Congress of Vienna Flashcards
Concert of Europe
Meetings between the alliance of Prussia, Russia, Austria, Britain, and eventually France, that were arranged to maintain peace in Europe and keep the power balance.
Metternich
Foreign minister from Austria and the most influential member of the Congress of Vienna. Very strong believer in conservatism. Claimed that the Principe of Legitimacy guided him, and wanted all lawful monarchs from the families who ruled before Napoleon to be returned to the throne.
Principe of Legitimacy
Claimed by Metternich. Said that royal families who ruled before Napoleon would be restored to the throne, creating European stability.
Bourbon family returned to power:
Louis XVIII in France
Ferdinand VII in Spain
Ferdinand IV in Naples
Pope got the papal states back
William I went back to ruling the Netherlands
Balance of Power
European leaders were intent on maintaining a balance of power throughout their nations, especially after the damage of the French Revolution. The Congress of Vienna rearranged territories to achieve balance and make sure no one country dominated. Nationalism was a major threat. By redrawing the map, France was also surrounded wuth strong powers (made sure no more revolutions occurred) and the victors of the Napoleonic Wars are rewarded.
1/2 of Poland is given to Russia 1/2 is given to Prussia
Finland is given to Russia
Austria gets northern Italy (Venice and Milan) and controlled the German Confederation
Prussia gets territory right along France’s border (Rhineland)
Britain gets the Cape Colony (South Africa) and Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
Netherlands gets Belgium
Sweden gets Norway
Principle of Intervention
Adopted by the Great Powers and claimed that these countries were permitted to send soldiers to other countries with revolutions occurring in order to restore the legitimate monarch’s power and bring peace back. Used by many countries (Russia, Spain) but Britain refused to adopt this principle.
Alexander I
Led the Russian army during the Russian Campaign and the reason Napoleon was eventually defeated.
Castlereagh
Constructed the great coalitions which ultimately defeated Napoleon. Also proposed the Congress meeting every two years and put forward the idea of power balance.
Talleyrand
The French negotiator of the Congress of Vienna. He allowed the French to lose territory.
Hardenberg
Chief Prussian minister at the Congress of Vienna.
Crimean War
Long-term struggle between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire was failing, and Russia tried to take advantage of that. Russia invaded the Ottoman Turks at the Balkans, the land they wanted, and the Turks declared war in 1804. The Ottomans had helped from France, Italy, and Britain, and the Concert of Europe was destroyed as many powers decided to not help Russia. This included Austria, who was a huge Russian ally. They were now enemies.
Ottoman Empire
Fought against the Russians in the Crimean war.
Allied with Italy, France, and Great Britain.
“Sick man of Europe”
The Ottomans were known as the sick man of Europe by 1800. Russia assumed it would be easy to win a war against them because of this. Winning the Crimean War brought the Turks a short period of success, but eventually, they began to decline again.
Louis XVIII
Brought back to the throne after Napoleon through the principle of legitimacy.
Bourbon Dynasty
Brought back to the throne after Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna through the principle of legitimacy.
Included:
Louis XVIII in France
Ferdinand VII in Spain
Ferdinand IV in Naples
William I of the Netherlands
Brought back to the throne after the Congress of Vienna through the principle of legitimacy.
