Metternich : Strategist and Visionary

A compelling new biography that recasts the most important European statesman of the first half of the nineteenth century, famous for his alleged archconservatism, as a friend of realpolitik and reform, pursuing international peace. Metternich has a reputation as the epitome of reactionary conservatism. Historians treat him as the archenemy of progress, a ruthless aristocrat who used his power as the dominant European statesman of the first half of the nineteenth century to stifle liberalism, suppress national independence, and oppose the dreams of social change that inspired the revolutionaries of 1848. Wolfram Siemann paints a fundamentally new image of the man who shaped Europe for over four decades. He reveals Metternich as more modern and his career much more forward-looking than we have ever recognized. Clemens von Metternich emerged from the horrors of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, Siemann shows, committed above all to the preservation of peace. That often required him, as the Austrian Empire's foreign minister and chancellor, to back authority. He was, as Henry Kissinger has observed, the father of realpolitik. But short of compromising on his overarching goal Metternich aimed to accommodate liberalism and nationalism as much as possible. Siemann draws on previously unexamined archives to bring this multilayered and dazzling man to life. We meet him as a tradition-conscious imperial count, an early industrial entrepreneur, an admirer of Britain's liberal constitution, a failing reformer in a fragile multiethnic state, and a man prone to sometimes scandalous relations with glamorous women. Hailed on its German publication in 2017 as a masterpiece of historical writing, Metternich will endure as an essential guide to nineteenth-century Europe, indispensable for understanding the forces of revolution, reaction, and moderation that shaped the modern world. Contents 8 A Note on the Frontispiece 12 Translator’s Note 14 Preface to the English-Language Edition 16 Introduction 22 A Life in Seven Stages 22 Metternich’s Biographers across the Generations 27 The Risks and Limitations of Srbik’s Biography of Metternich 31 1. Origins: Family Ties and the Rise of the Metternichs 41 The Ministerial Metternichs 43 The Lords of Königswart 44 The Barons of Winneburg and Beilstein 51 The Counts as Members of the Imperial Diet 55 The Highest Floor: The Princes in the Bel Étage 60 2. Metternich’s Generation: Ancien Régime and Enlightenment, 1773–1792 66 Parental Home, Childhood, and Education 66 Studies in Strasbourg and Mainz: Formation of a Political and Historical View of the World 76 3. A Double Crisis: Empire and Revolution, 1789–1801 88 Fin de Siècle: The Imperial Elections of 1790 and 1792 88 1789: The Rupture of the French Revolution 92 Brussels and the Austrian Netherlands 109 The Journey to Great Britain: The Final Piece to the Young Metternich’s Political Universe 131 Collapse and Flight in 1794 152 A New Beginning: Vienna, Königswart, and Austerlitz 166 Time of Transition: The Diplomat in Waiting, 1796–1801 179 4. Between Peace and War: Life as an Ambassador, 1801–1806 190 Dresden, 1801–1803: The Minister at His “Observation Post" 190 Berlin, 1803–1806: The Ambassador on the Grand Diplomatic Stage 204 The Peace of Pressburg and the Beginning of the End for the Holy Roman Empire 216 5. World War: Outset and Intensification, 1806–1812 222 Ambassador in Paris, 1806–1809: In the “Lion’s Den" 224 Ambassador on Borrowed Time and Napoleon’s Captive under House Arrest 263 The Interim Minister: Sidelined by Napoleon 274 The Minister in Charge of the New Direction: A Defensive Strategy in Domestic Policy and Matchmaking Abroad, 1809–1810 289 The Foreign Minister on Tour: 181 Days with Napoleon 310 Domestic and International Consolidation, 1810–1812 325 6. World War: Climax and Crisis, 1813 341 Metternich Discreetly Assembles the Forces 341 The Tactical Path to an “Armed Mediation" 352 Austria Joins the War: The Quadruple Alliance 373 7. World War: Catastrophe and Resolution, 1814 395 The Final Battle against Napoleon and the Prefiguration of the