We inevitably spend a lot of time talking about Napoleon - its only natural. But if we set Napoleon to one side for a moment, who is the most significant/influential/important figure in this period, apart from Bonaparte?
They can be any nationality, have had any occupation (ie they needn't have been a soldier). A few contenders spring to mind that we might want to think about, but I'm not enough of an expert on their lives to make an authoritative case for them:
Metternich? Archduke Charles? Talleyrand? Berthier?
I'm reluctant to say Tsar Alexander, and people may be surprised to hear that I wouldn't make the case for Wellington, or in fact any of the British PMs. Anyhow, what do we all think?
There is one person who saved the lives of dozens of endangered French citizens proscribed by the Revolutionary government. Not so successful was her trying to help the Royal Couple escape France.
This person lobbied the Directors to appoint Talleyrand to his first foreign ministry post. Talleyrand, who helped Napoleon Bonaparte achieve power.
This person was considered by Napoleon such a threat as to be exiled for a decade from Paris. She had operated the most influential salon in town gathering elitists of all persuasions who often seemed to be less attached to Napoleon after their visit (according to Napoleon).
This person was a significant literary figure, having written fiction and non-fiction that elevated the Romantic Period and educated readers of French about culture, politics and literature of Germany and Italy. Wrote a history of the entire Revolutionary/Napoleonic period and a book about suicide.
This person invented a form of "shuttle diplomacy" (later made famous by Kissinger) by escaping her Swiss exile and touring for more than a year Austria, Russia, Sweden and Britain -- all the while lobbying leaders to cement a new Coalition that would find success at Leipzig in 1813.
A Swiss citizen, she exploited for years her husband's post as Swedish minister to Paris, championed the British form of government and promoted German and Italian culture -- all while retaining a French identity, making her a very European woman.
Germaine de Stael could be a contender, eh?
I would probably go along with Alexander I, with a side bet on Metternich, although his glory days(sic) were still ahead of him. For a more longue duree view Jose de San Martin takes some beating!
José de San Martín fought for Spain and Napoleon during the second coalition, and against Napoleon during the Peninsular War. He went on to liberate Argentina, Chile, and Perú. Along with (but not in an alliance with) Simón Bolívar, he’s largely responsible for the independence of South America. If the connection to Napoleon seems tenuous because San Martín was so young when he fought in Europe, I would point out that Argentina had installed a national government in the first place (May of 1810) precisely in response to the illegitimacy of the viceroy‘s mandate due to the fact that the King (Ferdinand VII) had been deposed and imprisoned by Napoleon, who then installed Joseph Bonaparte. José de San Martín may not be a well-known entity in the northern hemisphere, but his influence in South America was extraordinary.
Fair enough. I confess, I've never entirely lost the positive image of him picked up from his sympathetic portrayal in Dennis Wheatley's 'Roger Brook' novels which I read as a teenager, so I really ought to find something more objective to read about him. Anyone care to recommend a biography?
Talleyrand would be in the top ten, I would think, but no way would he be numero uno, IMHO. I'd put him at the lower end of the ten.
How is Talleyrand viewed these days? I would have thought that he'd be up there as a contender, but I'm no expert on the diplomatic side of things.
The only Brit PMs I'd rate to that extent might be Pitt or Liverpool, probably Pitt more, although there are serious issues with him as a war minister. Castlereagh would be more my pick but only 1813+. Zack, was there anyone who didn't have an agenda of some sort? ;)
I would go for the British PMs - Nabulieone's obsession was to destroy Britain, this was goal number one, all means which seemed to be feasible were used, and he failed miserable in this and ended in self destruction.
Probably Metternich. He was involved in so much of the politics and diplomacy of the era (and after) that he would be in the top of any list.