The Congress of Vienna: How Germany Was Remade After Napoleon

The History of Germany: Kingdoms, War, and Rebuilding Europe — Fexingo History · May 5, 2026 · 8m · transcript

After Napoleon's defeat, Europe's powers gathered in Vienna to redraw the map. For Germany, the Congress of Vienna created the German Confederation, a loose union of 39 states that replaced the Holy Roman Empire. This episode explores the key figures—Metternich, Hardenberg, Humboldt—and the compromises that shaped German politics for the next half-century. We look at the territorial settlements, the rise of Austria and Prussia as rival powers, and the cultural stirrings of nationalism that the Congress tried to suppress. From the Carlsbad Decrees to the Wartburg Festival, we trace…