The Congress of Vienna was bookend by the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the French Revolution and the start of the most destructive war to date in European history-WWI which began in 1914. The Congress of Vienna meeting from November 1814 to June 1815 redrew the boundaries of Europe, attempting to achieve lasting stability and peace. It returned power to previously existing monarchies. For instance, it restored the Bourbons to power in France under the brother of Louis XVI. Moreover, it created entirely new monarchies, such as in Belgium, and aimed to restore what they believed was the general order of people. This approach was in contrast to what people actually wanted-such as their individual nations. Austrian aristocrat Klemens von Metternich, the leading European diplomat and dominant voice at the Congress, along with French diplomat Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand restored the nation of Poland, increased the size of Prussia, and enlarged the Netherlands; until the Belgians rebelled in 1830. Although criticized for ignoring the voices of people, the Congress established peace in Europe for 100 years and created an international system of meetings based on consensus.

Figure 2: Europe in 1815