LECTURE 15. The Convening Of The Congress Of Vienna

By the end of the era of the revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, which lasted for nearly a quarter century, Europe was a sad sight. Almost no country or people who have not suffered from the invasion of foreign armies and military actions. And most importantly - these wars even tighter knot tightened territorial, economic, dynastic conflicts among European countries. If you do not unravel, or at least weaken it, and a key objective for the Allied Powers after the victory over Napoleon's France.

First of all, the allies were quick to settle its relations with France. May 30, 1814, they signed with the government of Louis XVIIImirny contract, which was an extremely compassionate towards the defeated enemy. He provided for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of France. She lost her only possession, seized her, since 1792, but has retained not only all their own territory within the borders of 1789, but some acquisitions revolutionary times - mainly former papal possession of Avignon and the county of Venaissin. The Allies have refrained from retaliation. They do not even have demanded financial compensation for their losses, and in the short term derived from the French troops.

The reason for such a mild treatment with France was, on the one hand, in fact, the allies have always said that war is not against France and the French people, but against the "usurper" Napoleon Bonaparte, and in order to capture the French territory, and for the liberation of the peoples of Europe from French rule. Expelling the invaders and deposed Bonaparte, they considered their duty fulfilled. Terms of the peace treaty with France meet liberation war aims of the Allies.

On the other hand, the Allies needed a sufficiently strong and independent France to restore the balance of power in Europe. They are well aware of the fact that relations between them are contradictions. They foresaw that the end of the Napoleonic wars, these conflicts only exacerbated. Each of the Allied States has sought to strengthen its role in international affairs, and at the same time feared rivals. France they were taken to the future role of the country, which could, if necessary, rely, seeking satisfaction of their claims, or at least use as a counterweight to the stronger opponent.

But the treaty with France is not running out of the variety of problems of peaceful settlement in Europe. With the defeat of Napoleon in 1814 collapsed and that the international order, which he imposed on European countries during the period of his power. The countries of the anti-French coalition task was to identify, avoid strife, the new rules of relationships, including an agreement on mutual recognition of borders.

For this reason it was decided to convene an international conference in Vienna. Even before its official opening in European capitals, including London and Vienna itself, informal talks were held between members of the anti-French coalition. To participate in the congress profit 216 representatives from all European countries (except the Ottoman Empire), including a large number of royal and princely houses, many of them in the years of the Napoleonic wars, lost their possessions and now sought their return. I personally attended the Russian Emperor Alexander I, Emperor of Austria, Francis I, King of Prussia, Frederick William III, other monarchs. Together with the heads of states and governments with diplomatic representatives in Vienna gathered their wives, relatives, numerous retinue, merchants, bankers, artists, poets, famous people from many countries of Europe. They are attracted by the possibility of direct communication with all the crowned heads of Europe. In general, the Congress of Vienna was a very representative forum.

The Congress of Vienna was officially opened in November 1814 and ended in June 1815 adoption of the Final Act. Formally, all participants were equal. But the main role was played by four Allied Powers which have borne the brunt of the struggle against Napoleonic France - Russia, Great Britain, Prussia and the Austrian Empire. On their behalf, the negotiations led by the Russian Emperor Alexander I, the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Castlereagh, the Prussian chancellor Prince von Hardenberg, the Austrian chancellor Prince von Metternich, and other dignitaries.

France was represented at the Congress of Vienna Talleyrand, in the past - the party revolution of the late XVIII century., A major dignitary of the Napoleonic Empire, and now - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Louis XVIII. Initially, European diplomats and politicians treated him with suspicion. It was difficult to overcome hostility, which inspired the French invaders for many years. In addition, Talleyrand himself enjoyed in their eyes is not an impeccable reputation. But everyone knew that without the active participation of France could not build a strong international order. In addition, Talleyrand ably played by disagreements between the allies to raise the prestige of France. Therefore the French representatives on par with the four Allied powers involved in finding solutions to the major issues of European politics.

Plenary sessions of the Congress were few. The work consisted mainly of representatives to meetings of the Allied powers, with the participation of France, as the need arises - for discussion of a particular territorial or dynastic problem - invited delegates from other countries. Played an important role informal meetings, discussions, exchanges of views. They occur usually in a relaxed atmosphere secular amusements - balls, receptions, theatrical performances - and which became famous for the abundance of the Congress of Vienna. Contemporaries jokingly called him "dancing".

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 667