I already talked about the Congress of Vienna that changed the history of Europe, and in my eyes in the long term the history of the world. During this congress, there was one person who tried to direct every decision made by the rulers attending the conference. This person was Klemens von Metternich.
The role of Metternich in European history is one not to be ignored. I often talk about him during my history classes. That is why I decided to dedicate an extra article about this historical figure.
Who was Metternich in short?
According to the Britannica dictionary, the biography of Metternich can easily be summarized as him being an Austrian statesman during the 19th century.
Being a statesman within the 19th century Austrian empire, he fulfilled the role of foreign minister.
What did Klemens von Metternich do?
Metternicht was a political figure who lived and worked in the Austrian empire. In this situation, he was capable of making decisions that influenced the whole European history.
He is most famous for leading the Congress of Vienna, that altered not only European history, but also world history.
What is Metternich known for?
This statesman was known for his talent for diplomacy, which made him foreign minister in one of the most mightiest European empires: Austria. He is also very well known for his conservatism.
This created the situation of Metternich being a powerful conservatist in an era filled with progress, like the French Revolution.
This clash of conservatism and progress got to a critical point when he formed an allience to defeat and bannish Napoleon, while also organizing the Congress of Vienna. His victory of conservatism was not in favour of the common people what caused more revolutions. It also created a European situation of distrust and nationalistic problems that were one of the factors that made the First World War possible, 100 years after his role at the Congress of Vienna.
What did Metternich want to accomplish at the Congress of Vienna?
Metternich was known for his conservatism, and that during a time of progress. He especially was against the progressive ideas of the French Revolution, that were partially spread through Europe by Napoleon and his empire.
This attitude and his particular anger towards the french progressive ideas made him form an idea with three specific goals to end the progressive era and to regain absolute power again by restoring conversative regimes. Goals that he tried to accomplish during the Congress of Vienna.
What were Metternich his three goals?
Metternich had three goals while organizing the Congress of Vienna.
The first one was to restore the balance of power. Progressive ideas, from the times of Enlightment and the French Revolution, had destroyed the idea of the almighty absolute king or emperor. Metternich wanted to turn back the clock to a time before the French Revolution, where power was granted by God and not by the sovereignty of the people.
The second goal is alligned with his first goal. While restoring the conservatist view on power and rulers, he also wanted to restore the absolute powers of the royal rulers of Europe.
The third goal is the one that tries to keep conservatism as a way of life and rule long-term. Metternich wanted to keep possible new revolutionary ideas from France contained. That is why he wanted to break the power of Napoleon and make his empire dissapear. He reached this goal by forming an allience with several countries to win the Napoleontic wars during the final battle of Waterloo (Belgium) in 1815.
The Congress of Vienna even created a new country in the north of France which purpose was to be strong enough to stop possible future French armies to invade the rest of Europa again. The name of this country was the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, ruled by Willem I and stretching across the territory of what is now Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Was Metternich famous in European history?
Yes, he was. Playing such an important role in one of the most powerful empires of the 19th century, he was not only famous in his own time, but also in our present history books.
What did Metternich accomplish?
Metternich accomplished both political and geographical changes to European and world history. Using the Congress of Vienna, he tried to bring back absolute power and was against the ideas of the Enlightenment and French Revolution, who tried to give power to the common people.
One can debate as if a country like Belgium would exist without previous decisions of Metternich. And even the cause of World War One can, to some degree, be brought back to Metternich and the Congress of Vienna.
By the way, Vienna is not only famous for its 19th century congress. Do not forget it was also the city of Mozart.
