What most surprises me is that the name of Talleyrand has not yet been invoked (IMHO, he and Metternich were the true architects of the Congress of Vienna).
Once France has gained a sit in its own right, I believe there is no way that France will be "punished": Talleyrand was able to sell almost to everybody the idea that France was a necessary mainstay for peace in Europe.
There is only one scenario that might reverse the trend: in February 1815 the Congress were somehow stalemated, and a sharp divide had been created between Russia and Prussia on one side and Great Britain, France and Austria on the other one. Then Napoleon went on his 100-days rampage, and after Waterloo all the powers were mostly interested in reaching a compromise.
Suppose that Napoleon does not leave Elba, or that he's intercepted en route. It is now quite possible that another general war starts, and if Russia and Prussia win (quite possible) I believe the subsequent peace will be much less favorable to France and Austria (IMHO, Great Britain will escape punishment even on the loosing side except for losing Hanover)
Once France has gained a sit in its own right, I believe there is no way that France will be "punished": Talleyrand was able to sell almost to everybody the idea that France was a necessary mainstay for peace in Europe.
There is only one scenario that might reverse the trend: in February 1815 the Congress were somehow stalemated, and a sharp divide had been created between Russia and Prussia on one side and Great Britain, France and Austria on the other one. Then Napoleon went on his 100-days rampage, and after Waterloo all the powers were mostly interested in reaching a compromise.
Suppose that Napoleon does not leave Elba, or that he's intercepted en route. It is now quite possible that another general war starts, and if Russia and Prussia win (quite possible) I believe the subsequent peace will be much less favorable to France and Austria (IMHO, Great Britain will escape punishment even on the loosing side except for losing Hanover)