The Congress of Verona Concludes: December 12, 1822

The Congress of Verona, held as part of the series of international meetings forming the Concert of Europe, formally concluded its sessions on December 12, 1822. Convened in Verona, part of the Austrian Empire (now in modern-day Italy), the congress was attended by representatives from the major European powers, including Austria, Prussia, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France. These diplomatic gatherings aimed to address issues arising from the Napoleonic Wars and to ensure the balance of power within Europe.

Background and Context

The Congress of Verona was the last of the meetings initially set into motion by the Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815. Its primary focus was to manage post-revolutionary Europe and resolve tensions resulting from nationalistic and revolutionary currents that threatened the status quo. The Congress of Vienna had established a framework for maintaining peace through a balance of power, but evolving political and social dynamics demanded ongoing diplomatic intervention.

Key Issues Addressed

1. Spanish Intervention: One major focus of the Congress was the situation in Spain, where the Liberal Triennium (1820-1823) had seen the restoration of a constitutional monarchy, challenging the Holy Alliance’s principle of monarchical authority. The Congress authorized France, under the Holy Alliance, to intervene militarily in Spain to restore King Ferdinand VII’s absolute monarchy. This intervention effectively aligned with the broader goals of the conservative European powers to curb revolutionary and liberal movements.

2. Italian Affairs: Discussions included Italian affairs, particularly concerning the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Two Sicilies, where revolutionary activities had also threatened existing monarchies.

3. The Greek War of Independence: Although the Greek struggle against Ottoman rule was not resolved at this congress, it was a subject of discussion, revealing divisions among European powers regarding support for revolutionary endeavors outside of their territories.

Outcomes and Consequences

The Congress of Verona affirmed the principle that European powers had the authority to intervene in other countries to suppress revolutionary movements and maintain monarchical governance. The French intervention in Spain resulted in a rollback of the constitutional government, strengthening the notion of the Concert of Europe as a tool for conservative order.

Historical Significance

While the immediate outcomes of the Congress of Verona included the suppression of liberal movements, it also highlighted the limitations of the Concert of Europe. It failed to address the underlying causes of revolutionary movements and growing nationalistic sentiment, which would later culminate in significant political upheavals across Europe.

In the longer term, the tension between conservative force and nationalist aspirations foreshadowed conflicts that would challenge European stability, leading ultimately to the revolutions of 1848 and beyond. The Congress of Verona thus stands as a pivotal moment in the struggle between reactionary forces and the forces of democratic and national self-determination.