Metternich: Strategist and Visionary

Contents
A Note on the Frontispiece
Translator’s Note
Preface to the English-Language Edition
Introduction
	A Life in Seven Stages
	Metternich’s Biographers across the Generations
	The Risks and Limitations of Srbik’s Biography of Metternich
1. Origins: Family Ties and the Rise of the Metternichs
	The Ministerial Metternichs
	The Lords of Königswart
	The Barons of Winneburg and Beilstein
	The Counts as Members of the Imperial Diet
	The Highest Floor: The Princes in the Bel Étage
2. Metternich’s Generation: Ancien Régime and Enlightenment, 1773–1792
	Parental Home, Childhood, and Education
	Studies in Strasbourg and Mainz: Formation of a Political and Historical View of the World
3. A Double Crisis: Empire and Revolution, 1789–1801
	Fin de Siècle: The Imperial Elections of 1790 and 1792
	1789: The Rupture of the French Revolution
	Brussels and the Austrian Netherlands
	The Journey to Great Britain: The Final Piece to the Young Metternich’s Political Universe
	Collapse and Flight in 1794
	A New Beginning: Vienna, Königswart, and Austerlitz
	Time of Transition: The Diplomat in Waiting, 1796–1801
4. Between Peace and War: Life as an Ambassador, 1801–1806
	Dresden, 1801–1803: The Minister at His “Observation Post\"
	Berlin, 1803–1806: The Ambassador on the Grand Diplomatic Stage
	The Peace of Pressburg and the Beginning of the End for the Holy Roman Empire
5. World War: Outset and Intensification, 1806–1812
	Ambassador in Paris, 1806–1809: In the “Lion’s Den\"
	Ambassador on Borrowed Time and Napoleon’s Captive under House Arrest
	The Interim Minister: Sidelined by Napoleon
	The Minister in Charge of the New Direction: A Defensive Strategy in Domestic Policy and Matchmaking Abroad, 1809–1810
	The Foreign Minister on Tour: 181 Days with Napoleon
	Domestic and International Consolidation, 1810–1812
6. World War: Climax and Crisis, 1813
	Metternich Discreetly Assembles the Forces
	The Tactical Path to an “Armed Mediation\"
	Austria Joins the War: The Quadruple Alliance
7. World War: Catastrophe and Resolution, 1814
	The Final Battle against Napoleon and the Prefiguration of the Vienna Order
	Metternich’s Second Voyage to England and Preparations for the Congress of Vienna
	Metternich, the War, and Violence in Politics
8. The End of an Era and a New Beginning for Europe: The Congress of Vienna, 1814–1815
	The Initial Situation: The Experience of War and a Legal Vacuum
	The “Cosmopolitans”: Instigating a New Law Based on Imperial Legal Orders
	A Master Plan? Metternich between Realpolitik, Strategy, and Vision
	The Congress on the Brink: Crises Test the Principle of Balance
	The End of the Holy Roman Empire: The Habsburg Empire and the German Question
	“Germany—United by Federal Ties”: Metternich’s Part in the Foundation of the German Confederation
	“The Congress Dances”—Especially in Metternich’s House
9. Connoisseur of Women and Head of the Entail
	Iconography and Historical Specificity of Love
	Love and Politics: At the Courts of Dresden, Berlin, and Paris
	Wilhelmine von Sagan and the Confusion of Feelings
	Dorothea von Lieven: “The Nearness of the Beloved\"?
	Wives and Children: Family Ties and Tribulations
10. The Construction of a New Beginning: Reform and Reconstruction, 1815–1818
	Metternich’s Ideas and Policies on the Nationality Question: The Case of Italy
	Journeys to Italy, a Happy, Ungovernable Country
	Metternich’s Plan for a Reorganization of the Monarchy
	Habsburg and the German Confederation: An Affirmation for Metternich and Prussia, 1817–1818
11. Defensive Security Policies: Averting Threats under the Vienna System, 1815–1829
	Napoleon’s “Hundred Days”: Activating the European Security System
	Fault Lines in the Societies of Europe after 1815
	Metternich and British Security Policies, 1817–1820: Pretext or Defense against a Revolution?
	The Radicalization of the German National Movement: The Wartburg Festival and Sand’s Assassination of Kotzebue
	Metternich’s Hesitant Reactions: The Press, the Professors, and the Students
	From Teplitz to Carlsbad: The Conferences on Domestic Security, 1819–1820
	Metternich’s Suggestions for the Development and Extension of the German Federal Constitution: The Final Act of the German Confederation, May 15, 1820
	Terrorism and Security Policies as a European Problem: England, France, and Metternich
	The Double-Edged Sword of Intervention and the Concert of Europe
	The Concert of Europe and the Defensive Security Policies of the 1820s
12. The Economist: Metternich as a Capitalist with a Social Conscience
	Managing Financial Crises
	Metternich as Agrarian Economist: Farmer, Vintner, Forester
	Factory Owner and Industrial Entrepreneur
13. The Spring of Nations amid Poverty, 1830–1847
	The July Revolution in 1830 and Metternich’s International Crisis Management
	A Revolution in Communication, the Spring of Nations, State Security
	Tolerated Revolutions after 1830
	From the Orient to the Rhine: The Concert of the Major Powers as a Challenge
	Metternich and Customs Policies
14. The Organization of Rule: Power Centers, Networks, Interests, Intrigues
	The Master of the State Chancellery
	Constrained by Emperor Franz’s “Personal Regime\"
	Emperor Franz’s Legacy: A System “Headed by a Half-Wit Who Represents the Crown\"
	Crisis Instead of Reform: Metternich versus Kolowrat
	Lobbyism, the Power Politics of the Imperial Family, the Estates
15. Revolution, Escape, Exile, 1848–1851
	Revolution 1848: “Sheet Lightning,” Outbreak, and Escape
	Metternich’s English Self: In Exile, 1848–1849
	Brussels 1849–1851: Metternich’s Look Back at a Liberal Economic Policy That Was Not to Be
16. At the Observatory: Twilight Years in Vienna, 1851–1859
Epilogue: Metternich as a Postmodern Character in Early Modernity
Abbreviations
Notes
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
Illustration Credits
Index