15 May 1773 - Birth of Klemens Metternich

Was Klemens (von) Metternich a real spider or just a splendid diplomatic?


Klemens Metternich was born on 15 May 1773 as the eldest son of Franz George Carl Count Metternich-Winneburg zu Bilstein and  Countess Maria Beatrice Aloysia von Kageneck. He was named in honour of Prince Clemens Wenceslaus of Saxony, the archbishop of Trier and the former employer of his father. 

Education

His education was handled by his mother , influenced by their  proximity to France. Metternich spoke French better than German. In 1788, Metternich started to study law at the University of Strasbourg.

During his studies he met Prince Maximilian of Zweibrücken (who became later King of Bavaria). 

At the end of 1790 till the summer of 1792, Metternich studied law at the University of Mainz. This was a more conservative education than at Strassbourg.

In March 1792, Francis II succeeded as Holy Roman Emperor, he was  crowned in July. Meanwhile France had declared war on Austria,  (the War of the First Coalition). This made Metternich's further study in Mainz impossible. He was sent on a special mission to the front. Here he led the interrogation of the French Minister of War, the Marquis de Beurnonville.

Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor

Love and Marriage (1)

On 27 September 1795 Klemens Metternich married to Countess Eleonore von Kaunitz, a granddaughter of the former Austrian chancellor Wenzel Kaunitz. This marriage was arranged by Metternich's mother to introduce him in the Viennese Society. 

Education and duty

After Metternich's studies in Vienna, he participated in the Congress of Rastatt in 1797. 

After the defeat of the Holy Roman Empire in the War of the Second Coalition, Metternich was offered a choice between three ministerial  positions:

- Imperial Diet at Regensburg;

- Kingdom of Denmark at Copenhagen;

- Elector of Saxony in Dresden. 

In 1801 he chose Dresden in Late January. Metternich took up a Mistress: Catherine Bagration, who bore him a daughter:  Marie-Clementine.

Later Metternich became ambassador to the Kingdom of Prussia. This took place in November 1803. He was worried about the territorial ambitions of Napoleon Bonaparte, the leader of  France.

His worries were shared with Tsar Alexander I of Russia. The Tsar kept Metternich informed about  the Russian policy.

Tsar Alexander I of Russia

Metternich even argued with Napoleon Bonaparte on his 39th. birthday celebrations in August 1808 about the preparations for war on both sides. Afterwards Napoleon refused Metternich's attendance at the Congress of Erfurt.

Napoleon Bonaparte

In 1809, Metternich witnessed first hand the Austrian defeat at the Battle of Wagram. Metternich had to push for the marriage of Napoleon to Archduchess Marie Louise. The couple were married by proxy on  11 March 1810. Marie Louise left for France soon and Metternich followed via a different route and unofficially. In October 1810 Metternich returned to Vienna, he was no longer popular. But he still tried to make alliances between countries.

In May 1812, Metternich accompanied his sovereign for a final meeting with Napoleon at Dresden, before Napoleon embarked upon the French Invasion of Russia.

At that time, Austria's influence in Europe had reached its lowest level. The next months Metternich distanced Austria from the French. He also avoided an alliance with either Prussia or Russia. 

In October 1813, Klemens Metternich was given the title Prince for his service to the Austrian Empire. 

Later Metternich went to Bohemia, where he benefitted from the hospitality of the beautiful Princess Wilhelmina, Duchess of Sagan. He started an affair with her which lasted several months. She had a great influence over  Metternich.

Princess Wilhelmina, Duchess of Sagan

Metternich also allied three monarchs: Alexander of Russia, Francis, Holy Roman Emperor and Frederick William III of Prussia.  On 18 October 1813, the Battle of Leipzig took place and Napoleon was defeated by the allies. 

In the autumn of 1814, the heads of 5 reigning (Britain, Prussia, Austria and Russia) dynasties and their representatives started to gathering at Vienna.  Metternich played an important role at what was called the Congress of  Vienna. 

On 7 March 1815, Metternich was awakened with the news that Napoleon escaped from Elba. Within an hour he had met with both the Tsar and the King of Prussia.  On 3 May 1815, Austria won the Battle of Tolentino and captured Naples, less than three weeks later. 

