At least Dunkirk for the Netherlands and Corsica for Sardina-Piedmont. Also the loss of all colonies. Alsace to some German nation, maybe Baden or Prussia?What changes could be made so make the Congress of Vienna as harsh as possible to France following her final surrender? If the Powers decided to punish France as much as possible, just how much territory could be cut off?
That really wasn't what the Congress was about. It was about redrawing the map and setting things back to 1789 as much as they could. While Talleyrand certainly played a role in how lenient they were on France, I don't know if you can change it much more. Hell, Napoleon returned from exile and nearly reignited the Napoleonic Wars and still France was only punished by having to cede Savoy and Nice to Sardinia, host an occupation force, and pay a rather large indemnity.
This.
As a consequence, you'd have to make France even worse to get her more punished. Making Napoleon worse is possible - but wouldn't change much. I see two possibilities:
The first may be possible under the right circumstances, the last would need the Bourbons on the throne for some years before a second Congress of Vienna destroys the new Bourbon revolutionary France. Given the Bourbons IOTL this is highly unlikely, though.
- the French people put the new Bourbon king on the Guillotine once Napoleon returns, remembering everybody that its about the revolution, not Napoleon.
- the Bourbons are as bad as Napoleon.
Wasn't the congress of Vienna about restoring the balance of power in Europe? Weakening France too mutch migh open the door to another potential hegemon.
That really wasn't what the Congress was about. It was about redrawing the map and setting things back to 1789 as much as they could. While Talleyrand certainly played a role in how lenient they were on France, I don't know if you can change it much more. Hell, Napoleon returned from exile and nearly reignited the Napoleonic Wars and still France was only punished by having to cede Savoy and Nice to Sardinia, host an occupation force, and pay a rather large indemnity.
You may be able to get some extra territorial concessions, but I find it... doubtful. Savoy and Nice had French speakers, but had a fair amount of Italians, too, so the return wasn't too awful. Anywhere else, things get muddled. The United Netherlands could possibly receive old (and we're talking old) pieces of the Spanish Netherlands--Lille, parts of Luxembourg ceded in the Reunion Chambers, ect. But these are French speaking. Likewise, maybe pieces of Alsace to Baden, as there as German speakers there, but people spoke French, too. I suppose also you could try to detatch Lorraine as an independent (Grand) Duchy as part of the German Confederation and hand it off to a Habsburg, but it just seems unlikely. And I only say possibly Grand since the Congress of Vienna was all about inflating up these tiny territories and if they did revive Lorraine it'd probably get a title upper too.
The Congress wanted Napoleon quashed, and France contained, too. But given the Bourbons returned following Napoleon's fall, they made a good bulwark against revolutionary tides and so many of the more conservative allies were disinclined to dismember France knowing they'd need her down the line.
What about handing over more French colonies to Britain in return for Austria getting some more territory in Germany and Russia getting more of Poland. With Britain, Austria and Russia onboard no one else could interfere.
That really wasn't what the Congress was about. It was about redrawing the map and setting things back to 1789 as much as they could. While Talleyrand certainly played a role in how lenient they were on France, I don't know if you can change it much more. Hell, Napoleon returned from exile and nearly reignited the Napoleonic Wars and still France was only punished by having to cede Savoy and Nice to Sardinia, host an occupation force, and pay a rather large indemnity.
You may be able to get some extra territorial concessions, but I find it... doubtful. Savoy and Nice had French speakers, but had a fair amount of Italians, too, so the return wasn't too awful. Anywhere else, things get muddled. The United Netherlands could possibly receive old (and we're talking old) pieces of the Spanish Netherlands--Lille, parts of Luxembourg ceded in the Reunion Chambers, ect. But these are French speaking. Likewise, maybe pieces of Alsace to Baden, as there as German speakers there, but people spoke French, too. I suppose also you could try to detatch Lorraine as an independent (Grand) Duchy as part of the German Confederation and hand it off to a Habsburg, but it just seems unlikely. And I only say possibly Grand since the Congress of Vienna was all about inflating up these tiny territories and if they did revive Lorraine it'd probably get a title upper too.
The Congress wanted Napoleon quashed, and France contained, too. But given the Bourbons returned following Napoleon's fall, they made a good bulwark against revolutionary tides and so many of the more conservative allies were disinclined to dismember France knowing they'd need her down the line.
I think you're putting a bit too much emphasis on the language spoken in the territories which might have been transferred. This is not a modern treaty, or even the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. This is the very early 19th century, and the powers conducting this conference are old style monarchies. The powers at the Congress of Vienna wouldn't have given a rat's ass about such considerations. You didn't take territory in those days because you were "reuniting your people who have suffered under unjust foreign rule." You took territory because you were a greedy, powerful nation and YOU COULD.
You could cede French Navarre and Rousillon-Cerdagne to Spain. I'd say give them France-Comte too but I doubt they'd want it back!
Britain could have got Pondicherry etc
Best Regards
Grey Wolf