Klemens von Metternich (1773–1859) was an Austrian statesman and diplomat who shaped early 19th-century European politics. As Austria’s foreign minister (1809–48) and later chancellor (1821–48,) he championed conservatism and sought stability through the Concert of Europe.
Born in Koblenz, Germany, Metternich studied at the University of Strasbourg and the University of Mainz, preparing for a diplomatic career. He rose through ambassadorial roles in Saxony, Prussia, and Napoleonic France before becoming Austria’s foreign minister. He orchestrated Austria’s alliance against Napoleon, leading to his exile in 1814.
A key architect of the Congress of Vienna (1814–15,) Metternich helped redraw Europe’s borders after the Napoleonic Wars. His policies prioritized monarchy, suppressed revolutionary movements, and maintained a balance of power. Admired for preserving peace, he was criticized for repressing liberal movements. The Revolutions of 1848 forced his resignation and exile; he later returned but remained politically inactive.
His Denkwürdigkeiten des Fürsten Metternich (Memoirs of Prince Metternich (1880–84)) offers diplomatic insights, while Politische Briefe und Aufzeichnungen (1880, Political Letters and Records) compiles his correspondence. Metternich: Memoiren 1773–1815 (1880, Memoirs 1773–1815) details his early political life, and Geheime Papiere (1880, Secret Papers) reveals 19th-century European governance strategies.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Klemens von Metternich
Revolutions begin in the best heads, and run steadily down to the populace.
—Klemens von Metternich
Topics: Revolution
Leave a Reply