Monday, 21 May 2007

Museum für Völkerkunde - Seminarraum DG39

A-1010  WIEN, Neue Hofburg

Topic: "The Congress of Vienna 1814-1815: Poland-Saxony Crisis and New Territorial Order in Germany"

Positions available

Fürst Metternich, Austrian Empire

Viscount Castlereagh, United Kingdom

Fürst Hardenberg, Kingdom of Prussia

Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand, Kingdom of France

Tsar Alexander I, Russian Empire

Hypothetical Scenario

We are in Vienna of the early nineteenth century in November 1814, the first month of the Congress of Vienna. In France, the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty is being solidified, with Louis XVIII being able to gradually stabilise the country, whereas the border of France has been more or less fixed. Based on the First Peace of Paris (May 30^th, 1814), the members of the Grande Alliance have agreed to convene the Congress of Vienna in order to ratify the agreements concerning post-Napoleonic European territorial order. However, the two main conflicting points have not been decided yet: the Poland-Saxony Question (and, hereto closely linked, the new territorial order in Germany) and the Question of Italy. Metternich (Austria) is able to convince the Congress to deal first with the Poland-Saxony Question; as a result, the Congress immediately embarks upon this issue and soon finds itself in a deadlock.

Saxony is the German Kingdom that has longest remained an allied of Napoleon. It possesses one of the most industrialised areas on the continent. Poland, in personal Union with Saxony before its partition, is a subject of quarrel between the three absolutist powers with regards to territory and form of government.

The question is initially to be dealt with by only the Committee of the Four (Austria, United Kingdom, Prussia and Russia), and Talleyrand (France) who is not actively engaged in the negotiations, as the other four powers have secured its exclusion from any substantial decision in the First Peace of Paris. Talleyrand was therefore eager to exploit the deadlock as possibility to align with a party and thus escaping from diplomatic isolation.

Prior to the Congress, Hardenberg (Prussia) has put forward a proposal, consented by Metternich and Castlereagh (United Kingdom). The proposal, which would result in a large territorial gain in Germany (the whole Saxony, Westphalia and the left bank of the Rhineland, including Palatinate and Mainz) and in Poland (practically the pre-Napoleonic possession) for Prussia and to Prussia, is immediately rejected by Alexander (Russia). Hardenberg's proposal was the only proposal that has been put on the table until this date.

At this stage, the Committee of the Four is going to settle this question. Metternich and Castlereagh are ready to engage Talleyrand in a certain extent. Hardenberg and Alexander dismay French participation.

Moreover, the First Peace of Paris prohibits troop movement.

The issue in questions are primarily the following:

Should Saxony be affiliated to Prussia?

In that case, should there be a compensation for the King of Saxony?

… and how should Poland be anew partitioned?

Whom should Palatinate, the left bank of the Rhine, Rhineland, Mainz and Westphalia be allocated to?

How should the medium-sized German states be rewarded for the anti-Napoleonic war?

The results of the negotiations in this simulation, of course, do not need to be similar to that of the real world. The Poland-Saxony crisis and the new territorial order in Germany have shown that geographically military imbalance and economic power do not necessarily result in a territorial order, which one might expect from such an imbalance. Instead, the crisis has shown that practical negotiation strategies could be superior to purely power-based moves.

Brief description of the positions of the negotiators

Metternich:

You are worried about the Russian influence in Poland and Central Europ, as well as on Prussia and Prussian King Frederick William III. You would like to annex Galicia, Tarnopol and Cracow. Saxony must remain independent. You cannot agree with Prussian domination in western Germany and thus in fact oppose the Hardenberg's proposal. For you, either both Austria and Prussia would function as Wacht am Rhein, or Mainz and Palatinate should be allocated to Austria-friendly Bavaria. You insist on Salzburg. Your real main attention is Italy, where you have already secured Lombardy and Venetia per treaty. Nearly all Austrian troops have stationed in Italy, and very little in Germany. You have troops neither in Poland nor in Rhineland, nor in Northern Germany. You would like to secure Austrian Domination in German Confederation and entertain good relationships with minor German states, especially Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg and Hannover and have enjoyed large support of the catholic Majority in Rhineland. Furthermore you have enjoyed highest trust of your Emperor, Francis I of Austria and have good working relationship with Castlereagh and Hardenberg, you have established contact with Talleyrand, your opponent is Russia.

Castlereagh:

You are 'Foreign Minister' in the cabinet of Liverpool from the Conservative Party. You strongly believe and try to convince your ministerial colleague that the United Kingdom must be actively involved in the establishment of the post-war order in Europe, which must be based on the principle of 'just equilibrium' and a strong and peaceful Germany. You would like to limit Russians influence in Central Europe by supporting a strong German Confederation and want at least either Prussia or Austria to assume the function of Wacht am Rhein. You therefore also support an independent Poland. You have large influence on Hannover and the newly created Netherlands, thanks to the dynastic connections. For you, a strong Germany can be achieved if Austria and Prussia truly cooperate to maintain a balance of power and peace, and are ready to agree on territorial concession in Germany to both powers. France should be limited in latitude too. Your opponent is primarily, however, Russia. The British troops have been stationed in the Netherlands. The UK is the largest financial contributors to the war.

Hardenberg:

Your primary task is to secure the possession Prussia has gained in the partitions of Poland, to annex the Kingdom of Saxony and to receive, as compensation if suffering some loss in Poland, a part of western Germany including Palatinate and Mainz. If it comes to the point where Prussia has to choose between Saxony and Rhineland, it would opt for Saxony due to liberal and catholic sentiments in western Germany and geographical reasons. You are ready to cede Nuremberg, East Frisia and the north-eastern part of Bavaria. You are ready to cooperate with Metternich and Castlereagh, you have very good relationship with Russia, but oppose Talleyrand. Your effective troops stand on the left bank of the Rhine, in Palatinate and Mainz and in the Netherlands, some are also in Saxony. You enjoy good relationships with some minor German states, such as Brunswig, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and the Netherlands as well.

Talleyrand:

You insist on the principle of legitimacy, and therefore also on the independence of Saxony. You are ready and willing to join the Committee of the Four, making it Committee of the Five, as your main interest is to regain recognition of France as a great power, which deserves trust and a place in the future concert of Europe. Although some allies are ready to permit your participation in the Committee, this decision must be taken by all four powers. Prussia, Austria and Russia are keen to limit French power as much as possible due to military defeats suffered under Napoleon and French military potential. Alexander I despises your King Louis XVIII. As French territory has already determined, your main territorial interest is to prevent both Austria and Prussia on the left bank and instead a second-ranked German power such as Bavaria. Thanks to Napoleon, Frances economy is still on of the   healthiest amongst all the parties.

Alexander I:

You have strengthened your position already by conducting the negotiations by yourself.

Moreover, you have good ties with Francis I and Frederick William III. At this stage, your opponents are Castlereagh, Metternich and to some extent Hardenberg, who is to somehow afraid of the Russian influence in Prussia, Your troops have occupied Paris and are stationed in the Northern and Central parts of Germany, the greatest number, however, in Poland and Saxony. You wish to gain as much territory in as possible; especially the cities Warsaw, Thorn and Cracow are of great interest for you. You are acquainted with liberal ideas of constitutionalism, but do not want to reveal any plan concerning the future administration of Poland. You usually support Prussians endeavours on territories of Germany, in the hope that Russia will receive Prussian Poland.