The following section is designed to help you create your character for “Waltz of Nations.” The section is divided into various “types” of characters; in some cases the historical record provides specific examples of persons fitting this or that “type,” but not in all. Therefore we provide general descriptions for each “type.”
Please note that many characters will possess qualities from more than one “type” on the list. Nevertheless, there usually will be one main category to which they can be said to belong. For example, any diplomat would also be a prominent figure in society, but he would be known primarily as a diplomat; whereas many society ladies and gentlemen certainly exercised a considerable influence on politics behind the scenes, but were known primarily for their social prominence.
If you do decide to play a historical figure, you will be provided with a more extensive background than appears here, once you have notified the GMs of which character you wish to play. These are intended to be only thumbnail descriptions.
Diplomats
Society Figures
Artists, Performers, and other Individuals of Talent
Adventurers and Adventuresses
Nationalists, Patriots, Plotters, and Spies
The Congress of Vienna was, ostensibly, a diplomatic summit, and all the great powers of Europe - and most of the lesser powers, for that matter - sent representatives. Diplomats have great influence on the formation of political policies of the day and command, to a considerable extent, the resources of their nations.
Nevertheless, they are not omnipotent. All diplomats are ultimately responsible to their heads of state. While many heads of state (including Tsar Alexander of Russia, King Frederick William III of Prussia, and Emperor Franz I of Austria) historically were in Vienna for the Congress, heads of state will not be permitted as PCs in this game. Communication with heads of state may take place in-game if one’s sovereign is in Vienna, or else between games, if he is not - in both cases, by consulting with the GMs.
Diplomats may be possessed of great insight, intelligence, and political knowledge, or they may simply be favorites of their monarchs. Moreover, diplomats are not the only ones - or sometimes, indeed, even the most important ones - who exercise influence over their monarch. But they are the formal representatives of their nation’s interests, and any formal national policy discussion will take place through them. Whether that policy will be decided solely upon their input, of course, is another matter....
Diplomats present at the Congress of Vienna include:
Austrians:
Prince Klemens von Metternich (Austrian Foreign Minister): (David Altman).
Born in Koblentz, to a family of Imperial counts who held their estates directly from the Holy Roman Emperor, he and his family were forced to flee to Vienna in 1794, when the French invaded and took over their lands. His marriage to Eleonore von Kaunitz in 1795 opened the doors to Austrian high society and politics, since which time his ambition and talents have carried him far. He was Austrian ambassador to Saxony in 1801, to Prussia in 1803, and to France in 1806. In 1809 he was made Foreign Minister of Austria, the position he now occupies.
He is handsome, suave, charming, always elegantly dressed, and extremely clever, and he knows it. Notorious as a ladies’ man, he has had his name linked with Princess Bagration, Napoleon’s sister Caroline, and others, but currently his obsession is the Duchess of Sagan, with whom he is said to be genuinely in love.
British:
Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh (British Foreign Minister):
Eldest son of a Protestant Irish landowner, he began his political career by entering the Irish Parliament, before moving on to London. He has served in various capacities during the Napoleonic Wars. He was Secretary for War and the Colonies in 1805 under Prime Minister Pitt, and served in the Foreign Office in 1807, where he was a strong supporter of his friend Wellington’s (then merely Lord Wellesley) mission in Spain. A dispute with George Canning, another minister in the government, over British policy in Spain led Lord Castlereagh to fight a duel with him in 1810; the subsequent scandal led to the temporary eclipse of both men in public life, although their careers have now recovered.
Castlereagh returned to government service in 1812, as Foreign Secretary. He assumed the leadership of the Tory party, and thereby the current leadership of the House of Commons, when his predecessor, Prime Minister Spencer Perceval, was assassinated by a madman later that year. Castlereagh is a moderate and is known to oppose the reactionary policies of many continental rulers.
To most people, he seems a straightforward, but somewhat aloof, man; although those who know him best say that he can be quite charming and friendly. Castlereagh is devoted to his wife, who has accompanied him to Vienna. His marital devotion, and lack of a mistress, puzzles the Austrian secret police-not to mention High Society-because Lady Castlereagh is an extremely stout, inelegant lady, always dressed over-elaborately. A rumor currently making the rounds illustrates his stolid but oddly charming demeanor: upon arriving in Vienna, it became clear to Castlereagh that he would be expected to waltz at the many receptions to be held. Being unfamiliar with the new dance, Castlereagh has been seen practicing in the privacy of his rooms - with a chair as his partner.
Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington (British general, Ambassador to France): (Ian Fagan).
