Glossary
Balance of Power
A political theory and foreign policy goal where states are prevented from becoming too powerful and dominating others, often through alliances and territorial adjustments.
Example:
The balance of power established at Vienna aimed to ensure no single nation, especially France, could again threaten European stability.
Congress of Vienna
An international conference held from 1814-1815 by European powers to redraw the continent's political map after the defeat of Napoleonic France.
Example:
The Congress of Vienna aimed to restore the old monarchical order and prevent future French dominance after Napoleon's reign.
Conservatism
A political philosophy that emphasizes traditional institutions, established practices, and social hierarchies, often resisting rapid change and advocating for order and stability.
Example:
Metternich's conservatism drove his efforts to restore monarchies and suppress liberal and nationalist movements across Europe.
Holy Alliance
An alliance formed by Russia, Austria, and Prussia after the Congress of Vienna, pledging to uphold Christian values and suppress revolutionary movements across Europe.
Example:
Tsar Alexander I's vision for the Holy Alliance was a spiritual pact to maintain peace and order based on religious principles.
Kingdom of the Netherlands
A new state created by the Congress of Vienna, merging the former Austrian Netherlands (modern Belgium) and the Dutch Republic, intended as a buffer against France.
Example:
The creation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was a strategic move to strengthen France's northern border and prevent future expansion.
Klemens von Metternich
The Austrian foreign minister and leading statesman who played a central role in the Congress of Vienna, advocating for conservative principles and the suppression of revolutionary ideas.
Example:
Klemens von Metternich was the architect of the Concert of Europe, striving to maintain stability through alliances and traditional monarchies.
Liberalism
A political ideology emphasizing individual rights, constitutional government, free markets, and often advocating for reforms and democratic participation.
Example:
The liberalism of the French Revolution, with its calls for liberty and equality, was seen as a dangerous threat by the conservative powers at Vienna.
Nationalism
A political ideology emphasizing the loyalty and devotion to one's nation, often advocating for self-determination and the creation of independent nation-states based on shared culture or ethnicity.
Example:
The suppression of Polish nationalism at the Congress of Vienna, denying them independence, sowed seeds of future unrest in Eastern Europe.
Piedmont
An Italian state (Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont) that received Genoa at the Congress of Vienna, strengthening it as a buffer against France and a future leader of Italian unification.
Example:
The expansion of Piedmont at the Congress of Vienna inadvertently laid some groundwork for its later role in leading Italian unification.
Prussia
A major European power and key participant in the Congress of Vienna, which gained significant territory along the Rhine River, increasing its influence in Western Europe.
Example:
Prussia's territorial gains along the Rhine at the Congress of Vienna positioned it as a strong German power and a bulwark against France.
Quadruple Alliance
An alliance formed by Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia after the Congress of Vienna, primarily to maintain the territorial settlements and prevent French resurgence.
Example:
The Quadruple Alliance acted as a security pact, ready to intervene if France or any other power threatened the post-Napoleonic order.