Austrian politician, the leading figure in European diplomacy after the fall of Napoleon. As foreign minister 180948 (as well as chancellor from 1821), he tried to maintain the balance of power in Europe, supporting monarchy and repressing liberalism.
At the Congress of Vienna 1815, Metternich advocated cooperation by the great powers to suppress democratic movements. The
revolution of 1848 forced him to flee to the UK; he returned 1851 as a power behind the scenes.
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