Born in Ireland of Anglo-Irish nobility, educated at Eton and at a French military academy in Angers, Arthur Wellesley joined the army in 1787. He saw service in the Napoleonic Wars in Holland (1794-5) and India (1796), where he first distinguished himself and rose to the rank of major-general. He entered Parliament upon his return to England in 1805 and served two years as Chief Secretary for Ireland. He is a friend and political ally of Lord Castlereagh. After this spell in politics, he commanded the British forces in the Copenhagen expedition in 1807, and the following year was among the officers in the British expeditionary force to Portugal. He was given command of all British forces in the Iberian Penninsula the following year. Between 1809 and 1814, Wellesley led the British campaign in Spain against Napoleon, winning numerous victories against Napoleon’s best field marshals. His victories brought him increasingly high honors; he was elevated first to viscount, then earl, then marquess, and finally to his current title, Duke of Wellington. He led the British invasion of France from the south early in 1814. Widely regarded as a brilliant general and one of the principal heroes of the fight against Napoleon, Wellington is known for his strong personality and forceful speech. He sets high standards for his officers and men, and woe betide whoever does not meet them. It is said that being raked over the coals by Wellington has made strong men weep. Yet he very much enjoys feminine company-indeed, he is said to have arrived in Vienna in company with the famous opera singer Giuseppina Grassini, while the Duchess of Wellington remains in Paris.
Lord Charles Stewart (British Ambassador): (Brett Shefter)
Younger half-brother of Lord Castlereagh, as flamboyant as his brother is modest, the handsome Charles Stewart cuts quite a swath through Viennese society. He was a cavalry commander during the war, and his courage and dash earned him a well-deserved reputation as a hero. He also would appear to be familiar with the demimonde. Rumor reports that, on more than one occasion, he has been found by members of the British delegation-which he nominally heads-drunk and brawling in the alleys behind one or another of Vienna’s many wine shops, from which he has had to be helped home. At social gatherings he is lively, entertaining, and gallant to all the ladies, whose company he clearly enjoys-although it has been noted that he is particularly attentive to the beautiful Duchess of Sagan and to her sister, Countess Périgord. Lord Stewart also is a friend of the financier Nathan M. Rothschild.
French:
Prince Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand (French Foreign Minister): (Tapani Ronni).
Scion of one of the oldest noble families in France-he can trace his ancestry to the 10th century-this intriguing man has had one of the most bizarre political careers of the age. Because he has limped badly since early childhood and must wear a brace on his leg to do even that, his parents decided he should enter the Catholic Church as a career, even though he was personally not at all inclined to it. Nevertheless, through his family’s influence and his own talents, he was named bishop of Autun in 1789.
During the French Revolution, however, he supported the state’s seizure of Church properties and subsequently renounced his vows, to become a layman. He managed to be out of France, visiting Britain and the United States, during the Terror and the chaos that followed Robespierre’s downfall (1792-1797), returning only when the Directory came to power. He served that government as Foreign Minister (1797-1799), then betrayed it to support Napoleon’s coup d’etat and become his Foreign Minister (1799-1807). Although Napoleon became suspicious of him and dismissed him as Foreign Minister in 1807, he nonetheless respected Talleyrand’s immense diplomatic talents and experience and continued to consult with him and occasionally use him on diplomatic missions in the years that followed. This, of course, gave Talleyrand plenty of opportunities to undermine Napoleon in turn and to help bring him down.
By the time Napoleon was forced to abdicate in March of 1814, Talleyrand essentially was in control of the French government and was quickly named Foreign Minister (again!), this time by Louis XVIII. It is in that capacity that he now represents France at the Congress.
Talleyrand’s personal life is no less remarkable. Despite his age, his limp, his fondness for the lavish clothing of a previous generation, and his generally unprepossessing appearance, he is a notorious ladies’ man, rumored to have at least two illegitimate children. Men wonder how he does it; women know there can be much more to a man than mere appearances. His wife is said to be vulgar and promiscuous-she was a former mistress of his, whom he married years ago apparently just because he knew it would annoy Napoleon - so it is not surprising that he has left her behind in France. Nor would it have been appropriate for him to have brought his current mistress, the Duchess of Courland, to the Congress to act as his official hostess. No, that position is filled by his niece-in-law, Countess Dorothea Périgord-Talleyrand, one of the Duchess of Courland’s four daughters. Given Talleyrand’s reputation with women, though, many people are speculating about the exact relationship between him and his niece-in-law, especially as his nephew, Count Edmond Périgord-Talleyrand, is notably absent from the Congress.
