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2 Metternich’s Generation: Ancien Régime and Enlightenment, 1773–1792

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Metternich
This chapter is in the book Metternich
2metternich’s generationAncien Régime and Enlightenment, 1773–1792parental home, childhood, and educationBirth in KoblenzMetternichwasveryawareofhisancestry.Attheverybeginningofhis“Auto-biographicalMemoirs,”hedeclares:“Broughtupinmyfather’shousewithlovingcare,IgrewupundertheinfluencesofthepositioninwhichIwasborn—thepublicstationofmyfatherintheImperialservice,theFrenchso-ciallife,andthemorallaxitywhichcharacterizedthesmallerGermanStates,beforethestormburstforthwhichwassoonafterwardstoannihilatethem.”1Thus,evenatfifty-three,Metternich2stillrecalledhischildhoodand,indeed,managedeventhentopaintaclearpictureofthemostimportantforcesthatdeterminedhischildhoodandyouth.MetternichwasbornonMay15,1773,inthefamilyhomeinKoblenzand—asthebirthcertificate,writteninLatin,tellsus—christenedClemensWenceslausLothariusNepomucenus.3Itwascustomaryforthosenobleswithasenseoftraditiontoexpresssomethingoftheirfamily’shistorythroughthemanynamesgiventotheirfirstbornson.ThefactthatClemens’sfather,FranzGeorg,feltcompelledinthiswaytohonorthedeedsofLothar,thefirstprinceelectorofthefamily,isasignofthegratitudethefamilyfelttowardthisancestor.Likewise,heconsidereditappropriatetopayrespecttohisformersuperior,thearchbishopofTrierandprinceelectorClemensWenzeslausofSaxony.Metternichwouldlaterrepeatedlyboastabouthavinghadhimashisgodfather—eventhoughhe
© 2020 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College

2metternich’s generationAncien Régime and Enlightenment, 1773–1792parental home, childhood, and educationBirth in KoblenzMetternichwasveryawareofhisancestry.Attheverybeginningofhis“Auto-biographicalMemoirs,”hedeclares:“Broughtupinmyfather’shousewithlovingcare,IgrewupundertheinfluencesofthepositioninwhichIwasborn—thepublicstationofmyfatherintheImperialservice,theFrenchso-ciallife,andthemorallaxitywhichcharacterizedthesmallerGermanStates,beforethestormburstforthwhichwassoonafterwardstoannihilatethem.”1Thus,evenatfifty-three,Metternich2stillrecalledhischildhoodand,indeed,managedeventhentopaintaclearpictureofthemostimportantforcesthatdeterminedhischildhoodandyouth.MetternichwasbornonMay15,1773,inthefamilyhomeinKoblenzand—asthebirthcertificate,writteninLatin,tellsus—christenedClemensWenceslausLothariusNepomucenus.3Itwascustomaryforthosenobleswithasenseoftraditiontoexpresssomethingoftheirfamily’shistorythroughthemanynamesgiventotheirfirstbornson.ThefactthatClemens’sfather,FranzGeorg,feltcompelledinthiswaytohonorthedeedsofLothar,thefirstprinceelectorofthefamily,isasignofthegratitudethefamilyfelttowardthisancestor.Likewise,heconsidereditappropriatetopayrespecttohisformersuperior,thearchbishopofTrierandprinceelectorClemensWenzeslausofSaxony.Metternichwouldlaterrepeatedlyboastabouthavinghadhimashisgodfather—eventhoughhe
© 2020 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. Contents v
  3. A Note on the Frontispiece ix
  4. Translator’s Note xi
  5. Preface to the English-Language Edition xiii
  6. Introduction 1
  7. 1 Origins: Family Ties and the Rise of the Metternichs 20
  8. 2 Metternich’s Generation: Ancien Régime and Enlightenment, 1773–1792 45
  9. 3 A Double Crisis: Empire and Revolution, 1789–1801 67
  10. 4 Between Peace and War: Life as an Ambassador, 1801–1806 169
  11. 5 World War: Outset and Intensification, 1806–1812 201
  12. 6 World War: Climax and Crisis, 1813 320
  13. 7 World War: Catastrophe and Resolution, 1814 374
  14. 8 The End of an Era and a New Beginning for Europe: The Congress of Vienna, 1814–1815 413
  15. 9 Connoisseur of Women and Head of the Entail 463
  16. 10 The Construction of a New Beginning: Reform and Reconstruction, 1815–1818 518
  17. 11 Defensive Security Policies: Averting Threats under the Vienna System, 1815–1829 546
  18. 12 The Economist: Metternich as a Capitalist with a Social Conscience 632
  19. 13 The Spring of Nations amid Poverty, 1830–1847 658
  20. 14 The Organization of Rule: Power Centers, Networks, Interests, Intrigues 682
  21. 15 Revolution, Escape, Exile, 1848–1851 716
  22. 16 At the Observatory: Twilight Years in Vienna, 1851–1859 737
  23. Epilogue: Metternich as a Postmodern Character in Early Modernity 746
  24. Abbreviations 757
  25. Notes 759
  26. Bibliography 839
  27. Acknowledgments 871
  28. Illustration Credits 875
  29. Index 879
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https://doi.org/10.4159/9780674245907-006

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. Contents v
  3. A Note on the Frontispiece ix
  4. Translator’s Note xi
  5. Preface to the English-Language Edition xiii
  6. Introduction 1
  7. 1 Origins: Family Ties and the Rise of the Metternichs 20
  8. 2 Metternich’s Generation: Ancien Régime and Enlightenment, 1773–1792 45
  9. 3 A Double Crisis: Empire and Revolution, 1789–1801 67
  10. 4 Between Peace and War: Life as an Ambassador, 1801–1806 169
  11. 5 World War: Outset and Intensification, 1806–1812 201
  12. 6 World War: Climax and Crisis, 1813 320
  13. 7 World War: Catastrophe and Resolution, 1814 374
  14. 8 The End of an Era and a New Beginning for Europe: The Congress of Vienna, 1814–1815 413
  15. 9 Connoisseur of Women and Head of the Entail 463
  16. 10 The Construction of a New Beginning: Reform and Reconstruction, 1815–1818 518
  17. 11 Defensive Security Policies: Averting Threats under the Vienna System, 1815–1829 546
  18. 12 The Economist: Metternich as a Capitalist with a Social Conscience 632
  19. 13 The Spring of Nations amid Poverty, 1830–1847 658
  20. 14 The Organization of Rule: Power Centers, Networks, Interests, Intrigues 682
  21. 15 Revolution, Escape, Exile, 1848–1851 716
  22. 16 At the Observatory: Twilight Years in Vienna, 1851–1859 737
  23. Epilogue: Metternich as a Postmodern Character in Early Modernity 746
  24. Abbreviations 757
  25. Notes 759
  26. Bibliography 839
  27. Acknowledgments 871
  28. Illustration Credits 875
  29. Index 879
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