Britannica
Sources used in this answer
- Arthur Wellesley, 1st duke of Wellington - Victory in the Napoleonic Wars
- Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle
- Napoleonic Wars - Economic aspects of the wars
- 20th-century international relations - The continuing problem of Germany
- Arthur Wellesley, 1st duke of Wellington - Role in the cabinet of Arthur Wellesley, 1st duke of Wellington
Why did Wellington support the withdrawal of occupying troops from France?
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Arthur Wellesley, 1st duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st duke of Wellington, oil on canvas by Sir Thomas Lawrence.
As commander in chief during the occupation of France following the Napoleonic Wars, the Duke of Wellington supported the withdrawal of occupying troops because he opposed a punitive peace against the French nation.1
Instead of maintaining a hostile stance, he worked to stabilize the region by organizing loans to rescue French finances. His recommendation to withdraw the occupying forces after three years was ultimately accepted at the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1818, where France agreed to pay its remaining war indemnities in exchange for the departure of Allied armies. By advocating for these moderate policies, Wellington sought to foster long-term stability rather than perpetuate the cycle of conflict.12