Austria's Role In The Congress Of Vienna

The Austrian Empire was officially created in 1804 by Francis II in response to Napoleon's declaration of the First French Empire. The Austrian Empire remained part of the Holy Roman Empire until the latter's dissolution in 1806.

In 1814, the Austrian statesman Klemens von Metternich chaired the Congress of Vienna, a series of international diplomatic meetings to discuss and agree upon a new layout of the European political and constitutional order after the downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte. The Congress was attended by representatives of all European powers (other than the Ottoman Empire) and other stakeholders. The Congress was held in Vienna from September 1814 to June 1815.

The Congress of Vienna was not meant to suggest a formal plenary session but rather the creation of a diplomatic organisational framework bringing together stakeholders of all flocks to enable the expression of opinions, interests and sentiments and facilitate discussion of general issues among them. The Congress format was the first occasion in history where, on a continental scale, national representatives and other stakeholders came together in one city at the same time to discuss and formulate the conditions and provisions of treaties.

The immediate background was Napoleonic France's defeat and surrender in May 1814, which brought an end to 23 years of nearly continuous war. The Congress's agreement was signed nine days before Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo on 18 June 1815.

Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire until 1806

The Holy Roman Empire was a group of feudal principalities and princedoms that were initially vassals of the Holy Roman Emperor. Over time, the Empire became more decentralised, and the emperor was elected by the "Electors", a series of princes that voted on the next emperor.

The Habsburgs, who ruled Austria, gained a lot of territory directly under their control through inheritance and conquest. They became the major power bloc in the Holy Roman Empire, and were elected emperor nearly every time.

In 1804, Napoleon declared the First French Empire, and in response, Holy Roman Emperor Francis II proclaimed the Austrian Empire, unifying all Habsburg possessions under one central government. The Austrian Empire remained part of the Holy Roman Empire until the latter's dissolution in 1806.

In 1805, an Austrian army was defeated by French armies near the city of Ulm. Napoleon's army won another victory at Austerlitz on 2 December 1805, and Francis was forced into negotiations with the French. The French victories encouraged rulers of certain imperial territories to ally themselves with the French and assert their formal independence from the Empire.

On 12 July 1806, the Confederation of the Rhine was established, comprising 16 sovereigns and countries. This confederation, under French influence, effectively put an end to the Holy Roman Empire. On 6 August 1806, Francis proclaimed the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, as he did not want Napoleon to succeed him.

The Austrian Empire continued fighting against Napoleon throughout the Napoleonic Wars, except for a period between 1809 and 1813, when Austria was first allied with Napoleon during the invasion of Russia and later neutral during the first few weeks of the Sixth Coalition War. Austria and its allies emerged victorious in the war, leading to the Congress of Vienna, which reaffirmed the empire as one of the great powers of the 19th century.

Austria was at war with France during the Napoleonic Wars

In 1805, Austrian statesmen believed that an alliance with Russia would deter Napoleon from attacking the eastern empires. However, Napoleon's swift movement of his army into Germany (rather than Italy, as the Austrians had anticipated) resulted in the surrender of an Austrian army at the city of Ulm. Napoleon then advanced to Vienna, which he took in November 1805, before moving into Moravia, where he defeated a remnant of the Austrian army and the oncoming Russians at the Battle of Austerlitz on December 2, 1805. Austria was forced to conclude peace, signing the Treaty of Pressburg on December 26, 1805.

In 1809, Austria went to war with France again, in what became known as the War of the Fifth Coalition. On April 10, 1809, Austrian forces under Archduke Charles crossed the border of Bavaria, a French client state. Napoleon led an advance to Landshut, hoping to cut off the Austrian line of retreat and sweep into their rear. Charles crossed the Danube at Regensburg, which allowed him to retreat eastwards, although he failed to reach Vienna before the French. A French assault across the Danube was repulsed on May 21–22 at the Battle of Aspern-Essling but a repeat attack was successful in July. Napoleon won a major victory at the July 5–6 Battle of Wagram, which forced the Austrians to sign the Armistice of Znaim on July 12, 1809. The war ended with the Treaty of Schönbrunn, which was regarded as harsh towards Austria.

In 1812, Austria contributed troops to Napoleon's invasion of Russia, which ended in a disastrous defeat for the French. In 1813, Austria declared war on France and assumed the leading role in the War of Liberation, providing the greatest number of troops to the allied forces. In 1814, Napoleon was exiled to the island of Elba, and in 1815, he was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo.

Austria was a leading conservative force in Europe

During the Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815, Metternich chaired the diplomatic meetings that aimed to establish a long-term peace plan for Europe. The Congress was convened in response to the downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte and the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The primary objective was to resize the main powers in Europe, ensuring they could balance each other and remain at peace. Austria, along with Britain, Prussia, and Russia, made significant territorial gains, while France had to give up all its recent conquests.

Metternich's influence during this period extended beyond the Congress of Vienna. He was the chief architect of the Concert of Europe, an international political doctrine that emphasised maintaining political boundaries, the balance of power, and respecting spheres of influence. This doctrine guided foreign policy among European nations until the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Metternich's efforts to suppress nationalism and liberalism within the Austrian Empire ultimately failed, as the revolutionary movements of 1848 forced him to resign.

Austria was part of the German Confederation

The German Confederation was established at the Congress of Vienna, which was a series of international diplomatic meetings held in Vienna from September 1814 to June 1815. Klemens von Metternich, the Austrian statesman, chaired the Congress. The Congress was attended by representatives of all European powers (except the Ottoman Empire) and other stakeholders. The objective of the Congress was to provide a long-term peace plan for Europe by settling critical issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars through negotiation.

The German Confederation was one of the outcomes of the Congress of Vienna. The Confederation was a loose union of 39 states, under the presidency of the Austrian Emperor. Only portions of the territories of Austria and Prussia were included in the Confederation. The Confederation was created to maintain a balance of power, while protecting the interests of the conservative nations.

The German Confederation lasted until the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, which resulted in the expulsion of Austria from the German Confederation and the formation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Austria was a member of the Quadruple Alliance

The Quadruple Alliance was based on the idea of collective security, where member states would support each other against threats to peace, particularly from France. Regular meetings among the member states established mechanisms for addressing disputes and maintaining diplomatic relations, which were crucial for Europe's stability.

The alliance laid the groundwork for subsequent alliances and interventions throughout Europe during the 19th century, reinforcing conservative governance. It effectively maintained peace for several decades, but growing nationalistic and liberal movements eventually challenged the conservative order it had established.

The Austrian foreign minister, Klemens von Metternich, was instrumental in shaping the policies of the Quadruple Alliance and the Concert of Europe. He advocated for conservative principles that favored monarchy and traditional authority. Metternich believed in restoring legitimate monarchs displaced by Napoleon to ensure order. His diplomatic efforts promoted collaboration among the great powers, influencing European politics and helping to establish a framework for addressing conflicts peacefully.

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