VIENNA CONGRESS
Vienna Congress took place in the Austrian capital between 1814 and 1815 in order to restore the territorial structure and the legitimacy of the sovereigns at the end of the Napoleonic wars. To ensure peace in Europe, Vienna congress put the bases for a stable balance among the States, keeping under control the French power. France's borders returned to be those of 1792, while all militarys troops, provided with victorious powers. The old Dutch united Provinces were merged with the Austrian Netherlands, forming a new united kingdom country, Netherlands under Orange-Nassau's dinastys. Sardinia's kingdom, returned to the Savoy, regained Nice and the Savoy got the former Genoa's republic. The Habsburg Empire obtained Venice's republic. The tsar was able to have the full control of Poland's kingdom, while Sweden's was reinforced with Norway's possession. It was formed a Germanic confederation formed by 39 sovereign states, that included part of Prussia and the Habsburg Empire, whose crown was given president of the Central Organ of the Confederation. The Swiss Cantons met in a confederation, which was ensured indipendence and neutrality. Greit Britain gained strategic territories from about business and the control of maritime routes, including the Cape of Good Hope.
Italy, in the Vienna Congress, was in a marginal position compared with great interpreters of politics of the time, forced to suffer the will and interests of the stronger nations. The Italian peninsula was divided and invaded, without a real political power. From that congress, the peninsula came out completely, further, dismembered. The Kingdom of Sardinia, into the hands of Savoy, regained Piedmont and Savoy extended with the acquisition of the former Genoa's Republic and the return of Nice; In the north of the country the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia formed under the Austrian Emperor Francis I and included the Republic of Venice; The Duchy of Parma and Piacenza was assigned to Marie Louise, daughter of Emperor Francis I; The Duchy of Modena and Reggio passed to the Archduke Francis IV of Habsburg-Este; The Grand Duchy of Tuscany had as sovereign Ferdinand III of Habsburg-Lorraine; Naples kingdom returned to Ferdinand IV of Bourbon in 1817, with the acquisition of Sicily, formed the kingdom of the two Sicilies. The Papal States returned to the Pontiff, Pope Pius VII, who, however, lost Avignon in a definitive way. Italy was divided, and it would have remained so for many decades. Vienna Congress was able to secure almost forty years of peace in Europe, also important decisions were taken regarding the abolition of the slave trade and the protection of freedom of navigation on the rivers that crossed several states or they constitued the border between one state and another.
Italy, in the Vienna Congress, was in a marginal position compared with great interpreters of politics of the time, forced to suffer the will and interests of the stronger nations. The Italian peninsula was divided and invaded, without a real political power. From that congress, the peninsula came out completely, further, dismembered. The Kingdom of Sardinia, into the hands of Savoy, regained Piedmont and Savoy extended with the acquisition of the former Genoa's Republic and the return of Nice; In the north of the country the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia formed under the Austrian Emperor Francis I and included the Republic of Venice; The Duchy of Parma and Piacenza was assigned to Marie Louise, daughter of Emperor Francis I; The Duchy of Modena and Reggio passed to the Archduke Francis IV of Habsburg-Este; The Grand Duchy of Tuscany had as sovereign Ferdinand III of Habsburg-Lorraine; Naples kingdom returned to Ferdinand IV of Bourbon in 1817, with the acquisition of Sicily, formed the kingdom of the two Sicilies. The Papal States returned to the Pontiff, Pope Pius VII, who, however, lost Avignon in a definitive way. Italy was divided, and it would have remained so for many decades. Vienna Congress was able to secure almost forty years of peace in Europe, also important decisions were taken regarding the abolition of the slave trade and the protection of freedom of navigation on the rivers that crossed several states or they constitued the border between one state and another.