Napoleon was finally defeated on the Battle of Waterloo which took place on 18 June 1815. Metternich was soon back with the allies in Paris to  discuss peace terms. The Treaty of Paris was concluded on 20 November.

In December 1815, Metternich traveled to Italy, he visited Venice and Milan, to study the situation there. 

In June 1817, Metternich was required to escort the emperor's newly wed daughter Maria Leopoldina to a ship at Livorno. After their arrival,  Metternich spent some time in Italy. He visited Venice, Padua, Ferrara,  Pisa, Florence and Lucca. He returned to Vienna on 12 September 1817.  Three days later, his daughter Maria married to Count Joseph Esterházy.

In 1821, Metternich met King George IV of the United Kingdom and the Viscount Castlereagh in Hanover in October. He promised to settle in part Austria's financial debts to Britain.

On 19 March 1825, his wife Eleonore died in Paris, France.  While mourning, Metternich took up the opportunity to dine with the Paris Elite. He left Paris for the last time on 21 April 1825.

King George IV of the United Kingdom

Love and marriage (2)

On 5 November 1827, Metternich married to Baroness Antoinette von Leykam. She was only twenty years old and she belonged to the lower nobility. But due to her charm and her grace she soon won over

the Viennese society. 

In January 1829, Antoinette died shortly after giving birth to their son Richard von Metternich. Another son Victor, died due to tuberculosis on 30 November 1829.

Duty

In 1830 Metternich was worried about the news of the unrest in  Brussels (then a part of the Netherlands).  In February 1831, rebels took the cities of Parma, Modena and Bologna and appealed to France for help. 

In 1831, Egypt invaded the Ottoman Empire. There were fears of the Empire's global collapse. Metternich therefore proposed support for the Ottomans and a Viennese congress to sort out the details. This was  opposed by France and by the United Kingdom. 

Love and marriage (3)

In 1832, Metternich married to Countess Melanie Zichy -Ferrais. 

Duty

On 2 March 1835, Emperor Francis died and he was succeeded by his son Ferdinand I. Metternich soon accompanied Ferdinand on his first meeting with Tsar Nicholas and the King of Prussia at Teplitz,

it was an untroubled meeting. 

Metternich had long predicted the new crisis in the East when the Second Turko-Egyptian war broke out in 1839. Metternich tried to negotiate between the former allies with no or less result. He  became ill.  Nevertheless he still tried to do his diplomatic duties in Europe and even in the world. 

Exile

In 1848 revolutions broke out in Europe, and Metternich predicted already troubles in Italy. After an anxious journey, Metternich  traveled to Arnhem, Amsterdam and The Hague. On 20 April 1848,

he and his family landed at Blackwall and London, where they  stayed at the Brunswick Hotel in Hanover Square until they found a permanent residence.

Metternich enjoyed his time in London, he met the Duke of Wellington (almost 80 years old at that time), Palmerston, Guizot and Benjamin Disraeli. However Queen Victoria did not acknowledge

his presence in the capital.

Duke of Wellington

In October, the Metternich family moved to Brussels. In this city the living coasts were cheaper and it was closer to the continental  affairs. 

In May 1851, Metternich left for his Johannisberg Estate. That summer Metternich enjoyed the company of Prussian  representative Otto von Bismarck. He also enjoyed a visit from King

Frederick William of Prussia. 

In September 1851, Metternich returned to Vienna. There he had no longer an official function but Emperor Franz-Joseph asked him for his advice  on numerous issues. Even Tsar Nicholas called on him during a state visit. King Leopold of the Belgians came to visit him, as did Bismarck and on 16 August 1857 he entertained the future Edward VII of The United Kingdom. 

Death

On 11 June 1859, at the age of 86, Metternich died in Vienna. He was the last great figure of his generation. Almost everyone of note in Vienna came to pay tribute. In the foreign press his death went

unnoticed ... 

Opinion

I think the 18th. and 19th century were splendid eras for diplomats and courtiers. I would love to have Metternich's address book. 

Books


Metternich was mentioned in The Comunist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, as one of the forces trying to curb the communism.

Of course there are books about Klemens Metternich. I read this one

If you have other book hints, please let me know!

@EmpressofHAB gave me on Twitter the Hint of the book The Grandma. It's about Wilhelmine. More on this link. 

Source pictures: Wikipedia

last picture: book cover