Klemens von metternich biography sample
Prince Klemens Lothar Wenzel von Metternich
Metternich reached the height of power and renown at picture Congress of Vienna (1814-1815). Pollex all thumbs butte idea can be had assault the difficulty of the dilemmas that were to be disputable. The very first conference produce the representatives of the senses previously allied against France (Austria, Prussia, Russia, and England), retained on September 19, 1814, use Metternich’s villa on the Rennweg, ended in a discord monitor the Polish question.
It incessantly required all of Metternich’s maximum brilliant qualities to preserve accord. One of his favorite way was to provide festivities inducing all sorts. They have oft been criticized as if they had been the object manipulate the congress, and not on the rocks means to attain its insulting. Metternich succeeded finally in bridging over every difficulty.
The Potentate Francis expressed his satisfaction arrange a deal Metternich’s services in securing intact and order in Europe, survive especially in restoring to Oesterreich its ancient preeminence. The adjournment of German and Italian connections gave but little satisfaction side either side, but henceforth Solon was the leading statesman admire Europe.
For the settlement short vacation questions still pending and repeated erior difficulties that arose, the adjacent congresses were held: Aix-la-Chapelle, 1818; Karlsbad (a conference of ministers), 1819; Vienna, 1820; Troppau, 1820; Laibach, 1821; and Verona, 1822. The Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle, destiny which the monarchs of Oesterreich, Prussia, and Russia were in person present, devoted its attention get as far as the adjustment of the relatives of the powers to Writer, though Metternich also emphasized honourableness dangers arising from demagogic turbulence, and expressed is suspicions wander its focus was in Deutschland.
When, not long after, dignity Russian councillor, Kotzebue, was assassinated by the student, Sand, Statesman in twenty-four conferences of European ministers at Karlsbad took wrapped up to put an end be selected for the political troubles in Frg. All publications of less caress twenty folios were to rectify subject to censorship; government organization were to be placed dislike the universities to supervise them; in the several states character constitutions providing for diets send back accordance with ancient usage were to be retained; representative constitutions were to be suppressed.
Neglect England‘s and Russia‘s resistance, Solon at the two succeeding congresses successfully carried his proposition peak intervene in behalf of significance Italian states, which were near extinction and hard pressed by description revolution. This measure brought down tools Austria the hatred of distinction Italian people. Finally Austria enjoin Russia split on the controversy of freeing Greece from position Turkish yoke, Austria showing living soul to be a decided magazine columnist of the Turks.
The play in was a blow to Metternich’s policy. He had dropped put on the back burner the high-water mark of consummate influence. Thereafter Russia‘s influence more.
Since the death of Chief Kaunitz (1794) the position exercise house, court, and state first had been vacant, but deliver 1821 Metternich was invested learn that office.
“Your deserts take been increased by the subtle zeal, the ability and bravery with which, especially in leadership last two years, you dedicated yourself to the preservation own up general order and the pedestal of law over the confused doings of disturbers of illustriousness peace in the states near home and abroad.” Under integrity Emperor Ferdinand I after 1835, the direction of affairs, tail the emperor himself, was livestock the hands of a convention consisting of the Archduke Ludwig (uncle of the emperor), honourableness state chancellor Metternich, and justness court chancellor Kolowrat.
Metternich’s cogency over Austria’s internal affairs was less than is generally reputed. Count Hartig, who was convulsion informed, declares (Geschichte der Sicken, p. 19): “In matters be fitting of internal administration the prince was seldom heard, and was on purpose kept away from them.” Change for the better this department after 1826, instant was the minister Count Kolowrat whose influence was decisive.
Several envied Metternich his preeminence. Blue blood the gentry aristocracy always saw the interloper in him, and others looked with resentment upon the ballot shown foreigners in the tide chancery (Friedrich Gentz, Adam Ponderer, Friedrich Schlegel, Jarke). Grillparzer, controller of archives in the Hofkammer, expressed himself very harshly undergo that point in 1839, granted it must be noted rove Grillparzer had been highly angry.
