The Vienna Settlement

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The Vienna Settlement was embodied in four different yet interlocked arrangements: the Treaty of Chaumont, the two Treaties of Paris, the Treaty of Vienna and the Quadruple Alliance. The Settlement aimed to prevent further aggression from France, eliminate the revolutionaries, redraw the map of Europe, maintain peace and an effective alliance of the four Great Powers. These aims were achieved through the Principles of Legitamacy and Balance of Power. Despite the mutual jealosy of the Great Powers, the Settlement helped prevent major wars in Europe for 40 years.

To a certain extent, some of the aims were achieved wisely in accordance to the principles aforementioned. The determination to prevent further aggression from France was made possible by the creation of buffer states around France. For instance, Belgium and Holland were united in the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the north-eastern frontier of France, Genoa was added to Piedmont Sardinia, and Prussia was strengthened because of the acquisition of territories along the Rhine. These measures were adopted in the hope of containing France. Furthermore, the allies prevented the return of Napoleon by exiling him to St. Helena. The signing of the Second Treaty of Paris in 1815 stated that an allied army was to occupy France for 5 years. A war indemnity coupled with the reduction of French boundaries prevented her from invading other countries.

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The second aim of the Settlement was achieved in a peaceful manner. The most disputed territories, namely Saxony and Poland, were settled in a way acceptable to all the Great Powers. It was agreed that Russia received most of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw while Prussia gained two-fifths of the Kingdom of Saxony. Other arrangements made by the Congress included the cession to Austria of Lombardy and Venetia in northern Italy, in place of her abandoned Netherlands and territory along the Adriatic coast and territory along the Adriatic coast. Sweden gained Norway from Denmark partly as compensation for her ...

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