Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did the Congress of Vienna influence the unifications of Germany and Italy?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Watercolor etching by August Friedrich Andreas Campe showing diplomats and military officers in ornate uniforms gathered around a large table with maps at the Congress of Vienna. — 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.

The Congress of Vienna (1814–1815) influenced the paths toward German and Italian unification primarily by establishing a conservative order that suppressed nationalism in favor of a balance of power.12

Impact on Germany

The Congress replaced the defunct Holy Roman Empire with the German Confederation, a loose association of 39 states dominated by Austria. While this structure provided stability, it frustrated nationalists who desired a unified nation. Crucially, the Congress inadvertently set the stage for future unification under Prussia by granting it the Rhineland and Westphalia to serve as a buffer against France. This shift gave Prussia a strategic, industrial, and pivotal role in German affairs, eventually allowing it to counterbalance and later displace Austrian influence.31425

Impact on Italy

In Italy, the Congress reinforced Austrian dominance to prevent French influence. By placing Lombardy and Venetia under direct Austrian rule and installing Austrian archdukes in other territories, the Congress made Austria the primary obstacle to Italian independence. This foreign control fueled widespread resentment, making the cause of Italian unification synonymous with the struggle against Austrian intervention.62