Russians:
Count Karl Nesselrode (Russian Secretary of State and Minister Plenipotentiary): (Christian Brown)
Son of a German who entered Russia’s diplomatic service under Catherine the Great, Count Nesselrode has risen quickly in that same service himself, despite occasional setbacks when his pro-Western views have invited opposition from those elements of the Russian court and nobility who distrust foreign influences and believe that, now that Napoleon has been driven from Russia’s sacred soil, Russians ought to return to the good old ways and have nothing further to do with the rest of Europe. For Nesselrode is what reactionary Russian nobles would call a radical - and what a Westerner would call a moderate. He wants to strengthen Russia by introducing various Western reforms (such as the abolition of serfdom), and he believes that Russia must engage with Europe politically, commercially, and culturally.
Initially, in 1805-1806, Nesselrode even thought that some accommodation might be reached with Napoleonic France, but Napoleon’s brutal invasion of Prussia in 1806 soon showed him the French Empire’s true colors. Ever since then, he has loathed Napoleon. As a lifelong Anglophile, he would much prefer to see Russia undertake reforms along British, rather than French, lines anyway. Nesselrode’s enemies claim his character is too German: he is practical, calm, with a good memory for details and an intense work ethic (all qualities that also make him a good whist player).
Because Nesselrode is short of stature and obliged by poor eyesight to wear spectacles, his enemies derisively have nicknamed him “the Dwarf.” While he is indeed proud of his German heritage, it is only in the ethnic sense - he has no time for German nationalism, or anybody else’s nationalism either - and he considers himself a loyal servant of the Russian state. Yet Nesselrode is hardly the stick-in-the-mud that his enemies think; to the contrary, he loves social events, fine food and wine, and the company of attractive, intelligent ladies. (His own wife, a Russian noblewoman, is notably beautiful and vivacious.) He is also a connoisseur of art and music, and an enthusiastic amateur horticulturalist. The fact that Nesselrode and that notorious bon vivant Friedrich Gentz are old friends - they also share many political beliefs - should indicate that the former is no stereotypical dull and dutiful German, even if he is descended from Frankfurt bankers.
Count Andrei Kirillovich Razumovsky (assistant Russian Minister Plenipotentiary): (Kevin Moran)
Count Razumovsky previously served as Russian ambassador to Vienna. Fabulously wealthy, sophisticated, and urbane, he is known as “the mayor of the suburbs,” for sumptuous palace he has had constructed in a neoclassical style, with white columns, outside the city wall, on a rise overlooking the Danube and the Prater (to the north of the city). He is married to a Viennese noblewoman. In addition to being ambassador, Razumovsky is a noteworthy patron of the arts - his elegant palace houses one of the most extensive and valuable art collections in Europe, including an entire large room devoted to classical sculpture - and his wealth allows him to indulge his sophisticated tastes. For example, he maintains perhaps the best string quartet in Europe at his palace.
He is a patron of music, having assisted the careers of, among others, Mozart and Haydn, and currently is the patron of Ludwig van Beethoven (not a universally popular position; see the profile for Beethoven). In 1806 he commissioned three String Quartets from Beethoven, known today as the Razumovsky Quartets (Opus 59). In two of the three, numbers one and two, Beethoven incorporated Russian themes to please his patron. Since the Russian delegation to the Congress is housed in the Austrian Emperor’s palace, Count Razumovsky has made his sumptuous home available to them, as a sort of auxiliary embassy, to host their social events.
Prussians:
Prince Karl August von Hardenberg (Prussian Minister Plenipotentiary): State Chancellor of Prussia.
Handsome, sophisticated, still attractive to the ladies when he puts his mind to it - as evinced by the fact that he is on his third wife at present - despite increasing deafness, which sometimes makes him grumpy and suspicious that others are talking behind his back. Together with Baron vom Stein, Hardenberg was one of the prominent leaders of Prussian political and governmental reforms during the past decade (e.g., abolishing serfdom, granting full citizenship to Jews, and other reforms listed under Prussia on the Countries page). He led Prussia’s liberation from the French and has brought his country to a position of power at the Congress that it has not enjoyed since the days of Frederick the Great. He has recently made some progress as well in working towards a free trade policy and other liberal reforms, although he still faces strong opposition at home from reactionary nobles. His dream is to see Prussia as a liberal counterweight to conservative Austria in Europe.
