Editing Congress of Vienna (section)

=== The four great powers and Bourbon France ===
Four great powers had previously formed the core of the [[Sixth Coalition]], a covenant of nations allied in the war against France. On the verge of Napoleon's defeat they had outlined their common position in the [[Treaty of Chaumont]] (March 1814), and negotiated the [[Treaty of Paris (1814)]] with the [[Bourbon dynasty|Bourbons]] during [[Bourbon Restoration in France|their restoration]]:{{sfn|Nicolson|1946|pp=118–133}}
* [[Austrian Empire|Austria]] was represented by [[Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich|Prince von Metternich]], the Foreign Minister, and by his deputy, [[Baron Johann von Wessenberg-Ampringen|Baron Johann von Wessenberg]]. The Austrians sought to maintain the balance of power, while protecting the interests of the Conservative nations and rebuilding Austria's position diplomatically in Germany and Italy. As the Congress's sessions were in Vienna, Emperor [[Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis]] was kept closely informed.{{sfn|Kissinger|1957|pp=7–28}}
* The United Kingdom was represented first by its [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Foreign Secretary]], [[Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh|Viscount Castlereagh]]; then by the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]], after Castlereagh's return to England in February 1815. The United Kingdom wanted to prevent the return of France as a superpower (and stop Russia from attaining that status). It also sought to promote the balance of power by protecting the rights of smaller nations. In the last weeks it was headed by the [[Richard Le Poer Trench, 2nd Earl of Clancarty|Earl of Clancarty]], after Wellington left to face Napoleon during the [[Hundred Days]].{{sfn|Kissinger|1957|pp=9–36}}
* Tsar [[Alexander I of Russia|Alexander I]] controlled the Russian delegation which was formally led by the foreign minister, Count [[Karl Robert Nesselrode]]. The tsar had two main goals, to gain control of Poland and to promote the peaceful coexistence of European nations, with Russia as the pre-eminent land power. He succeeded in forming the [[Holy Alliance]] (1815), based on monarchism and anti-secularism, and formed to combat any threat of revolution or republicanism.{{Sfn|Nicolson|1946 | p=158}}
* Prussia was represented by Prince [[Karl August von Hardenberg]], the Chancellor, and the diplomat and scholar [[Wilhelm von Humboldt]]. The Prussians wanted to strengthen their position in Germany, particularly by annexing all of Saxony and parts of the Ruhr. King [[Frederick William III of Prussia]] was also in Vienna, playing his role behind the scenes.<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Walter M. |last=Simon |title=Prince Hardenberg |journal=Review of Politics |volume=18 |issue=1 |date=1956 |pages=88–99 |doi=10.1017/S0034670500023597 |jstor=1404942}}</ref>
* [[France]], the "fifth" power, was represented by its foreign minister, [[Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord|Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, 1st Duke of Benevento]], as well as the Minister Plenipotentiary, [[Emmerich Joseph de Dalberg|Emmerich Joseph de Dalberg, 1st Duke of Dalberg]]. Talleyrand had already negotiated the [[Treaty of Paris (1814)]] for [[Louis XVIII of France]]. He sought to ensure that France rejoined the group of Great Powers, and avoided being dismembered by the occupying powers. Louis XVIII, however, distrusted him and was also secretly negotiating with Metternich, by mail.<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Harold E. |last=Blinn |title=New Light on Talleyrand at the Congress of Vienna |journal=Pacific Historical Review |volume=4 |issue=2 |date=1935 |pages=143–160 |doi=10.2307/3633726|jstor=3633726 }}</ref>