“A new era in the development of international relations”: how the Vienna Congress changed Europe

On June 9, 1815, the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna was signed. This document changed the borders of many states and contributed to the establishment of a new system of international relations, thanks to which Europe lived for several decades without major wars. The most important role in this process was played by the Russian Empire.

Prerequisites for the congress

At the end of the 18th century, the centuries-old European system of international relations began to rapidly collapse. In 1789, a revolution took place in France, accompanied by large-scale social upheavals and spilled over into wars with European countries that supported the royalists. Against the backdrop of these events, Napoleon Bonaparte made a swift career, having gone from being an ardent supporter of the revolution to the man who personally ended it in 1799 by establishing a regime of “temporary consulate”. In 1804, Napoleon became emperor of France.

After a series of successful wars, Bonaparte directly or indirectly subjugated most of the countries of continental Europe. However, the invasion of Russia was fatal for him. The French emperor suffered several brutal defeats and lost almost all of his troops.

Upon returning to France, Bonaparte gained a new army, but military success turned his back on him. The forces of the Anti-Napoleonic coalition, whose leading role was played by Russia, Austria, Prussia and the United Kingdom, defeated the French on October 16-19, 1813 in the Battle of the Peoples near Leipzig, and entered Paris on March 31, 1814. Bonaparte renounced the throne and received the island of Elba in the Mediterranean from his victors.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the borders of European states were substantially changed, and their heads were relatives and representatives of Bonaparte's inner circle. After the defeat of France, the question arose of the post-war structure of Europe. Moreover, the goals of the leaders of the four powers, who played a key role in the victory over Napoleon, were different.

As the French historian Antonin Debidour wrote, England, which received vast new colonies, wanted to expand its maritime and commercial superiority, while restraining France and Russia. Therefore, London was ready to moderate the strengthening of Austria and Prussia, while keeping Germany and Italy divided. Austria and Prussia, in turn, wanted to expand their territories as much as possible and challenged each other's leadership among the German states.

Russian Emperor Alexander I, according to Debidur, asked for the only award - to unite Poland into a single state with the constitutional image of government.

“Alexander dreamed of a united Poland, united with Russia by a personal unity, but these plans were not destined to come true. Prussia was already thinking about expanding its living space, and Austria in general attached everything that it could reach. So Russia in the Polish question came up against claims from the neighbors, ”said Vadim Trukhachev, a lecturer at the Department of Foreign Regional Studies and Foreign Policy of the Russian State University for History and Archives, in an interview with RT.

The main goal of Alexander I, according to historians, was to create an equilibrium system that could guarantee Europe peace, stability and prosperity for many years.

“Despite the fact that Russia was a winner, and her voice actually had first importance in Europe at that time, Alexander I decided to become equal among the equals in the negotiations,” said a doctor of historical sciences, professor at the Diplomatic Academy in an interview with RT Russian Foreign Ministry Vladimir Vinokurov.

Congress of Vienna

The Vienna Congress, which began on September 18, 1814, became a platform for discussing the post-war structure of Europe. The capital of Austria was, according to historians, the geopolitical center of Europe and one of the continent's most comfortable cities. Vienna's infrastructure made it possible to accommodate the European leaders who arrived at the talks and their retinues.

The key issues for discussion at the congress immediately became the international legal formalization of a new balance of power between the European powers, the restoration of pre-revolutionary order in Europe, the change of borders, the creation of a system capable of holding back revolutions and preventing the restoration of the Bonaparte regime.

To participate in the congress 216 official representatives of European states arrived: emperors, kings, princes, princes and ministers. However, representatives of four powers played a key role in the negotiations: Russia, Great Britain, Austria and Prussia. Later, the head of the French delegation, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, was able to achieve the transformation of this informal Quartet into a Quartet. Although France lost the war, its opinion on many issues following the results of the congress was taken into account.

