Lyla Lindsey
Klemens von Metternich was an Austrian statesman, minister of foreign affairs, and a champion of conservatism. He is often remembered as a symbol of forces eager to preserve the status quo in the face of rising nationalism and demands for popular participation in government. Metternich served under Emperor Francis I, who shared his reactionary outlook and desire to maintain the social, political, and international status quo. Metternich's first task was to push for the marriage of Napoleon to Archduchess Marie Louise, the daughter of Emperor Francis I, to erode Napoleon's power. Metternich played a crucial role in the defeat of Napoleon, leading to his appointment as a hereditary prince of the Austrian Empire by Emperor Francis I. Metternich went on to become the Austrian Court Chancellor and Chancellor of State in 1821, overseeing the detention of Napoleon's son. Metternich's influence in domestic affairs waned over time, and he eventually went into exile in 1848 due to a revolution in Vienna.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Klemens von Metternich |
| Emperor who appointed Metternich | Francis I |
| Year Metternich was appointed minister of foreign affairs | 1809 |
| Year Metternich was bestowed the status of prince | 1813 |
| Year Metternich became Austrian Court Chancellor and Chancellor of State | 1821 |
| Year Metternich's influence in internal policy was reduced | 1826 |
| Year Metternich resigned | 1848 |
| Year Metternich was allowed to return to Vienna | 1851 |
| Year of death | 1859 |
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What You'll Learn
- Klemens von Metternich was appointed Foreign Minister by Emperor Francis I in 1809
- Metternich was made a hereditary prince by the Austrian Emperor in 1813
- Emperor Francis appointed Graf von Kolowrat as minister of state in 1826, reducing Metternich's influence
- Metternich was granted the title of Austrian Court Chancellor and Chancellor of State in 1821
- nationalism.Metternich's work as a diplomat led to the Age of Metternich, a period of industrialisation and
Klemens von Metternich was appointed Foreign Minister by Emperor Francis I in 1809
Klemens von Metternich was appointed Foreign Minister by Emperor Francis I of Austria in October 1809. Metternich had previously served as an envoy to the Congress of Rastatt and then as the Habsburg's ambassador to Saxony, Prussia, and Napoleonic France. In 1809, Metternich witnessed the Austrian army's defeat at the hands of Napoleon at the Battle of Wagram. This defeat led to the Treaty of Schönbrunn, which imposed humiliating terms on Austria, including territorial losses and financial indemnities.
Following the Battle of Wagram, Stadion tendered his resignation as Foreign Minister, and Emperor Francis I immediately offered the position to Metternich. Metternich, however, initially declined the role of Foreign Minister, instead becoming a minister of state on July 8, 1809, and leading negotiations with France. He agreed to replace Stadion as Foreign Minister at a later date. On October 8, 1809, Metternich officially became the Foreign Minister of Austria, in addition to Minister of the Imperial Household.
As Foreign Minister, Metternich's primary goal was to erode Napoleon's power and restore Austria's position in Europe. He believed that Europe's stability depended on a balance of power among the great powers and worked to preserve Austria's internal peace and external influence. Metternich played a significant role in the marriage of Napoleon to Marie Louise, the daughter of Emperor Francis I, using the union to renegotiate the terms of the Treaty of Schönbrunn. He also encouraged a positive relationship between Russia and the House of Habsburg to counter Napoleonic France.
Metternich's tenure as Foreign Minister marked the beginning of the Age of Metternich in Austria, a period characterized by the Industrial Revolution, social upheaval, and the rise of nationalism. Metternich became a symbol of forces seeking to preserve the status quo and was often associated with conservatism and oppression. Despite facing criticism and a decline in domestic influence, he remained a key figure in European politics until his resignation in 1848 due to a revolution in Vienna.
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Metternich was made a hereditary prince by the Austrian Emperor in 1813
Klemens von Metternich was an Austrian statesman, minister of foreign affairs, and a champion of conservatism. He is often remembered as an adversary of Napoleon, having helped form the victorious alliance against him, and restored Austria as a leading European power.
Metternich was appointed Austrian minister to the Saxon court at Dresden in 1801, and it was in 1803 that he began serving as Austrian minister in Berlin. In 1806, he became the Habsburg ambassador to Napoleonic France. In October 1809, Metternich became Austria's foreign minister, and his goal was to preserve Austria until Napoleon could be defeated.
In 1812, Metternich obtained the status of an independent contingent for the Austrian forces under Karl, Fürst zu Schwarzenberg, which accompanied the French army. He also arranged the marriage of Napoleon to Marie Louise, the daughter of Austrian Emperor Francis I. Metternich claimed that the marriage was Napoleon's idea, but he was happy to take credit for it at the time.
In 1813, Metternich met with Napoleon in Dresden Marcolini Palace, where he stated that Austria was free of "engagements". By August of that year, Austria had declared war on France, and Metternich, through his superior conduct of negotiations, had won for his country leadership in both the political and military fields. It was for this reason that the Austrian Emperor Francis I bestowed upon him the hereditary title of prince in October 1813.
Metternich went on to become the Austrian Court Chancellor and Chancellor of State (the Austrian Prime Minister) in 1821. He remained the arbiter of continental European politics until March 1848, when he was compelled to resign due to a revolution in Vienna.
