Letter on the Congress of Vienna

Your Imperial Majesty, The powers assembled here in Vienna have achieved what seemed impossible - a lasting peace built upon the balance of power and legitimate authority. After the chaos of revolution and the devastation of Napoleon's wars, Europe lay in ruins. The old order had been swept away, and many feared that nothing could replace it. Yet here in Vienna, the representatives of the great powers have demonstrated that reason and diplomacy can prevail over force and fanaticism. Our guiding principles have been restoration and equilibrium. We have restored legitimate sovereigns to their thrones and redrawn the map of Europe to ensure that no single power can dominate the continent as France did under Napoleon. The negotiations have been difficult, as each nation pursues its own interests. Prussia seeks territory in the Rhineland, Russia desires Poland, and Britain wants security on the seas. Yet through patient negotiation and careful compromise, we have reached agreements that satisfy all parties sufficiently, if not completely. I believe the order we have established will endure. It is built not upon the shifting sands of revolutionary ideology but upon the solid rock of tradition, legitimacy, and the mutual interest of all European states in maintaining stability. Your Majesty's devoted servant, Metternich