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What borders did France have after 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.
Following the Congress of Vienna, the borders of France were determined by two separate treaties, as the initial settlement was altered following Napoleonās return during the Hundred Days.12
- First Treaty of Paris (1814): Initially, the Allies granted France generous terms, allowing the country to retain its boundaries as they existed on January 1, 1792.1
- Second Treaty of Paris (1815): Following Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, the terms were significantly harsher. The French frontier was retracted to the borders of January 1, 1790, which resulted in France losing territories such as the Saar and Savoy.1
While some historical accounts note that the Congress reduced France to its 1789 borders, the formal post-war settlement established by the second treaty specifically utilized the 1790 frontier to finalize the territorial adjustments. To prevent future French aggression, the Congress also strengthened neighboring states, such as the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Prussia, to serve as a buffer.12