alternatehistory.com
Chapter 2 - The Congress of Vienna
[1] I found out about this from this thread by PauL62. I'm not sure if this is actually accurate so if someone says otherwise, let me know.
[2] I believe all or most of this information came from the original treaty of Paris of 1814, however it all went down the drain when Napoleon came back and engaged with the coalition once more. With him out of the picture, these terms stay which may or may not have some effect on France's future.
[3] I remember hearing one person claiming this isn't likely in another thread questioning about no hundred days, so I want to hear information about that from someone else as well. Though I still want to explore the idea.
The Congress of Vienna
A German illustration of the aforementioned assignment, 1815
After Bonaparte's exile to the island of Elba, the great powers of Europe made several agreements on what would become of the continent after the conflicts that were the Napoleonic wars. While there were some disagreements between said powers and their delegates (most importantly the Polish-Saxon crisis regarding the territories of Poland, Saxony, Prussia and Russia), at the end it was all eventually finalized by the midst of 1815, a few months of Napoleon's tragic death at sea. Various territorial changes were made including compromises held for Poland and Saxony, the reorganization of the German and Italian states, the creation of the German confederation, and so on. The most important details would regard the state of France and the house of Bourbon.
The agreement that was made by the delegates for the 1814 treaty of Paris was that the house of Bourbon, headed by Louis, Count of Provence was to be reinstated as the monarchs of France under a constitutional monarchy and that France were to secede a multitude of their colonies (though islands such as Mauritius, Tobago, St. Lucia and the Seychelles were to be given back to France in a later date [1]). Frances proper were to also be reduced to its 1792 territories, however some minor territories such as minor parts of the Saar and Rhine, parts of Savoy, Montbeliard, Avignon and the Comtat were to be kept. In Exchange, France would also be allowed to keep several artifacts taken during the Napoleonic wars and that most other generals that served under Napoleon would remain in their positions (albeit under potential monitoring from the restored monarchy[2]).
The agreement that was made by the delegates for the 1814 treaty of Paris was that the house of Bourbon, headed by Louis, Count of Provence was to be reinstated as the monarchs of France under a constitutional monarchy and that France were to secede a multitude of their colonies (though islands such as Mauritius, Tobago, St. Lucia and the Seychelles were to be given back to France in a later date [1]). Frances proper were to also be reduced to its 1792 territories, however some minor territories such as minor parts of the Saar and Rhine, parts of Savoy, Montbeliard, Avignon and the Comtat were to be kept. In Exchange, France would also be allowed to keep several artifacts taken during the Napoleonic wars and that most other generals that served under Napoleon would remain in their positions (albeit under potential monitoring from the restored monarchy[2]).
The Borders of France after the Congress
Another important note regarding the congress regards two countries not often mentioned in world history: Sicily and Naples. Before 1799, Naples and Sicily were under a personal union under the Bourbon king Ferdinand IV and III. However, a swift invasion by the French led to the king fleeing to Siciliy as Naples is put under a puppet government known as the Parthenopaean Republic (which wouldn't last long as the next year, it would collapse and Ferdinand would be restored as king of Naples again). After the third coalition, however, Ferdinand would flee again and this time would be replaced by Napoleon's brother, Joseph, as king and later by Joachim Murat, Napoleon's brother-in-law. After the congress of Vienna, however, it was decided that the personal union between both kingdoms would be broken, with Joachim retaining the throne of Naples and Ferdinand solely ruling over Sicily under British protection [3].
The arrangements of the treaty would be put into effect on June 9th, 1815, reshaping Europe as we now it. But while Napoleon's empire had been, in all aspects, crushed, his legacy would not. The ideas of liberalism and republicanism would continue to persist, leaving the conservative powers of Europe and beyond at bay.
The arrangements of the treaty would be put into effect on June 9th, 1815, reshaping Europe as we now it. But while Napoleon's empire had been, in all aspects, crushed, his legacy would not. The ideas of liberalism and republicanism would continue to persist, leaving the conservative powers of Europe and beyond at bay.
[1] I found out about this from this thread by PauL62. I'm not sure if this is actually accurate so if someone says otherwise, let me know.
[2] I believe all or most of this information came from the original treaty of Paris of 1814, however it all went down the drain when Napoleon came back and engaged with the coalition once more. With him out of the picture, these terms stay which may or may not have some effect on France's future.
[3] I remember hearing one person claiming this isn't likely in another thread questioning about no hundred days, so I want to hear information about that from someone else as well. Though I still want to explore the idea.
- connorCD
- Word Count: 620