The Overthrow of Napoleon: The Congress of Vienna

1. The Overthrow of Napoleon:The Congress of Vienna Section 10.51

2. Questions to Consider • What factors made everything go wrong in Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812? How did Europe react to Napoleon’s setback in Russia? • To what extent did the charter of 1814 accept the changes of the Revolution and the Napoleonic era? • Explain the nature of the “first” Treaty of Paris. How would you summarize the issues facing Europe after the defeat of Napoleon? • Describe the principal territorial arrangements adopted at the Congress of Vienna. What attitudes were taken toward the peace settlement by Prussia, Russia, Great Britain, Austria? How was the dispute over Poland settled? • Why did so many of the French people rally to Napoleon upon his return? How did the allies react? • How would you evaluate the accomplishments and failure of the Peace of Vienna? Why was the settlement a disappointment to many?

3. Borodino Retreat from Moscow Battle of Leipzig Frankfurt proposals Castlereagh Metternich Talleyrand Louis XVIII Quadruple Alliance Charter of 1814 “first” Treaty of Paris Polish-Saxon question “Congress Poland” Battle of Waterloo Hundred Days “Second” Treaty of Paris Holy Alliance Terms to Know

4. Europe in 1811 • Napoleon controlled the mainland • Russia was at war with Turkey • Spain was resisting Napoleon’s presence (4 years of guerilla war) • GB was amassing national wealth via Industrial Rev to use in financing foreign gov in resisting Nap • The Continental System was working badly • Many in Europe were waiting for the opportunity to move against Napoleon • All eyes are on Russia • No gain in its alliance with France • No assistance in war with Turkey • Educated classes and émigrés bent Alexander’s ear regarding France Alexander I of Russia

5. Russian Campaign and the War of Liberation • Russia leaves the Continental System 12/31/1810 • Resumes trade with GB • Napoleon declares war • June 1812 Napoleon invades Russia with Grand Army of 700 thousand (largest ever at that time) • 1/3 French, 1/3 German, 90 thou Poles) • Everything went wrong from the beginning • The Russians made a continuous retreat • scorched earth (Naps army used to living off land) • Numbers in the Russian army remained high • Napoleon’s army continued to diminish in size • Borodino was a pyrrhic win for Napoleon • 30,000 GA men lost, 50 thousand Russian

7. The Retreat from Moscow • Nap entered Moscow 9/14/1812 • Burned by Russians • Waited for 5 weeks, Alex ignored calls • Winter was coming • The Russian army was nipping at Napoleon’s flanks • Napoleon orders retreat in the face of the oncoming Russian winter • The Russian army forces Napoleon to take a northern route • The winter caused great suffering • 600,000+ left for Moscow, 400,000 died, 100,000 were taken prisoner • The Grand Army was lost • Retreat from Moscow=byword for military horror "Episode of the Retreat from Russia“, Joseph Ferdinand Boissard de Boisdenier (1813 - 1866)

9. The Battle of the Nations • Russians chased GA into Central Europe • Prussia and Austria switched sides and allied against Napoleon in 1813 • Britain, Spain, Austria, Russia, Germany • Anti-French fever grows in Germany, Italy • Wellington pushes French out of Spain and crosses the Pyrenees • British gov pours L32 hundred thousand into allied armies • Spanish Clerics + British Capitalism, Navy + E. European Aristocrats + Russian Army + German Nationalists + Absolutists + democrats/liberals v. Napoleon • Napoleon races across Europe (13 days) and raises another army but succumbs in the face of massive opposition at battle of Leipzig • Called Battle of Nations by Germans

10. The Restoration of the Bourbons • Allies against Napoleon are distrustful of each other and the pressure eases once Napoleon is pushed back into France • Alexander wants Nap out and a puppet gov in (Prince Bernadotte of Sweden) • Metternich preferred to keep Nap or his son and make them dependent of Austria • Brits want Nap out, French out of Belgium, prefer Bourbon restoration Klemens Wenzel von Metternich

11. Frankfurt Proposals • Napoleon is offered a chance to remain as Emperor in the Frankfort proposals 1813 (by Metternich) • France would retain ‘natural’ frontier on Rhine • A strong France would be an important balancing force against England and Russia • Viscount Castlereagh arrived from England and played on Austrian fears of Russia • Nap rejected Frankfurt proposals anyway and continued to fight • Treaty of Chaumont bound each power to Quadruple Alliance (20 years) • Quadruple Alliance (March 1814) pits the allies against France • Napoleon abdicates at Fontainbleau (April 1814) • His support in France is gone as the demands for peace are high • Talleyrand suggested Louis XVIII • Cause the least consternation • Monarchy is restored with a constitution • Issues Constitutional Charter which grants a constitutional monarchy (but given with absolutist tone

