METTERNICH, mktter-nIK, CLEMENS WEN ZEL NEPOMITE LOTHAR, Prince (1773-1859). An Austrian statesman. He was born at Coblenz, May 15, 1773, being the son of Franz Georg Karl, Count von Metternich, an Austrian diplomat and an associate of Kaunitz. Young was educated at the Univer sity of Strassburg, and afterwards studied law at Mainz and traveled in England. In 1795 he married the granddaughter of Kaunitz, by whom he acquired large estates. Ills diplomatic career commenced at the Congress of Rastadt (1797-99), which he attended as representative of the West phalian lordly houses. In 1801 he became Aus trian Ambassador at Dresden, and two years later was appointed Ambassador to the Prussian Court, where he negotiated the treaty of alliance between Austria, Prussia, and Russia against France in 1805. In 1806 he went as Ambassador to Paris. In 1809 he succeeded Count Stadion as Minister of Foreign Affairs, concluded the Treaty of Sch6nbrunn with France, and was in_strunient al in bringing about the marriage of the Arch duchess Maria Louisa to Napoleon. He guided the course of Austria amid the difficulties of 1812-13. He maintained at first a temporizing policy and a scheme of armed mediation by Aus tria; but the arrogance of Napoleon's demands and the personal hniniliations to which he was subjected at his famous interview with the French Emperor in Dresden in June. 1813, led him to resolve upon the declaration of war by Austria against France, and he subsequently con ducted with great ability the negotiations which ended in the completion of the Quadruple Alliance. He was afterwards employed in almost all the chief diplomatic affairs of that eventful time. With little concern for the cause of German national ity, which animated so largely the Prussians during the War of Liberation, Metternich during the last two years of Napoleon's power pursued a policy aiming at the advancement solely of Austrian interests. Fearing lest the defeat of France should raise up powerful rivals for Aus tria in Russia and Prussia, he exerted himself to preserve for France its ancient boundaries, pursuing that end ostensibly in order to preserve the balance of power in Europe. With masterly diplomacy he sueeveded in imposing his policy on the allies. represented Austria in the Congress of Chfitillon in February and 1814, and participated in the deliberations leading to the Treaty of l'aris. lu June he visited England and formed a new Quadruple Alliance for the preserva tion of the peace of Europe. As presiding officer of the Congress of Vienna he exercised a prepon derating influence on the deliberations of that body, and succeeded in gaining for Austria a dom inant position among the Powers of Europe, with her interests supreme in Germany and Italy. After
the Congress of Vienna he became the leading statesman of Europe. Ile was the inspiring genius of the reactionary policy of the Restoration pe riod. Crafty and cynical, having no sympathy with t he aspirations of the people, his schemes were all directed to restoring the old order as far as pos sible, In 1821 he was made Austrian Chancellor. With his eustomary astuteness, he made use of the linty Alliance (q.v.). organized by Alexander of Russia to further the cause of 'Christian peace, as an instrument for the repression of all liberal or national movements, Under his in spiration congresses were held at Karlsbad. (1819). Troppan (1820), Laihaeli (1821), and Verona (1822). at which action was taken against the Bursehensehaft and the freedom of the press in Germany. the national movement in Italy, and the struggle for constitutionalism in Spain. He consistently opposed the Greek movement for independence. but there Russia refused to fol low him. With time his influence over the French and Russian courts disappeared, but in Germany and Italy the reactionary policy of :Metternich remained unabated until 1848. The revolutionary movement of that year. however, breaking forth with sudden violence. ended Met ternieh's system and eaused the aged :Minister to flee from Austria (Mand,. 1848) and to seek refuge in England and Belgium; nor did he re turn to Vienna till the end of 1831. when he received great marks of honor and favor from the Emperor; but although sometimes ememIted, he was never again asked to undertake the cares of (Alice. lie died at Vienna. 11, 1859. Ills writing, were published under the title .1ns llet Irrniets Inlet gelassr nen l'apieren, published by his son, Prince Richard (8 vols.. Vienna. 1880-84; published in English translation under the title of Memoirs). Consult: Gross-Hollinger. Piirst Metternich mid dos usterreirhischr Stantssystem (Leipzig. 1846) ; Mazade. ehaneclier franrien nytimr. Le n'mc dipInmatique Ile .11. de Metter nich (NH:, 1889) Beer. "Hirst Clemens :Met ternieh," in Der Near Plutarch. vol. v. (Leipzig, 1'477 : Demel itself. Metternich and seine ansmiir tifie Politik (Stuttgart. 1898) ; Matteson. Life of Prince MAtirrnieh (London and New Vork, 18881. See ; VIENNA. OF: 'Afti.$11AD DECREES:.