The Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)
A series of international diplomatic meetings held in Vienna from September 1814 to June 1815 to agree upon a new European political order after the downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte. Chaired by Austrian statesman Klemens von Metternich, the Congress established the Concert of Europe system that maintained peace on the continent for nearly a century.
Events
The Treaty of Chaumont (March 9, 1814)
The Treaty of Chaumont reaffirms the Allied commitment to continue fighting Napoleon and lays the groundwork for the post-war settlement — a confederated Germany, division of Italy, restoration of Bourbon Spain, and enlargement of the Netherlands. Signed by Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia.
The First Treaty of Paris and Napoleon's Abdication (May 30, 1814)
Napoleon Bonaparte abdicates the French throne and is exiled to Elba. The First Treaty of Paris sets France's borders to those of 1792 and decrees a "general congress" in Vienna with invitations to all powers. The Congress is scheduled to open in July.
The Congress Opens in Vienna (September 1814)
Delegates from all European powers (except the Ottoman Empire) assemble in Vienna. Metternich pioneers a new diplomatic format — the first continent-wide gathering of representatives in one city for simultaneous negotiations — replacing the old system of bilateral notes exchanged between capitals.
The Polish-Saxon Crisis (October 1814 - February 1815)
A near-breakdown of negotiations over Russia's demand for the entire Duchy of Warsaw (Poland) and Prussia's demand for all of Saxony. Britain and Austria oppose both. Talleyrand, representing defeated France, exploits the division to bring France into the great-power inner circle. Secret treaty signed January 3, 1815, between France, Britain, and Austria.
The Hundred Days: Napoleon Returns (March 1 - June 18, 1815)
Napoleon escapes Elba, lands in France, and reclaims power. The Congress negotiations continue uninterrupted despite the crisis. The return of Napoleon galvanizes the Allies and accelerates decision-making on unresolved territorial questions.
The Congress Final Act Signed (June 9, 1815)
Nine days before Waterloo, the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna is signed. Russia receives Congress Poland; Prussia gains Swedish Pomerania, most of Saxony, and western parts of the Duchy of Warsaw; Austria takes control of northern Italy (Lombardy-Venetia); the Kingdom of the Netherlands is formed as a buffer state; the German Confederation of 39 states is established; Switzerland's neutrality is guaranteed.
The Battle of Waterloo (June 18, 1815)
Napoleon is decisively defeated by the Duke of Wellington's Anglo-Allied army and Gebhard von Blucher's Prussian forces at Waterloo in present-day Belgium. Napoleon abdicates for the second time and is exiled to Saint Helena. The Congress settlements are secured.
The Concert of Europe and the Holy Alliance (September - November 1815)
The Congress settlement gives rise to the Concert of Europe — a doctrine of maintaining political boundaries, balance of power, and mutual consultation among the great powers. Russia, Austria, and Prussia additionally sign the Holy Alliance, pledging to govern according to Christian principles. The Concert framework guides European diplomacy until World War I in 1914.
The Second Treaty of Paris (November 20, 1815)
France's borders are reduced to 1790 boundaries. France is ordered to pay 700 million francs in war indemnity and support an occupation army of 150,000 troops for up to five years. The treaty completes the post-war settlement.
Legacy of the Congress (1815 onwards)
The Congress of Vienna is one of the most consequential diplomatic gatherings in history. Critics condemn it as a reactionary settlement that suppressed national, democratic, and liberal movements for generations. Others praise it for preventing a general European war for nearly a century. The debate over its legacy continues among historians.