Mens

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

PRINCE VON, an Austrian statesman; born in Coblenz, Prussia, May 15, 1773. He entered the diplomatic service as secretary at the Congress of Rastadt, in 1799. He was appointed Austrian ambassador, in succession, at the courts of Dresden, Berlin, and Paris. In 1809 he was appointed chancellor of state, the resignation of Count on Stadion. For nearly 40 years from that period, he exercised, almost without control, the highest authority in the Austrian empire. One of his first aims after entering on his high office was to bring about a marriage between Napoleon and an Austrian archduchess. After Napoleon was divorced from Josephine, Metternich escorted Maria Louisa to Paris. But this expedient of a humiliating sacrifice could not be permanent; and in 1813, after the great French disasters in Russia, war, at the instigation of Metternich, was again formally declared by Austria against France. In the autumn of that year the Grand Alliance was signed at Teplitz, and on the field of Leipsic Metternich was raised to the dignity of a prince of the empire. In the subsequent treaties and conferences the newly created prince took a very prominent part, and he signed the treaty of Paris on behalf of Austria. In he presided over the Congress of Vienna, and took a prominent part in the various congresses that were held in succession at Paris, Aix-la-Chapelle, Carlsbad, Laybach, and Verona; inculcating on all occasions, as far as in him lay, the principles of the divine right of kings, and repressing every aspiration of the people after civil, political, and religious liberty. In 1848 he was compelled to flee from Vienna; he returned in 1851, but never again assumed office. He died in Vienna, June 11, 1859.