What Principles Guided the Congress of Vienna? (pg 709-717)

The Congress of Vienna met in 1814 to restore order to Europe, "satisfy the great powers' territorial ambitions, and guarantee international tranquility," all the while following "the guiding principle of the balance of power" (710-711). The Congress tried to restore order by creating a "legitimate authority" in France by recognizing Louis XVII as the actual sovereign of France and confirming "the restoration of Bourbon rulers in Spain and the two Sicilies" (710). The peace treaty created by the Congress limited French expansion and even restored a lot of territory conquered by the French to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Prussia  and Austria also received more territory in Germany and Italy. Russia was given control over Poland; however, sections of Poland also went to Prussia and Austria. Britain "received territories that had been under French dominion in South Africa and South America as well as the island of Ceylon" (712). The key concept behind this relatively 'fair' distribution of land to various nations and the creation of international alliances (such as the Quadruple Alliance or the Holy Alliance) was to maintain a balance of power in Europe.