The Napoleon years

The start of Austria as a country was heavily influenced by the fact that it had to separate itself from the dying Holy Roman Empire. Fearing the fact that the throne might be taken by Napoleon, Francis II proclaimed himself emperor of Austria as Francis I in 1804. He was in fact correct all along, as the Holy Roman Empire finally ceased to exist in 1806 and Napoleon was proclaimed ruler in France. The savior for the people of Austria resulted in the defeat of Napoleon in the War of 1812. Due to the fact that Austria was not able to construct a powerful Army and succeed on the battlefield, it was essential to perform befittingly at the table of diplomacy. Austria was represented by Prince Klemens von Metternich, the Austrian minister of state who was also acting president of the Congress. The need for success in diplomatic terms was essential, as Austria lost a large portion of its territory during the year of 1812. From the beginning of June to mid September Klemens von Metternich had to battle Emperor Alexander I (Russia), Prince Karl August von Hardenberg (Prussia) and Lord Castlereagh, and later Arthur Wellesley, the first duke of Wellingtom(Great Britain).

The end-result of the congress proved to be a great success, as Austria regained the territories it had lost by the weakened army, and emerged as one of the powers of Europe. Unlike in the Holy Roman Empire, composed of thirty-five sovereign princes and four free cities. Austria held the permanent presidency of the confederation and probably had more real influence in Germany than it had had under the Holy Roman Empire. Although Austria emerged from the Congress of Vienna as one of the great powers in Europe, throughout the nineteenth century its status and territorial integrity depended on the support of at least one of the other great powers. As long as the allies were willing to cooperate in the "Congress System" to maintain the peace, order, and stability of Europe, Austrian interests were protected. But the other great powers, which were better able to defend their interests by force, did not always share Austria's devotion to Metternich's creation.

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