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How did Tsar Alexander I influence the Congress of Vienna?
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Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna, watercolor etching by August Friedrich Andreas Campe; in the collection of the State Borodino War and History Museum, Moscow.
Tsar Alexander I played a central and influential role at the Congress of Vienna, where he directed his own diplomacy and was widely regarded as a "saviour of Europe" following the defeat of Napoleon.12
His influence was exerted through several key actions:
- Territorial Negotiations: A major point of friction at the Congress involved the disposition of Poland. Alexander successfully secured the majority of the former Duchy of Warsaw, which was established as the Congress Kingdom of Poland under his sovereignty. To achieve this, he negotiated territorial exchanges, returning Galicia to Austria and granting regions to Prussia.34
- The Holy Alliance: Driven by a newfound religious fervor and a sense of divine mission, Alexander proposed the creation of the Holy Alliance. This league of monarchs, based on the precepts of the Scriptures, reflected his desire to maintain peace and unity across the continent.15
- Diplomatic Leadership: Beyond the Congress of Vienna, Alexander continued to exert significant influence over European affairs, playing a leading role in subsequent conferences at Aix-la-Chapelle, Troppau, Laibach, and Verona.1