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06 THE RESTORATION OF ABSOLUTISM, image, image, image, image, image, image…
06 THE RESTORATION OF ABSOLUTISM
1 THE CONGRESS OF VIENNA
After Napoleon’s defeat in 1814, the victorious countries met at the Congress of Vienna
This lasted until 1815 and the meetings were not interrupted during the brief restoration of the Napoleonic Empire
The powers that led and conditioned the Congress were the great absolute monarchies
Prussia, Russia and Austria, as well as Great Britain, a parliamentary monarchy
There was also a representative from France
Three main objectives were proposed
To restore the boundaries on the map of Europe
Had changed dramatically during the Napoleonic era
To create an alliance, called the Holy Alliance
Formed by the great European absolute monarchies, France joined later
Great Britain did not join
Six of these congresses were held
To restore absolutism under a new name: legitimism
The kings were the only ones with legitimacy to govern
The old dynasties were restored in several European countries
2 THE NEW MAP OF EUROPE
The Congress of Vienna agreed to maintain a territorial balance between the great powers
They redrew the borders as they were before the French Revolution
Ignored the opinion of people living in the affected territories
These decisions had important consequences on European politics in the 19th century
Two new kingdoms were created to control France’s expansion to the east
The Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia
The rest of the Italian territory remained divided
Austria seized Lombardy, Venice and its Balkan regions on the Adriatic coast
France’s pre-Revolution borders were restored, but Savoy and Nice were lost
Norway was ceded to Sweden to punish Denmark for its support of Napoleon
The Holy Empire was replaced by the German Confederation
Had little real power and was made up of several states
Some states became part of Austria and Prussia
Eastern Europe was divided between Austria, Russia and Prussia
This led to the partition of Poland
3 THE LIMITS OF RESTORATION
The powers that defeated Napoleon tried to restore the situation
After a few years, this was shown to be an illusion
Liberal ideas had strengthened after 1789
France’s revolutionary experience represented a point of no return
Napoleon’s successes throughout Europe helped spread liberal ideals
Napoleon’s occupation of large territories awakened the national identity of people
The bourgeoisie in Europe’s cities became aware of their political marginalisation
Napoleon’s Civil Code survived in addition, Louis XVIII adopted the French Charter in 1814
This law ensured that the monarch voluntarily limited his powers
