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Dromo's Den
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[Up] [Dromo's Den] Metternich Biography METTERNICH, Clemens Wenzel Nepomuk Lothar, Prince (1773–1859). An Austrian statesman. He was born at Coblenz, May 15, 1773, being the son of Franz Georg Karl, Count von Metternich, an Austrian diplomat and an associate of Kaunitz. Young Metternich was educated at the University of Strassburg, and afterward studied law at Mainz and traveled in England. In 1795 he married the granddaughter of Kaunitz, by whom he acquired large estates. His diplomatic career commenced at the Congress of Rastadt (1797—99), which he attended as representative of the Westphalian lordly houses. In 1801 he became Austrian Ambassador at Dresden, and two years later was appointed Ambassador to the Prussian court, where he negotiated the treaty of alliance between Austria, Prussia, and Russia against France in 1805. In 1806 he went as Ambassador to Paris. In 1809 he succeeded Count Stadion as Minister of Foreign Affairs, concluded the Treaty of Schönbrunn with France, and was instrumental in bringing about the marriage of the Archduchess Maria Louisa to Napoleon. He guided the course of Austria amid the difficulties of 1812—13. He maintained at first a temporizing policy and a scheme of armed mediation by Austria; but the arrogance of Napoleon's demands and the personal humiliations to which he was subjected at his famous interview with the French Emperor in Dresden in June, 1813, led him to resolve upon the declaration of war by Austria against France, and he subsequently conducted with great ability the negotiations which ended in the completion of the Quadruple Alliance. He was afterward employed in almost all the chief diplomatic affairs of that eventful time. With little concern for the cause of German nationality, which animated so largely the Prussians during the War of Liberation, Metternich during the last two years of Napoleon's power pursued a policy aiming at the advancement solely of Austrian interests. Fearing lest the defeat of France should raise up powerful rivals for Austria in Russia and Prussia, he exerted himself to preserve for France its ancient boundaries, pursuing that end ostensibly in order to preserve the balance of power in Europe. With masterly diplomacy he succeeded in imposing his policy on the allies, represented Austria in the Congress of Châtillon in February and March, 1814, and participated in the deliberations leading to the Treaty of Paris. In June he visited England and formed a new Quadruple Alliance for the preservation of the peace of Europe. As presiding officer of the Congress of Vienna he exercised a preponderating influence on the deliberations of that body, and succeeded in gaining for Austria a dominant position among the Powers of Europe, with her interests supreme in Germany and Italy. After the Congress of Vienna he became the leading statesman of Europe, and the period 1815–48 is sometimes called the "Age of Metternich." He was the inspiring genius of the reactionary policy of the Restoration period. Crafty and cynical, having no sympathy with the aspirations of the people, his schemes were all directed to restoring the old order as far as possible. In 1821 he was made Austrian Chancellor. With his customary astuteness he made use of the Holy Alliance (q.v.), organized by Alexander of Russia to further the cause of Christian peace, as an instrument for the repression of all liberal or national movements. Under his inspiration congresses were held at Karlsbad (1819), Troppau (1820), Laibach (1821), and Verona (1822), at which action was taken against the Burschenschaft and the freedom of the press in Germany, the national movement in Italy, and the struggle for constitutionalism in Spain. He consistently opposed the Greek movement for independence, but there Russia refused to follow him. With time his influence over the French and Russian courts disappeared, but in Germany and Italy the reactionary policy of Metternich remained unabated until 1848. The revolutionary movement of that year, however, breaking forth with sudden violence, ended Metternich's system and caused the aged minister to flee from Austria (March, 1848) and to seek refuge in England and Belgium; nor did he return to Vienna till the end of 1851, when he received great marks of honor and favor from the Emperor; but, although sometimes consulted, he was never again asked to undertake the cares of office. He died at Vienna, June 11, 1859. His writings, under the title Aus Metternichs nachgelassenen Papieren, were published by his son, Prince Richard (8 vols., Vienna, 1880–84; in English translation under the title of Memoirs). The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. XV (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 523. |