territorial and political ones, were commonly known as the Vienna Settlement. There were many factors contributing to maintaining of the peace of Europe in the period 1815-1914. One of them was the Vienna Settlement. However, there were other factors as well, for example the Congress System. To decide the extent the Vienna Settlement contributing to keeping European peace during 18151914, we have to find out which one of the above factors could remove the threat to peace sustainably. The more successful, the larger the extent, and vice versa. Not the entire Vienna Settlement contributing to maintaining of the peace of Europe in the period 1815-1914. Only those settlements relating to building the arc of containment around France, and to building an effective balance of power in Europe helped to keep peace of the time. To begin, the European powers built an arc of buffer states on the eastern borders of France at the Congress of Vienna. First, they joined Belgium with the Netherlands to form a new Kingdom

known as the Kingdom of the United Netherlands. Then, they gave Prussia the Rhineland --the land adjacent to the eastern borders of France. Finally, they strengthened the southeastern border state of France, Piedmont, by giving her two French provinces of Savoy and Nice. In building stronger buffer states along Frances eastern borders, the powers ensured that France would not be able to expand towards the northeast, east and southeast. By shutting off France through these stronger buffer states, the Vienna Settlement helped to maintain European peace during 1815-1914. The part of settlements made at Vienna relating to balance of power also helped to give 100 years of peace to Europe. France attacked other European states during 1795-1815 since she was comparatively stronger than any other European powers. The powers believed that if each was as strong as one another, no power would dare to start wars, and there would be peace. Accordingly, the powers took away all land conquered by Napoleon; they gave Russia most of Poland and Finland; Prussia, half of Saxony, parts of Poland and the Rhineland; Austria, the land it had lost during the Napoleonic period and the land on the Italian peninsula and the Balkans; and Britain, the Cape Colony, South Africa, Malta and various other colonies in Africa and Asia. As a result, Russia became strongest in Eastern Europe. In Central Europe, there saw the rise of Austria and Prussia. In Western Europe, France was weakened. A balance of power was kept. In this way, the Vienna Settlement relating to the balance of power kept the peace of Europe during 1815-1914. Other than the Vienna Settlement of 1815, the Congress System also explains why there was peace in Europe during 1815-1914. Its origin dated back to the Quadruple Alliance. Britain, Austria, Russia and Prussia signed this alliance in November 1815 to uphold the Vienna Settlement for a period of 20 years; and to hold regular meetings to solve problems of common concern. This last agreement gave rise to the Congress System --- a way by which the powers solved problems by peaceful means. The powers called four meetings in the name of 22 the Quadruple Alliance during 1818-22. Among these meetings, the Congress of Aixla-Chapelle contributed to peace. At this congress, the powers agreed to withdraw the army of occupation from France and to admit France into the Quadruple Alliance. The former agreement removed French hostility against the powers; while the latter showed that the Quadruple Alliance was not directed against France. Both improved Frances relations with other powers, and France was longer a threat to peace. In these ways, the Congress System helped to keep peace.

According to the analysis above, there were at least two factors which helped to keep the peace of Europe in the period 1815-1914 --- the Vienna Settlement and the Congress System. Undoubtedly, the parts of the settlements made at Vienna in 1815 relating to encircle France with stronger buffer states and to build a balance of power in Europe contributed to peace. On the other hand, the Congress System also gave peace to Europe by removing any excuse from France to start a war of revenge on her former enemies. Which one between these two was a more important one? As the Vienna Settlement not only stopped France from future aggression, but it also provided Europe with a more sustainable peace by creating an effective balance of power in Europe. In other words, the Vienna Settlement removed two possible threats to peace --- France and any one single power which would turn aggressive. No doubt the Vienna Settlement contributed to maintaining the peace of Europe in the period 18151914 to a large extent.

Conclusion
The Congress of Vienna was one of the most important international summits of European history; it determined the future boundaries of Europe, boundaries that still impact Europe today. The major powers of the day dominated negotiations, sending their most eminent statesman. Austria sent Metternich, Britain sent Castlereagh, Russia sent Alexander I himself, Prussia sent Hardenberg, and France sent Talleyrand. Each had nation had its own goals. Prussia wanted to enlarge its territory. Russia wanted Poland, but it also wanted "collective security". And Austria and Britain simply wanted a balance of power that would maintain stability and the status quo in Europe. Although the French Revolution and Napoleonic Rule spread the forces of modernization and change, the Congress of Vienna, which determined the future of Europe beyond Napoleon, was dominated by members of the old regime and aristocracy. Their hope was to design a political landscape wherein no one power could dominate. The secret Austrian-British-French alliance to stop Russia and Prussia from combining to gain all of Poland and Saxony just shows how complicated the negotiations were. Europe had just spent two decades dealing with the French menace, and already, the anti-French coalition was split up, with Britain actually allying with France! Still, despite the efforts to minimize Russian and Prussian encroachment in Central Europe, both countries did manage to extend their influence west through the Congress of Vienna.

The Congress of Vienna also to outlaw the Atlantic slave trade. All of the major powers agreed to this, but only Britain actually did anything to stop the trade, setting up an antislaving naval squadron. For all the trouble France had caused, the Congress was remarkably mild towards France, which basically got to keep its traditional, pre-Revolution boundaries. The Congress also stopped potentially explosive issues from getting out of hand: the Poland issue could have led to war or further hostility, but it was handled with extreme care by a group of very capable diplomats. The Congress brilliantly established long-term stability in Europe. True, there were some criticisms. Nationalists were not always happy with the established borders that served to maintain the balance of power rather than unifying a given group that shared the same language and culture. Also, the stability the Congress created helped keep reactionary regimes in power and may have slowed social progress, and much of the years between 1815 and 1848 were animated by the interaction of liberal and conservative ideals. But in all, the Congress of Vienna was a success. It created enough powers of similar strength and influence that none of them could go too far without being overwhelmed by a coalition of the others. It mediated numerous tensions and conflicting interest through peaceful negotiations. Furthermore, the Congress created so little hard feeling and dispute that the whole of Europe did not all go to war at once for a century. Not until World War I broke out in 1914 did a massive, Europe-wide conflict occur. In that sense, the Congress of Vienna was a triumph of diplomacy.

Bibliography
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