Metternich
Prince Klemens von Metternich of Austria(1773-1859) was the presiding figure in the
Concert of Europe. He was a strong conservative, who had a vision of Europe as an
international community. He wanted balance, order, and restraint. An arrogant and
power-hungry leader, he also stood for the best interests of Austria. Metternich has been
considered a brilliant statesman for establishing a balance of power in Europe. Metternich
instigated the formation of the Quadruple Alliance, as a means to prevent revolutions in
Europe, which turned out to be a failure. Appointed chancellor of the Habsburg Empire in
1821, Metternich successfully negotiated the suppression of the revolt at Naples without
the support of Britian and France. Although, the era from 1809 to 1848 is known as the
"Age of Metternich", by 1830 his power was significantly weakened by numerous
uprisings, to which he responded with strict censorship to prevent revolutionary ideas
from reaching Austria. When revolution broke out in France in 1848 and spread throughout
Europe, the people of Vienna demanded Metternich's is resignation. Castlereagh
Lord Castlereagh(1769-1822) was the British delegate at the Congress of Vienna. Like
Metternich, he sought to prevent Russia from growing too powerful, and took the lead in
dividing up the territory, in order to establish a balance of power. Castlereagh was also
concerned that the countries of Europe should hold periodic meetings in order to achieve
diplomacy by conference, rather than international regulation. At the conferences, which
were held at Aix-la -Chapelle, Troppau, and Laibach, he repeatedly refused to support
measures to intervene in the internal affairs of countries. He acknowledged only the goals
of the concert of europe, which pertained to the preservation of the territorial status
quo and keeping Napolean's line off the throne for a period of twenty years. Castlereagh's
behavior toward the settlement of the Concert prepared for Britian's detachment from the
Alliance which was accomplished after his death. This development was largely hidden from
the British people due to Castlereagh's aloofness from public opinion.
Napoleon III
(1808-1873) He was the French emperor from 1852 to 1870 who revived the empire of Napolean
in the mid 1800's. Eager to regain the throne, he used propaganda to portray himself as a
polictical liberal, military expert, and social reformer. He attempted to overthrow King
Louis Phillipe in 1836 and 1840, but was unsuccessful. After Louis Phillipe was ousted in
1848, Louis Napolean won the presidency by a landslide. Although, he reigned by
dictatorship, he recieved considerable popular support. His idealistic foreign policy
blinded him to the threat of Prussia in 1870, and his regime was overthrown.
Alexander I(1775-1825) He was the tsar of Russia
from 1801-1825. He defeated Napolean in Moscow in 1812, which led him to believe that he
was owed all of Poland. Known for his whimsical attitude and grand mystic visions for
Europe, he proposed the Holy Alliance in 1815. Although, he was educated in the ideas of
enlightened despotism, he maintaned autocratic rule and failed to free the serfs. By 1820,
he had abandoned much of his idealism and became the leading opponent of revolutionary
movements, restricting freedom of speech within Russia and ignoring the constitution
granted to the Kingdom of Poland. Because the Greeks were orthodox Chrisitians, the tsar
sympathized with their cause when they rose up against the Muslim Turks in 1822 and he
finally entered the Russo-Turkish War in 1828. The day Alexander I died in 1825, a group
of young army officers called the Decembrisits attempted a coup in the name of a
constitution and were easily defeated.
Mohammed Ali
He was the best known for revamping Egypt and bringing it up to speed. Ali was a war-time
figure. He fought in many battles against Napolean when Egypt was incorporated in the
Ottoman Empire. In 1831, Ali had a major conflict with Mahmud II, the sultan of the
Ottoman empire. Ali attacked Syria and demanded the appellation of governor. Ali was
victorious, but was put back into line by the European powers time and time again.
Czar Nicolas I
He was a dominating figure. His policies in Russia were autocratic, while his policies
abroad were hostile. He was a manipulative personality strongly believing in censorship
and strict control over the university. He forced the Russian language and religion
amongst the general population. In 1830, he abolished the Polish constitution, due to an
uprising. He as viewed as the cause of the Crimean war of 1853. |