Congress of Vienna Personalities

Czar Alexander I: Represented Russia at the Congress.  One of the Big Four. Main goal was to get Poland, only got part due to opposition from the rest of the Four.  Formed the idealistic Holy Alliance in 1815 to keep order in Europe.

Viscount Robert Castlereagh: Represented Britain at the Congress. Proponent of a Concert of Europe.  Prevented Russia from gaining too much from the victory over Napoleon. Wanted a stronger Germany and Italy. Later committed suicide after appearing to go insane.

Prince Karl August von Hardenberg: Represented Prussia at the Congress. Brokered the deal between Russia and Britain over Poland. Gained the Rhineland by giving up Prussian claims to Saxony.  Part of the Holy Allianece.

Prince Klemens von Metternich: The architect of the Congress of Vienna, Metternich was the Austrian foreign minister for decades. His main goal was to support conservative governments in Europe and to establish a Balance of Power; this was to prevent another power dominating Europe as had France.  He prevented Prussia from gaining more power in Germany and pushed for an Austrian-dominated German-Confederation.

Prince Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand: The French representative at the Congress, Talleyrand quickly moved from defending France from any serious damage to becoming the deciding factor is solving many disputes at the Congress. 

Though the Congress was designed at least partly to punish France, the fact that four powers were involved meant that deadlocks could result.  Cleverly throwing what little influence France had at the meeting, Talleyrand took the side of Austria and Britain to thwart Russia and Prussia while gaining for France better conditions than had been expected.