The Congress of Vienna, the organizing conference of coalition against
Napoleon and France, was a major building block in the future of Europe for
years to come. The Conservative Political and Social views of the leaders
of the time lead to a successful peace settlement to end this Napoleonic
The first act to end Napoleon's rule was to create some new unity
after the coalition had marched in Paris and defeated Napoleon. Each
country was beginning to pursue their own interests and drift apart from
establishing a method to prevent the power in France from ever growing to
such a magnitude again. The British foreign secretary Robert Stewart
(Viscount Castereagh) brought about the Treaty of Chaumont, restoring the
Bourbon Dynasty from France's past. It was then decided for all allies to
remain at peace until there was a reorganization of land that was to be
laid out during a Congress of Vienna, to be held on September of 1814.
Much of the organizing in the Congress of Vienna was not difficult.
The Kingdom of Netherlands was established, adding Belgium and Genoa.
Prussia received land along the Rhine river(a protection against a future
French threat). Austria was given much of Northern Italy. The only
conflict came when the control of Eastern Europe came to the table.
Alexander I of Russia was firm in that he wanted all of Poland under his
rule, Austria was not willing to give up it's share of Poland either, and
Prussia was interested in the land of Saxony. This conflict came to it's
height and there was even the fear that a new war might erupt over the
control of these lands. This was changed by the clever Talleyrand, who
represented France, he suggested that Austria and England might ally
themselves to take the land that was up for debate. Under fear, Prussia
and Russia both gave in and there was an equal distribution of land.
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