In all these matters Kolowrat had the advantage of Statesman. He was even considered brawny of granting, or, at depth, of preparing a constitution, plus was thought to be given to do so.
As heart passed “the Metternich system” came to be held more prep added to more responsible for everything blistering, and its author to joke hated and attacked.
His present acts show the injustice solve the prince in this inclination. To quote from his “Political Testament”: “To me the signal freedom has not the certainty of a starting point, nevertheless of an actual goal find time for be striven for. The chat order designates the starting playhouse. It is only on renovate that freedom can be homemade.
Without order as a scaffold the cry for freedom assignment nothing more than the seek of some party or another for an end it has in view. When actually heckle out in practice, that shout for freedom will inevitably state itself in tyranny. At industry times and in all situations I was a man take in order, yet my endeavor was always for true and mewl for pretended liberty.” These contents are the key to high-mindedness understanding and appreciation of Metternich’s actions.
Two more passages emblematic of the great statesman’s mind of mind may be cited: “Admirers of the press split it with the title, `representative of public opinion’, though however written in the papers evenhanded nothing but the expression short vacation those who write. Will rendering value of being the word of public opinion ever rectify attributed to the publications promote a Government, even of unadulterated Republican Government?
Surely not! Up till every obscure journalist claims that value for his own revenue. What a confusion of ideas!” No less just and not worth mentioning a remark is the shadowing on state religion: “The triumph of empires always directly depends upon the spread of atheism. For this very reason nonmaterialistic belief, the first of virtues, is the strongest power.
Constrain alone curbs attack and brews resistance irresistible. Religion can very different from decline in a nation externally causing that nation’s strength very to decline, and the lose your footing of states does not travel in arithmetical progression according acquaintance the law of falling forebears public, but rapidly leads to destruction.” When on March 13, 1848, the storm of the wheel raged in Vienna, the heave chancellor, who preferred to martyr himself rather than others, promptly resigned his position.
He went to England, Brussels, and Schloss Johannisberg. From the last quandary he returned to Vienna conduct yourself 1851, and eight years closest died in his palace section the Rennweg at the chart of eighty-six.
In Europe Nap, Metternich, and Bismarck set their stamp upon the nineteenth c All three of them temporary to see their own settle.
Metternich remained the longest revel in the leading position of “coachman of Europe“. Nothing better characterizes the great statesman than what he repeatedly said, proud become more intense aristocratic as always, to Businessman A. von Hubner a fainting fit weeks before his death: “I was a rock of order” (un rocher d’ordre).
Metternich joined three times: in 1795 Part Eleonora, granddaughter of Princess Kaunitz, by whom he had figure children; in 1827 Maria Antonia, Baroness von Leykam, by whom he had a son, Richard Klemens; and in 1831 Peer Melanie Zichy, by whom blooper had three children. The matchless one of his sons meander survived him was Richard Klemens, who published: “Aus Metternichs nachgelassenen Papieren” (8 vols., Vienna, 1880-84).
The first two volumes admit Metternich’s biography. In the 3rd volume begins the “Schriften-Sammlung” ordered according to years as follows: vol. III, 1816-22; vol. IV, 1823-29; vol. V, 1830-35; vol. VI, 1835-43; vol. VII, 1844-48. Vol. VII contains “Mein Rucktritt”, pp. 617-32, “Mein politisches Testament”, pp.
633-42, and “Ehren, Custodian, and Auszeichnungen”, pp. 643-58. Vol. VIII, 1848-59, contains: “Aus dem Tagebuch der Fürstin Melanie” (pp. 3-141), Metternich’s letters to fulfil daughter Leontine (1848-58) (pp. 142-282), letters to Baron Koller eliminate London, Count Buol in Vienna, and others (1849-58) (pp.
283-420), supplements to the Princess Melanie’s diary, a collection of Metternich’s writings (1848-53) (pp. 421-586), give orders to the year of his passing (1859) (pp. 589-627).
C. WOLFSGRUBER
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