Why was the Congress of Vienna held after the Napoleonic Wars?

The Congress of Vienna (1814–1815) was held to reorganize Europe following the upheaval of the Napoleonic Wars. Its primary purpose was to reestablish a conservative political order and achieve a balance of power that would prevent future aggression, particularly from France.123

The assembly sought to address the geopolitical chaos left by Napoleon I’s conquests by redrawing national borders and strengthening the states surrounding France, such as the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Prussia. By creating a comprehensive settlement, the participating powers—led by Austria, Russia, Prussia, Great Britain, and later Bourbon France—aimed to secure long-term stability and peace for a continent exhausted by years of conflict.23

While the Congress successfully secured a period of relative peace for several decades, it was criticized for ignoring the emerging forces of nationalism by bartering territories without regard for the wishes of their inhabitants.3