Metternich, Klemens von

Klemens von Metternich was an influential Austrian diplomat and statesman in the early 19th century. He played a key role in shaping European politics after the Napoleonic Wars, advocating for stability, conservative values, and the balance of power among nations. As the Austrian Empire’s foreign minister and later host of the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815), he aimed to restore and maintain order in Europe, suppress revolutionary movements, and prevent any single country from dominating the continent. His policies helped preserve the old monarchical and aristocratic order for several decades, making him a central figure in early 19th-century European diplomacy.