Congress of Vienna:
The Players

I. The Players - Important People at Vienna

Review:

Klemens, prince von Metternich, principal minister of Austria, represented his emperor, Francis II.
Tsar Alexander I of Russia directed his own diplomacy.
King Frederick William III of Prussia had Karl, prince von Hardenberg, as his principal minister.
Great Britain was represented by its foreign minister, Viscount Castlereagh. When Castlereagh had to return to his parliamentary duties, the duke of Wellington replaced him, and Lord Clancarty was principal representative after the duke’s departure.
The restored Louis XVIII of France sent Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand.
EVERYONE wants to establish a balance of power in Europe.
Everyone, but France, wants to reduce France to pre-war borders.

Klemens Lothar, Fürst (prince) von Metternich-Winneburg-Beilstein

Klemens von Metternich:

You are worried about the Russian influence in Poland and Central Europe, as well as on Prussia and Prussian King Frederick William III. You would like to annex Galicia, Tarnopol and Cracow. Saxony must remain independent. You cannot agree with Prussian domination in western Germany and thus in fact oppose the Hardenberg's proposal. For you, either both Austria and Prussia would function as Wacht am Rhein, or Mainz and Palatinate should be allocated to Austria-friendly Bavaria. You insist on Salzburg. Your real main attention is Italy, where you have already secured Lombardy and Venetia per treaty. Nearly all Austrian troops have stationed in Italy, and very little in Germany. You have troops neither in Poland nor in Rhineland, nor in Northern Germany. You would like to secure Austrian Domination in German Confederation and entertain good relationships with minor German states, especially Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg and Hannover and have enjoyed large support of the catholic Majority in Rhineland. Furthermore you have enjoyed highest trust of your Emperor, Francis II of Austria and have good working relationship with Castlereagh and Hardenberg, you have established contact with Talleyrand, your opponent is Russia.

Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry

Castlereagh:

You are 'Foreign Minister' in the cabinet of Liverpool from the Conservative Party. You strongly believe and try to convince your ministerial colleague that the United Kingdom must be actively involved in the establishment of the post-war order in Europe, which must be based on the principle of 'just equilibrium' and a strong and peaceful Germany. You would like to limit Russians influence in Central Europe by supporting a strong German Confederation and want at least either Prussia or Austria to assume the function of Wacht am Rhein. You therefore also support an independent Poland. You have large influence on Hanover and the newly created Netherlands, thanks to the dynastic connections. For you, a strong Germany can be achieved if Austria and Prussia truly cooperate to maintain a balance of power and peace, and are ready to agree on territorial concession in Germany to both powers. France should be limited in latitude too. Your opponent is primarily, however, Russia. The British troops have been stationed in the Netherlands. The UK is the largest financial contributors to the war.

Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand, prince de Bénévent

Talleyrand:

You insist on the principle of legitimacy, and therefore also on the independence of Saxony. You are ready and willing to join the Committee of the Four, making it Committee of the Five, as your main interest is to regain recognition of France as a great power, which deserves trust and a place in the future concert of Europe. Although some allies are ready to permit your participation in the Committee, this decision must be taken by all four powers. Prussia, Austria and Russia are keen to limit French power as much as possible due to military defeats suffered under Napoleon and French military potential. Alexander I despises your King Louis XVIII. As French territory has already been determined, your main territorial interest is to prevent both Austria and Prussia gaining territory on the left bank (in western Germany) and instead a second-ranked German power such as Bavaria. Thanks to Napoleon, France's economy is still on of the healthiest amongst all the parties.

Alexander Pavlovich Romanov, Emperor of All Russia

Alexander I:

You have strengthened your position already by conducting the negotiations by yourself. Moreover, you have good ties with Francis II and Frederick William III. At this stage, your opponents are Castlereagh, Metternich, and to some extent Hardenberg, who is to somehow afraid of the Russian influence in Prussia. Your troops have occupied Paris and are stationed in the Northern and Central parts of Germany, the greatest number, however, in Poland and Saxony. You wish to gain as much territory as possible; especially the cities Warsaw, Thorn and Cracow are of great interest for you. You are acquainted with liberal ideas of constitutionalism, but do not want to reveal any plan concerning the future administration of Poland. You usually support Prussians endeavours on territories of Germany, in the hope that Russia will receive Prussian Poland.

Frederick William III, King of Prussia

Frederick William III

You accompany your Prime Minister, Hardenberg, to the congress in Vienna. You have always had something of an inferiority complex and have not been able to live up to the reputation of Prussian superiority set forth by your father. You remained neautral in the early Wars of the Coalitions against Napoleon, which further hurt Prussian prestige in the eyes of Europe. You fear that reform might lead to radical “Jacobinism,” and do not trust outstanding men as your advisers. You had to yield to some of Hardenberg's reforms back home due to the loss of territories to Napoleon and are therefore quite resentful of the former emperor and French ambitions. Despite fighting against Napoleon's forces from 1813 to 1815, your people still have a negative opinion of you . You tend to submit yourself to the will of Tsar Alexander of Russia, such as when you sided with him over the issue of Saxony. You also have a generally good relationship with and want similar things to Metternich. You would like to use the congress to solidify your control over your recently acquired Prussian lands. You need your other land back and you need to come out of this congress with more clout, power, and hopefully your reputation will improve.

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