Vienna Order 395 Metternich’s Second Voyage to England and Preparations for the Congress of Vienna 417 Metternich, the War, and Violence in Politics 425 8. The End of an Era and a New Beginning for Europe: The Congress of Vienna, 1814–1815 434 The Initial Situation: The Experience of War and a Legal Vacuum 434 The “Cosmopolitans”: Instigating a New Law Based on Imperial Legal Orders 436 A Master Plan? Metternich between Realpolitik, Strategy, and Vision 443 The Congress on the Brink: Crises Test the Principle of Balance 447 The End of the Holy Roman Empire: The Habsburg Empire and the German Question 450 “Germany—United by Federal Ties”: Metternich’s Part in the Foundation of the German Confederation 457 “The Congress Dances”—Especially in Metternich’s House 469 9. Connoisseur of Women and Head of the Entail 484 Iconography and Historical Specificity of Love 484 Love and Politics: At the Courts of Dresden, Berlin, and Paris 497 Wilhelmine von Sagan and the Confusion of Feelings 502 Dorothea von Lieven: “The Nearness of the Beloved"? 509 Wives and Children: Family Ties and Tribulations 519 10. The Construction of a New Beginning: Reform and Reconstruction, 1815–1818 539 Metternich’s Ideas and Policies on the Nationality Question: The Case of Italy 539 Journeys to Italy, a Happy, Ungovernable Country 547 Metternich’s Plan for a Reorganization of the Monarchy 553 Habsburg and the German Confederation: An Affirmation for Metternich and Prussia, 1817–1818 560 11. Defensive Security Policies: Averting Threats under the Vienna System, 1815–1829 567 Napoleon’s “Hundred Days”: Activating the European Security System 567 Fault Lines in the Societies of Europe after 1815 570 Metternich and British Security Policies, 1817–1820: Pretext or Defense against a Revolution? 579 The Radicalization of the German National Movement: The Wartburg Festival and Sand’s Assassination of Kotzebue 588 Metternich’s Hesitant Reactions: The Press, the Professors, and the Students 600 From Teplitz to Carlsbad: The Conferences on Domestic Security, 1819–1820 613 Metternich’s Suggestions for the Development and Extension of the German Federal Constitution: The Final Act of the German Confederation, May 15, 1820 623 Terrorism and Security Policies as a European Problem: England, France, and Metternich 633 The Double-Edged Sword of Intervention and the Concert of Europe 639 The Concert of Europe and the Defensive Security Policies of the 1820s 644 12. The Economist: Metternich as a Capitalist with a Social Conscience 653 Managing Financial Crises 653 Metternich as Agrarian Economist: Farmer, Vintner, Forester 661 Factory Owner and Industrial Entrepreneur 671 13. The Spring of Nations amid Poverty, 1830–1847 679 The July Revolution in 1830 and Metternich’s International Crisis Management 679 A Revolution in Communication, the Spring of Nations, State Security 684 Tolerated Revolutions after 1830 693 From the Orient to the Rhine: The Concert of the Major Powers as a Challenge 696 Metternich and Customs Policies 698 14. The Organization of Rule: Power Centers, Networks, Interests, Intrigues 703 The Master of the State Chancellery 703 Constrained by Emperor Franz’s “Personal Regime" 711 Emperor Franz’s Legacy: A System “Headed by a Half-Wit Who Represents the Crown" 713 Crisis Instead of Reform: Metternich versus Kolowrat 719 Lobbyism, the Power Politics of the Imperial Family, the Estates 726 15. Revolution, Escape, Exile, 1848–1851 737 Revolution 1848: “Sheet Lightning,” Outbreak, and Escape 737 Metternich’s English Self: In Exile, 1848–1849 747 Brussels 1849–1851: Metternich’s Look Back at a Liberal Economic Policy That Was Not to Be 753 16. At the Observatory: Twilight Years in Vienna, 1851–1859 758 Epilogue: Metternich as a Postmodern Character in Early Modernity 767 Abbreviations 778 Notes 780 Bibliography 860 Acknowledgments 892 Illustration Credits 896 Index 900 This Is A Major Biography Of Clemens Von Metternich (1773-1859), Perhaps The Most Important European Politician Of The First Half Of The Nineteenth Century. Metternich Held The Highest Civilian Posts In The Austrian Empire Without Interruption From 1809 To 1848, Helped