Britannica Sources used in this answer

What was the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna?

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 Final Act of the Congress of Vienna was a comprehensive legal instrument that consolidated all the agreements reached by the assembly to reorganize Europe following the Napoleonic Wars.1

Signed on June 9, 1815, by the representatives of the major powers—excluding Spain, which refused to sign in protest of the Italian settlement—the document established a new political order intended to restore stability and maintain a balance of power across the continent. Key provisions included:12

Territorial Adjustments: The act redefined national borders, including the creation of a new Kingdom of Poland under Russian sovereignty and the expansion of neighboring states to act as buffers against potential future French aggression.12
Political Restructuring: It established the German Confederation and restored various monarchies and territories across Italy and Europe.12
Diplomatic Standards: The agreement included articles regarding diplomatic precedence and the free navigation of international rivers.1

While the settlement successfully secured a period of relative peace for over 40 years, it was criticized for largely ignoring the rising force of nationalism and the wishes of the affected populations.12