Europe after Napoleon-
Napoleonic expedition to Moscow in 1813 proved to be a disaster. Despite his capture of the Russian capital, the defenders refused to surrender. Scorched earth policy was followed to deprive the army of any resources and the city was evacuated along with the Russian withdrawal into deeper territory. The long march back in bitter winter caused huge casualities for the Grand Armee which it could never fully recover from. He was finally beaten in the battle of Waterloo and exiled to Saint Helena.
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However his rule had long lasting impact on the fate of european nations. The people of the conquered territories initially saw in him, a liberator from absolute monarchy. However with time and his flawed policies like continental system, it was realised that they had replaced one despot with another. Thus it was ironic that the ideals of french revolution introduced to the people were the basis for their revolt againt french rule.
One fact was obvious though, the old system of old monarchies was thorroughly shaken. After the defeat of Napoleon, by the seventh collation of European powers, congress of Vienna was convened. The four emergent powers Britain, Austria, Russia and Prussia met to create a system that will restore the old system and balance the powers of the four kingdoms so that no one state would be able to dominate Europe like france did.
Prince Metternich of Austria proved his capabilities as a diplomat to negotiate a peace deal that lasted for a hundred years without any major military conflicts. It was convened in 1814 and continued even during the return of Napoleon in 1815 ( hundred day rule).
The main aims of the congress were-
1) Balance the power of to safeguard peace in future.
2) Pre-revolutionary conditions to be restored as far as possible
3) Reward to victors and retribution from the defeated.
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It was called the concert of Europe was formulated in 1815 as a mechanism to enforce the decisions of the congress of Vienna. Periodical meetings were proposed to solve the international issues by the four powers.
Criticism of the Congress of Vienna-
The congress tried to undo the changes brought about by the french revolution by supressing the popular demands of the people like liberty, equality and abolishing absolute monarchies. Also, the distribution of territories were not done keeping in mind the linguistic or natinalist interests of the people but the balance of power based on interests of the four powers. It tried to preserve the conservative order in place at the cost of civil rights and and social progress.
Napoleonic expedition to Moscow in 1813 proved to be a disaster. Despite his capture of the Russian capital, the defenders refused to surrender. Scorched earth policy was followed to deprive the army of any resources and the city was evacuated along with the Russian withdrawal into deeper territory. The long march back in bitter winter caused huge casualities for the Grand Armee which it could never fully recover from. He was finally beaten in the battle of Waterloo and exiled to Saint Helena.
However his rule had long lasting impact on the fate of european nations. The people of the conquered territories initially saw in him, a liberator from absolute monarchy. However with time and his flawed policies like continental system, it was realised that they had replaced one despot with another. Thus it was ironic that the ideals of french revolution introduced to the people were the basis for their revolt againt french rule.
One fact was obvious though, the old system of old monarchies was thorroughly shaken. After the defeat of Napoleon, by the seventh collation of European powers, congress of Vienna was convened. The four emergent powers Britain, Austria, Russia and Prussia met to create a system that will restore the old system and balance the powers of the four kingdoms so that no one state would be able to dominate Europe like france did.
Prince Metternich of Austria proved his capabilities as a diplomat to negotiate a peace deal that lasted for a hundred years without any major military conflicts. It was convened in 1814 and continued even during the return of Napoleon in 1815 ( hundred day rule).
The main aims of the congress were-
1) Balance the power of to safeguard peace in future.
2) Pre-revolutionary conditions to be restored as far as possible
3) Reward to victors and retribution from the defeated.
It was called the concert of Europe was formulated in 1815 as a mechanism to enforce the decisions of the congress of Vienna. Periodical meetings were proposed to solve the international issues by the four powers.
Criticism of the Congress of Vienna-
The congress tried to undo the changes brought about by the french revolution by supressing the popular demands of the people like liberty, equality and abolishing absolute monarchies. Also, the distribution of territories were not done keeping in mind the linguistic or natinalist interests of the people but the balance of power based on interests of the four powers. It tried to preserve the conservative order in place at the cost of civil rights and and social progress.
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