Description: A map of Central Europe after the defeat of Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna. Shows the borders that were agreed upon at the Congress of Vienna. "The Congress of Vienna (Sept., 1814-June, 1815). —After the overthrow of Napoleon, commissioners of the different European states met at Vienna to readjust the map of Europe. It was a great task to harmonize the conflicting claims that came before the convention, and to effect a settlement of the continent that should satisfy all parties. But after nearly a year of negotiation and debate, an agreement respecting the boundaries and relations of the various states was reached. As we shall hereafter, in connection with the history of the separate countries, have occasion to say something respecting the relation of each to the Congress, we shall here say but a word regarding the temper of the assembly and the general character of its work. The Vienna commissioners seemed to have had but one thought and aim —to put everything back as near as possible in the shape that it was in before the Revolution. They had no care for the people; the princes were their only concern. The crowd of thrones that Napoleon had overturned were righted, and the old despots were invited to remount them. Italy and Germany were divided among a horde of petty tyrants. In Spain and Naples the old bourbon families were re-instated, and the former despotisms renewed. In short, the clock was set back to the hour when the Bastile was attacked. Everything that had happened since was utterly ignored." —Myers, 1896
Source: P. V. N. Myers, A General History for Colleges and High Schools (Boston, MA: Ginn & Company, 1896) 684
Map Credit: Courtesy the private collection of Roy Winkelman. |
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