Discuss the principles of the Vienna Conference 1815.
Discuss the principles of the Vienna Conference 1815.
Policies adopted at the Vienna Conference 1815 : -
After the final fall of Napoleon, the victorious states met at a conference in Vienna, the capital of Austria, in November 1814. The conference lasted until June 1815. The conference was attended by various European powers, but the main role was played by the four victorious states - Austria, Russia, Prussia and England. These four states were collectively called the Big Four. The major political driving force in Europe at that time was controlled by these four states. The main purpose of the organizers of this conference was to protect Europe from the aggressive policy of France in the future. Among the leaders attending the conference were Francis I, King of Austria, Frederick William III, King of Prussia, and Alexander I, Tsar of Russia. However, the main moderator and policy maker of the conference was the Prime Minister of Austria Prince Maternich.
The Vienna Conference adopted three principles. These three principles were -
(1) Principles of fair rights,
(2) Compensation policy and
(3) Power Equality Principle.
(1) Principles of fair rights: -
The main objective of the fair rights policy was to bring France and Europe back to the pre-revolutionary political system. Talleyrand proposed this policy. Maternich, a supporter of the former monarchy, reactionary and anti-revolutionary, accepted the proposal and declared all the measures taken by Napoleon after the revolution to be invalid. It was announced that all the dynastic kings of the pre-Napoleonic era who had been deposed by Napoleon would be given back their thrones. According to this principle, the old dynasties of Europe regained their old political rights. Such as -
(i) Applying this policy, the political power of France was handed over to the former Bourbon dynasty and Louis XVIII, brother of Louis XVI, was enthroned in France.
(ii) The Orange Dynasty was restored to the throne of Holland.
(iii) The rights of the Savoy family are re-established in Sardinia -Piedmont.
(iv) The pope was given back his kingdom of central Italy.
(v) The dominance of Austria was established in Northern Italy and Germany.
(vi) In Sicily and Naples, disqualification is granted to Ferdinand.
(vii) Part of Saxony is given to Prussia - etc.
However, the principle of fair rights had not been implemented in all cases. The political distinctions of Venice and Genoa, for example, were destroyed.
(2) Compensation Policy: -
Many European states during Napoleon's reign; Sweden, England, Prussia, Russia and Austria were particularly affected. The main purpose of the compensation policy was to collect compensation from France in order to compensate all these affected countries and to adopt the policy of sharing some parts of the various states of Europe among themselves. According to this policy -
(i) Compensation of 70 crore francs was demanded from France.
(ii) The valuables which Napoleon brought to France from different countries were to be returned.
(iii) Finland, parts of Poland and Besarbia were given to Russia.
(iv) Half of Saxony, part of Westphalia, part of Poland, Danzig and Thorne - were given to Prussia.
(v) Holland's rights were established in Belgium.
(vi) Austria gained the rights over Lombardy and Venice.
(vii) England gained the trusteeship of Heligoland, Malta and Ionian Islands.
(viii) England's dominion over Mauritius, Sinhala, Trinidad, etc. was also established.
(ix) It was given to Sweden, separating Norway from Denmark. Etc.
(3) Principle of balance of power: -
The policy of equilibrium was carried back to the pre-revolutionary state so that the European powers could not engage in force again. The purpose of the balance of power policy was to destroy the power of France. Various steps were taken to implement the balance of power policy; Such as -
(i) The French army was disbanded.
(ii) Allied forces were deployed in France for five years.
(iii) Allied encirclement was created around France to prevent France from re-emerging or invading European states.
(iv) The Orange dynasty was strengthened by annexing Belgium to Holland.
(vi) Sardinia - Piedmont was given to Genoa to build a strong state on the southwestern border of France.
(vi) The rights of Prussia were established in North-West Germany.
(vii) Austrian dominance was established in southern Germany and northern Italy.
In conclusion, the policies adopted at the Vienna Conference are not beyond criticism. The main leaders of the Vienna Conference, especially the Maternich, were extremely reactionary and conservative. The sole purpose of all the policies of the Vienna Conference was to bring Europe back to its pre-revolutionary state and to re-establish the monarchy. In fact, the Vienna Conference made Europe backward rather than progressive.
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