In recent days, in March 1814 Allied troops entered Paris in triumph.This meant the complete defeat of Napoleonic France and ultimate elimination of years of European wars.Napoleon himself soon abdicated and was exiled to Elba, and winning allies to the negotiating table to remake the map of Europe.
For this was called the Congress of Vienna, which was held in Austria in 1814-1815.It was attended by representatives of Russia, Britain, Austria, Prussia, France, and Portugal.
The main issues addressed are: redivision of Europe in favor of the victorious countries, restoration of the monarchy in Europe and prevent any possibility of the return of Napoleon to power.
France were reinstated by representatives of the Bourbon dynasty, and took the throne of Louis XVIII, who was executed the next heir of Louis XVI.In addition, the winners would restore the old order - the feudal nobility and the absolutist.Of course, after all the political achievements of the French Revolution, this objective was utopian, but nevertheless, for many years, Europe has entered the mode of conservatism and reaction.
main problem was the redistribution of land, particularly in Poland and Saxony.The Russian Emperor Alexander I wanted to join the Polish lands to the territory of Russia, and Saxony to give the power of Prussia.But the representatives of Austria, Britain and France strongly prevented such a decision.They even signed a secret agreement on cooperation against the territorial ambitions of Prussia and Russia, so the first stage of such a re-division has not taken place.
general Congress of Vienna showed that the basic superiority of forces was observed in Russia, Prussia, England and Austria.Haggling and quarreling among themselves, the representatives of these countries carried redistribution of the main European countries.
the spring of 1815, Napoleon escaped from Elba, he landed in France and launched a new military campaign.Soon, however, his troops were completely defeated at Waterloo and the Congress of Vienna in 1815 began to work at an accelerated rate.Now the participants tried as quickly as possible to take final decisions on the territorial structure of Europe.
At the beginning of July 1815 was signed by the general act of Congress, according to which France was deprived of all the previously conquered lands.Russia absorbed the Duchy of Warsaw, which is now called Kingdom of Poland.Rhineland, Poznan, Westphalia and Saxony were transferred most of Prussia.Austria joins the territory of Lombardy, Venice and Galicia, and North German principalities allied (German Confederation), this country receives the most influential.Of course, this affects the interests of the Prussian state.
In Italy, the Kingdom of Sardinia was restored to accede to the Savoy and Nice, while approving the rights of the House of Savoy.Tuscany, Modena and Parma passed under the authority of the representatives of the Austrian Habsburg dynasty.Rome again came under the authority of the pope, who returned all the old law.In Naples, sat on the throne of the Bourbons.Formed Kingdom of the Netherlands from the Netherlands and Belgium.
smaller German states, which Napoleon abolished, most of them have not been restored.Their total number has decreased by almost ten times.However, the fragmentation of Germany, which was now 38 states, remained the same.
To England went colonial land that it took away in Spain, France and Holland.The islands of Malta and Ceylon, the Cape of Good Hope, Guyana, Ionian Islands now finally secured the British kingdom.
was formed confederation of nineteen Swiss cantons, which proclaimed "perpetual neutrality".Norway passed into the power of Sweden, moving it from the Danish.
But all without exception European countries were afraid of an excessive strengthening of Russia, since it is the role of the country belonged to the winner over Napoleon's troops.
Vienna Conference is now complete, but in the autumn of 1815 Alexander I decided to consolidate the new European order and confirm the leading role of Russia and England.On his initiative, an agreement was signed on the establishment of the Holy Alliance, which includes Austria, Prussia and the Russian Empire.According to the agreement, the state promised to help each other in case of revolutions or uprisings.
Congress of Vienna and its decisions had a decisive impact on the entire European system.Only after 1917, when the first World War, the European territory will again be redrawn.
