Metternich and Bismark Comparing and Contrasting Two European Leaders by Matthew Elton The mid-nineteenth century was a time of strong leaders rising to power in Europe. In Austria, Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich pursued the establishment of an even balance of power throughout Europe, in an effort to prevent war. In Germany, Otto von Bismarck sought to augment Germanys power in every way possible, hoping to make Germany into the strongest of all European nations. The contrasting foreign policies and goals of these two men would tear Europe apart, and eventually lead to the First World War. Metternich, an Austrian politician, was one of the most important delegates of the Congress of Vienna. The purpose of the Congress of Vienna was to prevent France, or any nation, from conquering much of Europe as Napoleon had done. Metternich believed that if the nations of Europe are evenly matched, then they will not declare war on one another, however, if one nation is capable of bullying another nation, it will do so. Thus, Metternich proposed that a balance of power between the great powers of Europe would prevent a continent wide war. The time period in which the Congress of Vienna took place became known as the Age of Metternich because of Metternichs popular and rational political philosophy. Prussian chancellor Otto von Bismarck had different political views. Bismarck unified the Prussia with the other German States, to create the German Empire. He would upset Metternichs balance of power by seeking to make Germany far stronger than any other nation in Europe. With skilful political maneuvering, Bismarck turned other European powers against France, the greatest threat to German dominance in Europe. In the Franco-Prussian War, Bismarck went to war with France and was victorious, gaining the precious Alsace-Lorraine territory. Through a policy of blood and iron, Bismarck made Germany into a powerful empire. Metternich supported an equal balance of power throughout Europe, while Bismarck sought to make Germany more powerful than any other European nation. These contrasting policies divided Europe, driving Bismarcks allies against France and her allies, and setting up for World War I. In years to come these two great powers and their allies would find themselves at a seemingly endless stalemate.