What were the important Decisions of the Vienna Congress?

Keeping in view the principles devised at the Vienna Congress and the secret treaties that had been concluded among the allies, the following important decisions were taken in the Congress:

France :

According to the principle of legitimacy, the House of Bourbon was re-established in France. Count de Provence, the brother of Louis XVI, was enthroned in France.

He was called Louis XVIII. It was the general opinion that France was responsible for the political disturbances that had occurred in Europe between 1789-1815.

Therefore, France was asked to pay the war expenses amounting to seventy million Francs. It was also decided that the army of allies, 1, 50,000 strong soldiers, would stay in France under the command of the British general, the Duke of Wellington till the full payment of the war expenses had been made.

The boundaries of France were determined as they stood in 1791. In to maintain peace and order in Europe in future, states like Ho Piedmont, Prussia, Austria bordering on France were strengthened.

Holland and Belgium:

The House of Orange was re-establishing Holland according to the doctrine of legitimacy. The province of Belgium was annexed to Holland. Previously, this province was under possession of Austria.

While making this change in the map of Europe, the diplomats were of the view that Holland would be more powerful that this state might be a strong barrier in the north of France.

Russia :

Russia gained much from the Vienna Congress, retained the provinces of Finland and Bessarabia. These provinces were conquered from Sweden and Turkey respectively. In addition to above, the Grand Duchy of Warsaw was also given to Russia.

As a result of gaining these important territories, Russia acquired better stand” the European politics than ever before.

Austria. According to the doctrine of the balance of power, the province of Belgium which was under the possession of Austria, was annexed to Holland. Austria was compensated by giving to it Lombardy and Venetia, the provinces of Northern Italy. In addition to this, provinces of Tyrol, Galicia and Illyria were also given to Austria. Consequently, she acquired a prominent place in central Europe.

England :

The expansion of the colonial empire was the main and foremost interest of England. The representatives of England, therefore, paid much attention to getting such provinces as were of colonial importance.

She occupied Helgoland in the North Sea, Malta and the Ionian Islands in the Mediterranean, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and the Cape Colony in South Africa.

In addition to this, she also got Tobago, Mauritius, St. Lucia and Trinidad. As a result of these additions to the British Empire, the power of England became matchless in the continent of Europe.

Prussia :

Prussia occupied about two-fifth portion of the kingdom of Saxony, the province of Pomerania from Sweden and the large territories on both banks of the Rhine.

In addition to this, she acquired Westphalia, Posen (a city in Poland), Thorn and Danzig. Consequently, Prussia rounded out her coast line on the Baltic.

Prussia was inclined to acquire the provinces of Alsace-Lorraine also. Hardenberg, the delegate of Prussia, presented his claim for these provinces and said:

“If we let it slip, streams of blood will flow to attain this object, and the cry of the unhappy victims will call us to give an account of out conduct.”

But the demand of Prussia was rejected by the representatives of other countries. These provinces remained under the possession of France. These additions made her an important power of Europe and helped her bring about the unification of Germany.

Italy:

The disposition of Italy was also a question of great importance that was decided at Vienna. Italy had been divided into several small states, namely, Naples, Rome, Lombardy, Venetia, Parma, Modena, Tuscany, Sicily, Sardinia, and Piedmont.

According to the principle of legitimacy, these states were restored to the old dynasties. Piedmont and Genoa were annexed to Sardinia and the House of Savoy was reestablished in this new state.

Sardinia was made strong because this state was situated on the south-east border of France and would prove to be a strong barrier against the French aggression. The provinces of Lombardy and Venetia were given to Austria.

The Bourbon dynasty was again established in the provinces of Sicily and Naples, while Rome was l given to the Pope.

Parma was given to Marie Louisa, the wife of Napoleon. The provinces of Modena and Tuscany were given to the princes connected with the imperial family of Austria.

In this way, Austria became the dominating power in the Italian states. Metternich wanted to form a federation of these states, but he could not be successful in his scheme due to the opposition of Sardinia and the Pope. In the words of C. D. Hazen:

“No union or federation of these states was effected. It was Metternich’s desire that Italy should simply be a collection of independent states, should be only a ‘geographical expression’ and such it was.”

Germany:

Before the rise of Napoleon Germany was divided into several small states. A confederation of the Rhine was established by Napoleon. After the downfall of Napoleon, the question of the reorganisation of the German states arose before the diplomats of the Vienna Congress.

In order to prevent the growth and development of the feelings of nationalism and liberalism, a Federal Act was passed. According to this Act, a loose confederation of Germany was established for the maintenance of internal and external security of Germany.

Each member (state) of this confederation had promised “to defend the whole of Germany as well as each individual state of the confederation against any attack and mutually to guarantee all the possessions of each member.”

A Federal Diet was also established for the smooth working of the central administration. The king of Austria was made the president of this Diet.

The delegates of each state were to be nominated by the rulers of the respective states and not to be elected by the people. Thus the whole of Germany fell into the effective control of Austria.

Switzerland :

There were nineteen cantons in Switzerland. One representative from each canton came to attend the Vienna Congress. Three new cantons were added to this country and an independent federal government consisting of all the twenty-two cantons was estab­lished. All the European powers recognised the existence and neutrality of this federation.

Denmark :

As the king of Denmark had helped Napoleon against the allies, it was decided that Denmark should be punished. Therefore, the province of Norway was snatched away from it and was given to Sweden.

Sweden :

The provinces of Pomerania and Finland were taken away from Sweden and Norway was annexed to Sweden.

Spain :

According to the principle of legitimacy, the old House of Bourbons was established in Spain.

Poland:

According to the principle of rewards and punishments, Poland was punished. This big country was divided into three parts, each being given to Russia, Prussia and Austria.

Others:

Besides the political changes, the Congress of Vienna also passed some other important resolutions. They were as under:

(i) The delegates of the Congress framed an international constitution. Prior to this, there were many differences among the European countries in respect of the proceedings of international conferences, the order of precedence of delegates, their rights, uniforms etc.

But this constitution established some international traditions which gave a so base for the international friendship and cooperation. According to this constitution, all the seas were declared o for trade.

(ii) The members of the Congress expressed themselves against slave system. They declared this system as unjust, immoral against human dignity.

A resolution was passed against it and it was hoped that each country of Europe would make sin attempts towards the abolition of the slave system.