Concert of Europe
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| - | The '''Congress of Vienna''' was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Austrian statesman [[Klemens Wenzel von Metternich]], and held in [[Vienna]] from September, 1814 to June, 1815. Its objective was to settle the many issues arising from the [[French Revolutionary Wars]], the [[Napoleonic Wars]], and the dissolution of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. This objective resulted in the redrawing of the continent's political map, establishing the boundaries of France, Napoleon's duchy of [[Duchy of Warsaw|Warsaw]], the [[Netherlands]], the states of the [[Rhine]], the German province of [[Saxony]], and various Italian territories, and the creation of [[spheres of influence]] through which France, Austria, Russia and Britain brokered local and regional problems. The Congress of Vienna was a model for the [[League of Nations]] and [[United Nations]] due to its goal to constitute peace by all parties. | + | The '''Concert of Europe''', also known as the "'''Congress System'''," was the [[Balance of power in international relations|balance of power]] that existed in [[Europe]] from [[1815]] until the early [[20th century]]. Its founding members were the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]], [[Austrian Empire]], [[Russian Empire]] and [[Kingdom of Prussia]], the members of the [[Quadruple Alliance]] responsible for the downfall of the [[First French Empire]]; in time [[France]] became established as a fifth member of the concert. At first, the leading personalities of the system were British foreign secretary [[Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh|Lord Castlereagh]], Austrian chancellor [[Klemens Wenzel, Prince von Metternich]] and [[Tsar]] [[Alexander I of Russia|Alexander I]] of Russia. |
| - | The immediate background was [[First French Empire|Napoleonic France's]] defeat and [[Treaty of Paris (1814)|surrender in May 1814]], which brought an end to twenty-five years of nearly continuous war. Negotiations continued despite the outbreak of fighting triggered by [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]]'s dramatic return from exile and resumption of power in France during the [[Hundred Days]] of March-July, 1815. The Congress's "Final Act" was signed nine days before his final defeat at [[Battle of Waterloo|Waterloo]] on June 18, 1815. | + | Among the meetings of the Powers were the Congresses of [[Congress of Vienna|Vienna]] (1814–1815), [[Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle (1818)|Aix-la-Chappelle]] (1818), [[Carlsbad Decrees|Carlsbad]] (1819), [[Congress of Verona|Verona]] (1822) and [[London Conference of 1832|London]] in 1830, 1832, and 1838-1839. The Concert of Europe broke down when the [[Crimean War]] broke out in 1854, with the United Kingdom and [[Second French Empire]] assisting the [[Ottoman Empire]] against the Russian Empire. The [[Congress of Berlin]] in [[1878]] was the last; rivalries between the Powers made co-ordination difficult, and the Congress system disappeared with the outbreak of [[World War I]]. |
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| - | An unusual feature of the "Congress of Vienna" was that it was not properly a Congress: it never met in [[plenary session]], and most of the discussions occurred in informal, face-to-face, sessions among the [[Great power|Great Powers]] of France, United Kingdom, Austria, and Russia, and sometimes Prussia, with limited or no participation by other delegates. On the other hand, the Congress was the first occasion in history where on a continental scale people came together in place to hammer out a treaty, instead of relying mostly on messengers and messages between the several capitals. The Congress of Vienna settlement, despite later changes, formed the framework for European international politics until the outbreak of the [[First World War]] in [[1914]]. | + | |
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| - | ==See also== | + | |
| - | *[[Age of Metternich]] | + | |
| - | *[[Concert of Europe]] | + | |
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Revision as of 17:35, 8 June 2010
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The Concert of Europe, also known as the "Congress System," was the balance of power that existed in Europe from 1815 until the early 20th century. Its founding members were the United Kingdom, Austrian Empire, Russian Empire and Kingdom of Prussia, the members of the Quadruple Alliance responsible for the downfall of the First French Empire; in time France became established as a fifth member of the concert. At first, the leading personalities of the system were British foreign secretary Lord Castlereagh, Austrian chancellor Klemens Wenzel, Prince von Metternich and Tsar Alexander I of Russia.
Among the meetings of the Powers were the Congresses of Vienna (1814–1815), Aix-la-Chappelle (1818), Carlsbad (1819), Verona (1822) and London in 1830, 1832, and 1838-1839. The Concert of Europe broke down when the Crimean War broke out in 1854, with the United Kingdom and Second French Empire assisting the Ottoman Empire against the Russian Empire. The Congress of Berlin in 1878 was the last; rivalries between the Powers made co-ordination difficult, and the Congress system disappeared with the outbreak of World War I.