Determine The Shape Of Post-napoleonic Europe, And Established The System Of International Congresses (the Metternich System) That Dominated International Relations Up To 1918 And Set A Precedent For The League Of Nations And The United Nations. His Influence On International Affairs In The First Half Of The Century Was So Profound That The Period Is Sometimes Called The Age Of Metternich. He Is Usually Considered A Stubborn Conservative And An Enemy Of Liberalism And Nationalism, Which Then Went Hand In Hand. For Many, He Represents Everything That The Revolutionaries Of 1848 Opposed. In This Biography, Wolfram Siemann Argues That The Conventional View Of Metternich Is Wrong. He Writes That Metternich Idealized Britain's Liberal Constitution And Aimed To Make As Much Room As Possible For Liberalism And Nationalism As Was Consistent With His Overarching Aim: The Preservation Of Peace In Europe, A Commitment Arising From His Horror At The Death And Destruction Of The Revolutionary And Napoleonic Wars. Drawing On Previously Unopened Archives Belonging To The Metternich Family, Siemann Also Presents In Full His Subject's Active Personal And Social Life. Metternich Had Many Mistresses, One Of Them Napoleon's Sister, And Counted Almost Everybody With Power In Europe As A Friend Or Enemy.-- A Life In Seven Stages -- Metternich's Biographers Across The Generations -- The Risks And Limitations Of Srbik's Biography Of Metternich -- Origins: Family Ties And The Rise Of The Metternichs -- Metternich's Generation: Ancien Regime And Enlightenment, 1773-1792 -- A Double Crisis: Empire And Revolution, 1789-1801 -- Between Peace And War: Life As An Ambassador, 1801-1806 -- World War: Outset And Intensification, 1806-1812 -- World War: Climax And Crisis, 1813 -- World War: Catastrophe And Resolution, 1814 -- The End Of An Era And A New Beginning For Europe: The Congress Of Vienna, 1814-1815 -- The Connoisseur Of Women And Head Of The Entail -- The Construction Of A New Beginning: Reform And Reconstruction, 1815-1818 -- Defensive Security Policies: Averting Threats Under The Vienna System, 1815-1829 -- From Imperial Count To Capitalist: Metternich As A Patriarch With A Social Conscience -- The Spring Of Nations Amid Poverty, 1830-1847 -- The Organization Of Rule: Power Centers, Networks, Interests, Intrigues -- Revolution, Escape, Exile, 1848-1851 -- At The Observatory: Twilight Years In Vienna, 1851-1859. Wolfram Siemann ; Translated By Daniel Steuer. Originally Published In German As Metternich: Stratege Und Visionar, Eine Biografie, By Wolfram Siemann, Revised Edition, 2017, (c) Verlag C.h.beck Ohg, Munchen 2016.--title Page Verso. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Originally published in German as Metternich: Stratege und Visionär, eine Biografie, by Wolfgang Siemann, revised edition 2017, copyright Verlag C. H. Beck oHG, München 2016. The translation of this work was funded by Geisteswissenschaften International -- Translation Funding for Humanities and Social Sciences from Germany, a joint initiative of the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, the German Federal Foreign Office, the collecting society VG Wort, and the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (German Publishers and Booksellers Association). This book is a biography of Clemens Prince of Metternich-Winneburg und Beilstein, who was imperial courtier, ambassador and Chancellor of the State from the time of Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation through the French Revolution, the Napoleonic wars, the Congress of Vienna, the nationalist emergence until the middle of the 19th century. It is expressly a critical answer of the character studies drawn in previous works and incorporates a whole body of previously disregarded original sources. Wolfram Siemann tells a new story of Clemens von Metternich, the Austrian at the center of nineteenth-century European diplomacy. Known as a conservative and an uncompromising practitioner of realpolitik, in fact Metternich accommodated new ideas of liberalism and nationalism insofar as they served the goal of peace. And he promoted reform at home.