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Emperor Francis appointed Graf von Kolowrat as minister of state in 1826, reducing Metternich's influence
Klemens von Metternich was a German statesman and diplomat in the service of the Austrian Empire. He was born in 1773 and rose through key diplomatic posts, including ambassadorial roles in the Kingdom of Saxony, the Kingdom of Prussia, and Napoleonic France. In 1809, Metternich was appointed minister of foreign affairs for the Habsburg state, and he played a crucial role in the defeat of Napoleon I and the restoration of Austria as a leading European power.
In 1826, Emperor Francis appointed Graf von Kolowrat as minister of state, reducing Metternich's influence. Kolowrat, a moderate liberal politician, was one of Metternich's major opponents. He became Metternich's greatest rival for influence over the Austrian Empire's affairs of state. Kolowrat's appointment led to tensions between him and Metternich, particularly regarding the military budget. While Metternich favoured a strong army, Kolowrat reduced the military spending. Despite this rivalry, Kolowrat and Metternich worked together during a tumultuous period from 1835 to 1848, leading the Secret State Conference, the de facto government of the Empire. However, their continuous disagreements paralysed Austrian politics and ultimately contributed to the collapse of the "Metternich system".
The liberal revolutions of 1848 forced Metternich to resign, and Kolowrat assumed the office of Austrian minister-president. However, Kolowrat's tenure was brief, lasting only one month, as he stepped down due to health reasons and advancing age. Metternich, on the other hand, continued to play a role in Austrian politics, serving as a minister of foreign affairs until 1848.
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Metternich was granted the title of Austrian Court Chancellor and Chancellor of State in 1821
Klemens von Metternich was granted the title of Austrian Court Chancellor and Chancellor of State in 1821. By this time, Metternich had already served in several diplomatic roles, including as an envoy to the Congress of Rastatt, as the Habsburg ambassador to Saxony, Prussia, and Napoleonic France, and as Austrian minister to the Saxon court at Dresden. In 1809, Metternich became Austria's foreign minister, and in 1813, he was bestowed the hereditary title of prince by the Austrian emperor.
Metternich is known for his role in preserving the status quo in Europe in the years after the Napoleonic Wars, which are often referred to as the Age of Metternich. He believed that Europe's stability depended on a balance of power among the great powers and worked to prevent future revolutionary movements. Metternich's policies led to him being depicted as an oppressor and suppressor of liberty, and his influence in domestic affairs weakened over time.
In his role as Austrian Court Chancellor and Chancellor of State, Metternich oversaw the detention of Napoleon's son, the Duke of Reichstadt. Metternich is said to have forbidden the Duke from wintering in Naples, which could have potentially cured his fatal tuberculosis. Metternich's system was tested by revolutions in 1830-31, but he remained the arbiter of continental European politics until 1848, when he was compelled to resign due to a revolution in Vienna.
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nationalism.Metternich's work as a diplomat led to the Age of Metternich, a period of industrialisation and nationalism.
Klemens von Metternich was appointed as the Austrian minister of foreign affairs in October 1809 by Emperor Francis I. Metternich was a conservative diplomat who played a crucial role in shaping the post-Napoleonic era in Europe, known as the Age of Metternich (1815-1848).
Metternich's diplomatic career began in 1797 when he represented the Roman Catholic Westphalian counts at the Congress of Rastatt. He then served as the Habsburg ambassador to Saxony, Prussia, and Napoleonic France. In 1809, he became the Austrian minister of foreign affairs, working to erode Napoleon's power and restore Austria's influence. Metternich pushed for the marriage of Napoleon to Archduchess Marie Louise, which he later tried to distance himself from. He also negotiated with Napoleon, attempting to maintain Austria's neutrality, and played a role in the War of the First Coalition.
The Age of Metternich was characterised by the Industrial Revolution, intensification of social problems, an increasingly mobile population, demands for popular participation in government, and the rise of nationalism. Metternich was a symbol of forces seeking to preserve the status quo and prevent revolutionary movements. He encouraged the Congress System, where representatives of the powers met periodically to consider suppressing revolutions. Metternich favoured censorship and strict supervision of universities to discourage radicalism and liberalism.
Metternich's diplomatic policies aimed to maintain stability and convince the great powers of their mutual interest in preserving the European order. He hosted the Congress of Vienna in 1814-15, attempting to form an alliance between Great Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria to prevent revolutions. However, his Concert of Europe fell apart as the powers had differing interests and goals. Metternich's reputation as a conservative and oppressor grew, particularly after the adoption of the Carlsbad Decrees, which placed universities under strict control and blacklisted teachers, writers, and students with liberal views. Despite this, some argue that Metternich was a philosophical conservative who favoured orderly and cautious change within the context of good government.
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Frequently asked questions
Emperor Francis I appointed Metternich.
Klemens von Metternich was an Austrian statesman, minister of foreign affairs, and a champion of conservatism.
Metternich was appointed Austrian Court Chancellor and Chancellor of State in 1821, and he also served as the minister of foreign affairs from 1809 to 1848.
Metternich believed in conservatism and absolutism, aiming to preserve the social, political, and international status quo in Europe.
Metternich played a key role in the defeat of Napoleon and the restoration of Austria as a leading European power. He was also successful in exerting influence over Italian governments and suppressing revolutionary movements. However, his influence in domestic affairs within Austria weakened over time.