Procedurally, the congress was organized as a series of consultations and negotiations between representatives of individual states. Together they gathered only once - to sign the final document.

The Congress was a major event not only in the political, but also in the cultural life of Europe. The event was accompanied by a large-scale entertainment program: balls and concerts. With the filing of the Austrian diplomat Charles-Joseph de Lin, they unofficially called him the "dancing congress."

During the Viennese balls of 1814-1815, the waltz was recognized as secular dance. And the performance at one of the congresses of the Seventh Symphony “Wellington's Victory” and the “Ceremonial Moment” cantata by Ludwig van Beethoven became one of the greatest triumphs in the composer's life. His works were simultaneously listened to by several thousand of the most influential people in Europe.

Acute controversy over a number of issues from time to time put Congress in jeopardy. The hottest discussions unfolded around the future of Poland and Saxony. In early 1815, Britain, Austria and France created a secret alliance against Russia and Prussia. This, in turn, made St. Petersburg and Berlin bring their positions closer. Moreover, according to Debidur, the Russian side was forced to agree to the accession of part of the Polish territories to Austria and Prussia in order to reach compromises.

In general, the leaders of the major powers understood the importance of the negotiations in Vienna and did not interrupt them even after Bonaparte fled the Elbe on February 26, 1815, raised the French troops and tried to regain full power. Against the backdrop of hostilities, intensive consultations and the development of final decisions of the Congress continued.

Congress Results

On June 9, 1815, the final General Act of the Vienna Congress was signed, consisting of 121 articles and 17 annexes.

The Duchy of Warsaw was transferred to Russia, but not completely. Thorne (present-day Torun) and Poznan went to Prussia, Krakow was turned into a republic, and Eastern Galicia and the surrounding areas became part of Austria.

Although, according to experts, part of Poland, which came under the rule of Russian emperors, later received its own government, parliament, constitution, army, currency system and serious economic support, and its population grew rapidly, historians regard the alliance with Poland as an unsuccessful decision for the Russian ruling dynasty that generated a number of conflicts.

According to Vadim Trukhachev, Catherine II, who sought to annex primarily lands with the East Slavic population, acted wiser.

“Instead of realizing Alexander I’s dream of a successful personal union, Russia received Polish uprisings. These territories were completely integrated into Russia and were not, ”the expert noted.

France was deprived of all territories conquered by Napoleon. Switzerland expanded its territory and received recognition of its neutrality from participants in the congress. In Italy, the Sardinian kingdom was being restored. A significant part of the Apennine peninsula departed Austria. In addition to western Poland, Prussia received part of Saxony and Westphalia, as well as the Rhine provinces. Holland and Belgium were united in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Great Britain legalized the seizure of France and Holland dependent territories in the Mediterranean, Africa, Asia and America.

The German Union was created in central Europe, with Austria playing a leading role for several decades. In addition, members of the Congress banned the slave trade and introduced a unified regulation on diplomatic agents, which determined the development of consular and diplomatic services around the world.

Representatives of Russia, Great Britain, France, Austria, Prussia and Switzerland immediately put their signatures on the document. Until 1820, another 35 states joined them.

The Vienna system of international relations operated in its entirety and helped to avoid acute contradictions in Europe until the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1853. And some of the provisions of the final act remain relevant to this day.

According to the associate professor of MGIMO, Kirill Koktysh, before the Vienna Congress, the principle of political realism reigned in international relations, when the winner simply received everything he considered necessary at the expense of the loser. In the course of the Vienna Congress, “a new political reality began to be created” - idealistic, which implied the desire to ensure that there were no losers. The events of 1814-1815, in his opinion, became an important milestone in the establishment of the diplomatic service as a special type of activity.

“The Vienna Congress began a new era in the development of international relations, the theory of balance of power began to be implemented, which served as the basis for the ideas of political balance. The interaction of states has reached a new level in order to prevent wars and establish lasting stable peace, ”Vladimir Vinokurov summarized.