13. Settlement before the Vienna Congress • “First” Treaty of Paris (May 1814) • France goes back to pre-Napoleonic borders • No reparations, can even keep stolen artwork • Napoleon is exiled to Elba • Before consenting to the Congress of Vienna Russia and England establish claims • Russia retained Bessarabia(Part of Romania), Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Finland • British retained Malta, the Ionian Islands, Trinidad, Tobago, Mauritius, the Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon, and much of India • England is poised for its role as the leading western power • Navy, Colonies, Markets, Lack of competition, Advanced industrialization, Advanced financial institutions, Advanced constitutionalism, Advanced movement of population toward working class labor force

15. Congress of Vienna, 1814-1815 • All states of Europe sent reps (even former HRE) • Talleyrand (Louis 18 minister) represented France • Important matters would be decided by 4 great powers • Castlereagh(GB), Metternich(Austria), and Alexander(Russia), Hardenberg (Prussia) • Prussians want land, • Alex wants Poland, constitutionalism in Europe, and some type of security pact (NATO) • Castlereagh, Metternich, Talleyrand seek bal of power • Want to stop Universal Monarchy & imperialist system within Europe • “Balance of Power” is key to the diplomatic outcomes • Believed that shifting “souls” (people and territory) around to create a balance Metternich Hardenberg

16. Congress of Vienna, 1814-1815 Continued • France is still viewed as biggest threat • Barrier of strong states is erected around France • Dutch Republic becomes the Netherlands (under House of Orange)& is expanded to include Austrian Netherlands and Belgium • Kingdom of Piedmont restored & expanded with Genoa • Prussia gets the left bank of the Rhine • Austria gets Tuscany, Milan, Venice, Lombardy • These moves are meant to block both France and Russian hegemony • Consolidation under Napoleon is left in place • Kings of Bavaria, Wurttemberg, Saxony keep crowns • Fragmentation and autonomy remains • A unified Germany and nationalism is yet to come • Pope receives the rest of Italy (Papal States) • In Spain the Bourbons are restored • Braganzas are restored in Portugal

17. The Polish-Saxon Question • Russia wanted Poland reconstituted and under Russia protection with Alex as King • Prussia agreed only if Saxony became Prussian • This horrified Metternich (both would get too powerful) • Austria and England cannot agree to the terms • 1/3/1815 Talleyrand shrewdly used the rift to make secret alliance (France, Austria, England) to go to war against Russia and Prussia if necessary • Russia agrees to compromise • Grand Duchy of Warsaw (AKA Congress Poland) is transferred to Russia) • Reduced Saxony is transferred to Prussia • Result of the wars and peace process was the shift Russia and Prussia toward the west

19. Hundred days and Their Aftermath • Napoleon escaped from Elba (lands in France 3/1/1815) • Louis XVIII is associated with vengeful behavior of the returning émigrés • Reactionary “white terror” raged and rankled population • Return of the “emperor” causes a rally of support • Nap seized gov and marched to Belgium • Wellington meets Napoleon at Waterloo and Napoleon is defeated • Napoleon abdicates and is exiled to St. Helena • Second Treaty of Paris is made • France is forced to pay and indemnity 700,000,000 francs • Army of occupation is placed in France to keep France in line • Quadruple Alliance of Chaumont is reconfirmed in Nov. • No Bonaparte should ever govern France • Future congresses would be called to review the political situation of Europe • The Holy Alliance • Alexander proposes an alliance to uphold “Christian principles of charity and peace” • He meant it as a condemnation of violence • All sign except the Pope, the Ottoman sultan, and the regent of Great Britain • Later becomes a symbol of unholy monarchies against liberty and progress

21. The Peace of Vienna • Most far reaching diplomatic agreement since Westphalia (1648) and Treaty of Paris (1919) • Maintains the peace for over 50 years • Produces a minimum resentment in France • Was in no way reactionary (not a complete restoration of the Old Regime) • Little satisfaction is felt by nationalists and democrats • transfer of control of people from one government to another without consultation • Resentments will continue to motivate liberal movements • Brought an end to the waves of upheaval caused by the French Revolution final document of the Congress of Vienna, signed on June 9, 1815, to establish lasting peace in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars

22. Legacy of the Revolution • Seeds of liberalism are planted throughout Europe • Latin American revolutions are about to break out • Demonstrated that and open system (of professional and social advancement) could mobilize national resources more effectively than monarchical systems • Opened the door for conversations on human rights, political participation, and nationalism that continue to the present