Europe - 1815

This provides a general overview of the historical context of the Congress and the events that defined the preceding years of European history. All characters will know this information, though many will know far more about specific aspects.

Beginning in 1789 as an attempt to deal with the fiscal crises caused by the tax exemptions of the nobility, it evolved into a general attack on the Bourbon monarchy, the feudal system, the Catholic church, tax farmers, and pretty much anything connected to the Old Regime. It culminated in the execution of the king and queen, and the Reign of Terror in which thousands suspected of conspiring against the new republic were sent to the guillotine, which was ironically conceived as a more humane form of execution. The collapse of fledgling democracy into terror paved the way for Napoleon's rise.

The excess of the French Republic led to war with the more established powers of Europe, many of whose royal houses were linked to the Bourbons. Despite the heavy odds against it, the Republic was far more formidable then it might seem. The Revolution had allowed for the creation of mass conscript armies motivated by patriotism and the elimination of the noble officer corps allowed for a new one based on merit. The most notable product of this system was a Corsican officer named Napoleon Bonaparte. He rose to general and, after spectacular defeats of the Austrians and others, became first one of three Consuls ruling France, then, by military coup First Consul, and finally crowning himself Emperor His leadership and military genius allowed him to lay all of continental Europe at his feet. The one foe he could never conquer, though, was England.

The greatest naval power on Earth and its leading commercial one as well. Britain, while retaining a monarchy, is an aberration in that it is primarily ruled by Parliament. Its nominal King, George III, is quite mad and has been shut up for years. Britain is currently engaged in a drawn-out war with its former colonies in the United States of America, though treaty negotiations are underway in Ghent, Belgium. Here on this side of the Atlantic, the attempts by Napoleon to break the economic power of England through a blockade called the Continental System proved unsuccessful, and ultimately led Napoleon into an ill-conceived invasion of Russia.

A vast nation of serfs ruled by the sometimes enlightened, sometimes religious, always dashing Tsar Alexander I. After being defeated by Napoleon early on, Alexander allied with him and they divided up Europe in the Treaty of Tsilt. Ultimately, the alliance faltered over the issue of Napoleon's Contintental System, and Napoleon invaded. The sheer size of the Russian steppes proved Napoleon's undoing. His invasion bogged down in the Russian winter against the scorched earth tactics employed against him. Forced to retreat ignominiously from Moscow, his Grand Army in ruins, Napoleon fled back towards France, where he was finally defeated at the Battle of the Nations by the Russians along with the Austrians and the Prussians as well as assorted other powers.

The Austrian Empire under the Hapsburg monarchy is a mishmash of different ethnicities trying to survive in an age of awakening nationalism. Initially a major opponent of the revolution, repeated defeats caused them to come to an accommodation with Napoleon, going to far as to give the daughter of the Empress to him as his wife. Ultimately though, they changed sides once again and helped to bring France to its knees.

A small but highly militarized state, it has become the leading power in Northern Germany and is counted among the great powers of Europe. Its vaunted army was smashed by Napoleon at the Battle of Jena, but it has been rebuilt and Prussia continues to strive for influence in Germany.

After the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of the Nations, he abdicated his throne and the victorious Allies placed Louis XVIII, brother of the late King, on the throne of France. Louis is in something of a precarious position, since both Napoleon and the earlier Republican forms of government still command a significant degree of loyalty among the French people.

After the victory was won, a great many issues remained. The French Revolution had reshaped the map of Europe, and despite the fervent wishes of many, everything couldn't go back just the way it had been. Therefore, it was decided that a great Congress would be held in cosmopolitan Vienna, capital of the Austrian Empire, to hammer out the shape of the future. All of the great powers were to gather, but that was far from all. The lesser states of Europe also sent their representatives, hoping to have their grievances addressed. So too did defeated France, trying to reclaim a seat at the table. This magnificent gathering has attracted persons of every sort from around Europe and beyond, spies and courtesans, scientists and inventors, artists and musicians, and more.

While there are many issues that need to be addressed here in Vienna, there are fewer that will be decided in the treaty proper. Though they cannot be debated in a vacuum, in the end it will be the Foreign Ministers of the five Great Powers who must try to define the future of Europe through writing the treaty's five main articles. Firstly, should the French be readmitted to the society of decent nations, having been snapped out of their revolutionary madness, or do they have to pay for breaking the peace of Europe for 20 long years and more? Secondly, should they have to reparations to the nations they offended, and in what amount? Thirdly, should Poland, destroyed years ago in the partitions, be recreated as a protectorate of the Russian Tsar? Fourthly, what of Italy: Should the King of Naples, a relative of Napoleon, be allowed to keep his throne? Should Austria expand its power there? And finally, what is to become of Germany, the heart of Europe: Should Prussia expand further into it? Should it begin to unite, or stay divided as it was before?