Congress of Vienna

The Congress of Vienna was a conference between ambassadors from the major powers in Europe that was chaired by the Austrian statesman Klemens Wenzel von Metternich and held in Vienna, Austria, from October 1, 1814, to June 9, 1815. Its purpose was to redraw the continent's political map after the defeat of Napoleonic France the previous spring.

Waterloo campaign

The return to Paris of Napoleon Bonaparte from forced exile on the island of Elba interrupted the congress. For the Hundred Days between 20 March 1815, the date on which Napoleon Bonaparte arrived in Paris and 28 June 1815, the date of the restoration of King Louis XVIII the representatives in Vienna waited on the outcome of military force.

Related Topics:
Napoleon Bonaparte - Elba - Hundred Days - 20 March - 1815 - Napoleon Bonaparte - Paris - 28 June - Restoration - Louis XVIII

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On 13 March, six days before Napoleon reached Paris, the powers at the Congress of Vienna declared him an outlaw; four days later the United Kingdom, Russia, Austria and Prussia bound themselves to put 150,000 men each into the field to end his rule.

Related Topics:
13 March - Outlaw - United Kingdom - Russia - Austria - Prussia

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Napoleon knew that, once his attempts at dissuading one or more of the allies from invading France had failed, his only chance of remaining in power was to attack before the Allies put together an overwhelming force. If he could destroy the existing Allied forces in Belgium before they were reinforced, he might be able to drive the British back to the sea and knock the Prussians out of the war. This was a successful strategy he had used many times before.

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The attempt ended on June 18 at the Battle of Waterloo where a combined allied army decisively defeated the French army commanded by Napoleon. The allies pursued the French army back to Paris, restored Louis XVIII to the French throne and exiled Napoleon to the South Atlantic island of Saint Helena.

Related Topics:
Battle of Waterloo - Saint Helena

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