The Fall of Napoleon & the Congress of Vienna

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Details the final collapse of Napoleon's empire, his exiles, the Hundred Days, his ultimate defeat at Waterloo, and the conservative settlement established by the great powers at the Congress of Vienna to restore order in Europe.

The Fall of Napoleon & the Congress of Vienna

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Following the Battle of Leipzig and the invasion of France, what happened to Napoleon in 1814?

The Allied coalition forced Napoleon to abdicate his throne. They exiled him to the small island of Elba, off the coast of Italy, and restored the Bourbon monarchy in France with King Louis XVIII.

What were the 'Hundred Days'?

The brief period in 1815 when Napoleon escaped from Elba, returned to France, and regained power without a single shot fired. It began on March 20, 1815, and ended with his final defeat at Waterloo.

What was the final, decisive battle of the Napoleonic Wars?

The Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815. In present-day Belgium, Napoleon's forces were defeated by a coalition army under the command of the Duke of Wellington (Britain) and Gebhard von Blücher (Prussia).

What was Napoleon's fate after his defeat at Waterloo?

He abdicated a second time and was exiled to St. Helena, a remote and desolate island in the South Atlantic. He remained there under British guard until his death in 1821.

What was the primary goal of the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)?

To establish a long-lasting peace and stability in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars. The great powers (Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia, and later France) sought to create a conservative order that would prevent future revolutions and wars of conquest.

Who was the most influential figure at the Congress of Vienna?

Prince Klemens von Metternich, the foreign minister of Austria. A staunch conservative, he was the chief architect of the post-Napoleonic settlement and sought to suppress the forces of liberalism and nationalism.

What was the principle of 'legitimacy' at the Congress of Vienna?

The principle that legitimate monarchs who were deposed by Napoleon should be restored to their thrones. This led to the return of the Bourbons in France, Spain, and Naples, reinforcing traditional monarchical rule.

What was the principle of 'balance of power' at the Congress of Vienna?

The idea of rearranging the map of Europe so that no single nation could become powerful enough to dominate the others, as France had under Napoleon. This involved strengthening the states surrounding France.

How was France treated by the Congress of Vienna?

France was treated relatively leniently. It was forced to pay an indemnity and its borders were returned to those of 1790. The goal was to avoid creating a bitter and resentful France that might seek revenge.

What was the Concert of Europe (or Congress System)?

The system established by the great powers after 1815 to maintain the Vienna settlement. It involved regular meetings (congresses) to address international disputes and suppress revolutionary movements, effectively functioning as an early form of international security council.

What were the main territorial changes made by the Congress of Vienna?

Prussia gained territory in the Rhineland, Austria gained territory in Italy, and Russia gained most of Poland. The Kingdom of the Netherlands was created, and the German Confederation was formed to replace the Holy Roman Empire.

What long-term forces did the conservative order of the Congress of Vienna fail to suppress?

The Congress of Vienna was a victory for conservatism, but it could not permanently suppress the powerful forces of liberalism (demand for constitutional government) and nationalism (desire for self-rule by ethnic groups), which would lead to a series of revolutions throughout the 19th century.

The Fall of Napoleon & the Congress of Vienna

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