He had precise ideas about the basis for a new order in europe but knew from the start that he would have to modify. Metternich has a reputation as the epitome of reactionary conservatism. Peter viereck has been called, with good reason, the first conservative. Metternich was a confident leader who put little faith in popular opinion or sentiment because he believed that the common man was too fickle in his loyalties and too inept to understand the magnitude of foreign policy. If the aristocracy weakened, people from the educated middle class would want to grab the power. Siemann says, but rather a conservative whigan advocate of. He was the architect of the postnapoleonic european balance of power, and served as protector of the european conservative political order. Here they adopted a twopronged strategy firmly rooted in conservative doctrine. Metternich was an extremely intelligent man who turned his conservative beliefs into. The conservative order is the period in european political history after the defeat of napoleon in 1815. Remote work advice from the largest allremote company. Andrew moravcsik, foreign affairs the first independent treatment of metternich in the modern era. Ap euroideologies and revolutions age of metternich 18151850. Klemens wenzel nepomuk lothar, prince of metternichwinneburg zu beilstein was an.
This article is in the spectators april 2020 us edition. Klemens wenzel nepomuk lothar, prince of metternich winneburg zu beilstein 15 may 1773 11 june 1859 was an austrian diplomat who was at the center of european affairs for four decades as the austrian empires foreign minister from 1809 and chancellor from 1821 until the liberal revolutions of 1848 forced his resignation life and career. By far the books most significant claims are about metternichs thought life and the tenets of his political philosophy. He came from an old aristocratic family whose members had held many high offices in the holy roman empire. The father of the family, count francis george, was involved in diplomatic circles and, at the time of his son clemens birth, was in the service of the habsburgs of austria. Metternich was an extremely intelligent man who turned his conservative beliefs into international policy. This widens the focus of this book to offer a rich insight. His 1949 book conservatism revisited was the first postworld war ii effort to rehabilitate the cword, which until. He was named in honour of prince clemens wenceslaus of saxony, the archbishopelector of trier and.
Klemens wenzel nepomuk lothar, prince of metternich winneburg zu beilstein met. Franz i and chancellor prince clemens metternich crossing the. By far the book s most significant claims are about metternich s thought life and the tenets of his political philosophy. Even henry kissinger, who famously defended the archconservative austrian as the brilliant architect of 50 years of relative peace in continental europe in the middle of the nineteenth century, was uneasy about metternich. After studying philosophy, law and diplomacy, he followed his father into a diplomatic career. Biography, metternich was an extremely intelligent man who turned his conservative beliefs into international policy. Yes, political victory, nations of an entire continent cooperated to control political affairs for 1st time, settlements that were agreed upon were fair enough so that no country was mad and a time of peace that lasted 40 years, none of the great 5 powers waged war on each other, european nations temporarily ensured there would be a balance of power by agreeing to help when they have been. Stop french aggression by surrounding with strong countries, restoring a balance of power, and bring back the royal families that napoleon had taken down back to power. Burkes answer to the conservative dilemma was to avoid irremediable schisms. Metternich biography congress of vienna diplomacy napoleon. Klemens wenzel nepomuk lothar, prince of metternichwinneburg zu beilstein. As political master of the austrian empire, he was the architect of an alliance system among the european powers after napoleons defeat a system which tried to undo the damage to traditional dynastic politics wroght by the french revolution.
Succeeds in forcing readers to wonder whether metternichs efforts to defend an essentially conservative order against populists and terrorists are so different from the struggles that liberal democracies face today. Metternich definition of metternich by the free dictionary. After a politically conservative german playwright was assassinated by a. That often required him, as the austrian empires foreign minister and chancellor, to back authority. From 1815 to 1830 a conscious program by conservative statesmen, including metternich and castlereagh, was put in place to contain revolution and revolutionary forces by restoring old orders, particularly previous ruling aristocracies. This is a deeply researched and unwittingly stupid book. Was he, as henry kissinger and others believe, the infinitely subtle conservative master of. It would be nearly 100 years before europe erupted in. Foreign minister of austria, a conservative, believed in monarchy and not changing things. Was he, as henry kissinger and others believe, the infinitely subtle conservative master of realpolitik who brought down. Throughout prince metternichs glittering and successful career he sought. Richard klemens josef lothar hermann, 2nd prince of metternich winneburg zu beilstein german. The conservative order is the period in european political history after the defeat of napoleon.
He led central europe for 33 and created the concept of europe. German states to institute censorship of books, pamphlets, and newspapers. After 1871, the prussianfriendly german historians hailed bismarck as the national hero who had. Start studying ap euroideologies and revolutions age of metternich 18151850. Sep 04, 2017 this conservative bent dominated the congress of vienna, as i already mentioned. Metternich deserves, and here thoroughly receives, reexamination. What is great about this book is the colourful narrative the author weaves around the person. In many respects, he was before his time, pursuing a realist strategy of power politics decades earlier than this approach dominated the foreign policies of peer countries. Dec 01, 2004 prince richard metternich, in presenting the memoirs, wrote, somewhat hopefully perhaps, now that more than a generation has passed over his quiet tomb, the image of the resolute defender of conservative principles appears still more imposing, and his own words will enable men to realize the power and charm of his character.
The word freedom means for me not a point of departure but a genuine point of arrival. Tracing metternich s rise to power in the period when napoleon terrorized europe and built his empire, the author reveals the astuteness and. Austrian politician and diplomat who helped form the alliance of austria, great britain, prussia, and. Metternich was a confident leader who put little faith in popular opinion or sentiment because he believed that the common man was too fickle in his loyalties and too inept to understand the. Prince richard metternich, in presenting the memoirs, wrote, somewhat hopefully perhaps, now that more than a generation has passed over his quiet tomb, the image of the resolute defender of conservative principles appears still more imposing, and his own words will enable men to realize the power and charm of his character. A traditional conservative, metternich was keen to maintain the balance of power, in particular by resisting russian territorial ambitions in central. The very fact that it was held in vienna was in itself a great success for him. In addition to the restoration of the bourbon family to the throne of france, he and the diplomats in vienna. Klemens wenzel nepomuk lothar, prince of metternichwinneburg zu beilstein 15 may 1773 11 june 1859 was an austrian diplomat who was at the center of european affairs for four decades as the austrian empires foreign minister from 1809 and chancellor from 1821 until the liberal revolutions of 1848 forced his resignation. Metternich article about metternich by the free dictionary. The point of departure is defined by the word order. The boy grew up under the influence of ideas that were prospering in the small german courts of the french sphere influenced during the ancient. Metternich was foreign minister for austria from 1809 until 1848. Here are the basic facts of metternich s life taken from the book.
What does this document reveal about the inner workings of. Conservative order news newspapers books scholar jstor december 2009 learn. Oct 11, 2014 metternich was an extremely intelligent man who turned his conservative beliefs into international policy. It comes from a clearly conservative historian and therefore offers little surprise. Metternich synonyms, metternich pronunciation, metternich translation, english dictionary definition of metternich.
Klemens wenzel nepomuk lothar, prince of metternich winneburg zu beilstein. Environmental education resources to commemorate earth days 50th anniversary. Habsburg holy alliance holy roman emperor holy roman empire imperial italian italy j. He is thought of as one of the most important diplomats of all time. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. He was named in honour of prince clemens wenceslaus of saxony, the archbishopelector of trier and the past employer of his father. Metternich was no straightforward continental reactionary, mr. After demonstrations metternich forces german confederation to censor press, universities were controlled by the state, kept conservatism and quo. Klemens wenzel nepomuk lothar, prince of metternichwinneburg zu beilstein met. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
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