The Congress of Vienna was held from September of 1814 to June of 1815. After the downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte, this international conference was called to create a balance among the European powers in such a way so as to prevent future wars and maintain peace and stability on the European continent. The means of achieving this goal would be through a major reshaping of European interior borders.

Important People:

Though the conference opened with a series of glittery balls and conferences, the delegates soon got down to work. Mainly, the four major powers of Europe (Austria, Russia, Prussia, and Great Britain) were left to make most of the big decisions. Austria sent Prince Klemens von Metternich, the Austrian minister of State who was also acting as a president of the Congress. The Russian Empire was represented by Alexander I, the emperor of Russia. The main delegate from Prussia was Prince Karl August von Hardenberg, and Great Britain was represented by Lord Castlereagh, and later Arthur Wellesley, the first duke of Wellington. This group of major powers decided that France, Spain, and the smaller powers would have no voice in important decisions. However, the
French diplomat, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, was successful in allowing France to have an equal voice in the negotiations. Talleyrand became the deciding vote in many of the decisions.

Important Decisions:

France was deprived of all territory conquered by Napoleon.  The French monarchy was restored under the rule of Louis XVIII.  Austria was given back most of the territory it had lost and was also given land in Germany and Italy (Lombardy and Venice).  Russia got Finland and control over the new kingdom of Poland.  Prussia was given much of Saxony and important parts of Westphalia and the Rhine Province.  Britain got several strategic colonial territories, and they also gained control of the seas. The Dutch Republic was united with the Austrian Netherlands to form a single kingdom of the Netherlands under the House of Orange.  Norway and Sweden were joined under a single ruler.  Switzerland was declared neutral and Spain was restored under Ferdinand VII

Results of the meeting:

The goal of the congress was to re-establish a balance of power among the countries of Europe and have peace between the nations. The Congress proved to be highly successful in achieving its goal, for the peace in Europe was left almost undisturbed for nearly 40 years.
 

Bibliography:

Godechot, Jacques et al. The Napoleonic Era in Europe.  Holt, Reinhart and Winston.  New York, 1971.

Nicholson, Harold.  The Congress of Vienna.  University Paperbacks.  London, 1946.

Kissinger, Henry A.  A World Restored: Metternich, Castlereagh and the Problems of Peace 1812-1822.  Houghton Mifflin.  Boston, 1957.