Wilhelm von Humboldt (assistant Prussian Minister Plenipotentiary): (Graydon Schlichter)
Noted not only as a diplomat but also, along with Hardenberg and Stein (before Stein entered Russian service), as a liberal reformer. He is also a first-rank man of letters, with an interest in philology and the comparative study of languages-but his intellectual talents come as no surprise, since he is the brother of famed naturalist Alexander von Humboldt.. Wilhelm von Humboldt served as his country’s Education Minister in 1809-1810, during which time he oversaw the foundation of the new University of Berlin. He returned to diplomatic service in 1810 and played a crucial role in encouraging Austria to join the anti-French coalition in 1813, following Napoleon’s defeat in Russia. He shares Hardenberg’s reformist views and aspirations for a liberal Prussia. Humboldt is, as well, a devoted Prussian patriot and German nationalist; he is said to bitterly resent France for the damages Napoleon’s aggressions inflicted upon Prussia and the German people. He is known to write regularly to his wife, Caroline, who has remained behind in Berlin. Humboldt is also an old acquaintance of Friedrich von Gentz’s, although the latter’s abandonment of Prussia’s service for Austria’s some years ago has placed something of a strain on their former friendship.
Saxons:
Count Friedrich von Schulenberg
The ambassador with the unenviable task of representing Saxony’s interests at the Congress. (Please see the Country Profiles for information on the Saxon Question). He is reputed to have a relationship with Princess Bagration.
The Catholic Church:
Ercole Cardinal Consalvi (Papal Secretary of State):
Church statesman and longtime opponent of Napoleon Bonaparte, Consalvi was born in Rome and entered the Church at a young age. When Napoleon formed the Roman Republic in 1798, he had Consalvi arrested on accusations of fomenting civil unrest, in connection with riots that had killed one of Napoleon’s generals in the previous year. Yet Consalvi was out of prison by 1799 and served as secretary of the conclave that elected Pius VII pope. Pius named Consalvi his Secretary of State, and as such he negotiated the Concordat of 1801 with France; he was furious when Napoleon unilaterally added the Organic Articles (which severely undermined the intent of the agreement). Consalvi refused to attend Napoleon’s marriage to Marie Louise in 1810-in accordance with Catholic canon law, he did not recognize Napoleon’s divorce from his first wife, Joséphine, and therefore he maintained that the marriage to Marie Louise was bigamous-and as a result Napoleon sent him under virtual house arrest to Rheims and forbade him to wear scarlet cardinal’s robes. This made Consalvi one of a dozen “black cardinals” (they had to wear ordinary priests’ cassocks instead of their scarlet robes) exiled for the same reason, who subsequently worked against Napoleon. Eventually he was permitted his freedom; but after Consalvi urged Pius VII, in an 1813 meeting, to oppose Napoleon, he was imprisoned again, this time at Beziérs, until the fall of the Empire a few months later. Cardinal Consalvi is the unofficial representative of the Church at the Congress; it is his goal to convince the great powers to maintain the Papal States intact. Many of his ecclesiastical colleagues regard Consalvi as too liberal.
NOTE: In addition to the ambassadors noted, one also has the choice to play a junior member (historical or fictional) of any particular delegation, as well.
By virtue of wealth or title or social finesse, some individuals exercise great influence. Although the Congress of Vienna is a diplomatic summit, many of the negotiations take place away from the designated plenary sessions or committee sessions, and instead occur in the ballrooms and salons of those members of society who either live in Vienna or have come to Vienna for the Congress.
Socialites can be either women or men, and both are equally important. In many cases, because they are the spouses, friends, or lovers, of important diplomatic officials or even heads of state, socialites can exercise tremendous influence over the course of political events. Since so much of the Congress’s politicking takes place at social events, it is vitally important that one be invited to all the right parties; if someone becomes a social failure, he very well could find himself out of the political loop as well.
Social events are also the primary place one picks up rumors and gossip, which may be extremely useful strategically. Therefore any sensible person at the Congress will be sure to cultivate the leading socialites.
Naturally, not all those in society interest themselves merely in politics. For some, determining whether Beethoven’s latest works possess true artistic merit carries far more significance than determining the fate of Poland or Saxony; and some socialites are in a position to offer patronage to artists whose works please them.
Yet other socialites interest themselves in more than one field, for politics and art (not to mention gossip!) are indeed not mutually exclusive in early 19th-century Vienna. Thus, society figures influence not only politics, but art and culture as well.
Elisabeth, Tsarina of Russia:
Born the German princess Louise of Baden, she was chosen at the age of 13 to marry Catherine the Great’s eldest and favorite grandson, Tsarevich Alexander. After converting to the Orthodox faith and being rebaptized Elisabeth, she was married to that prince in 1795, at age 15. They made a beautiful couple, both blond and attractive; but it quickly became apparent that Alexander found her company dull and preferred to spend time with other women, in particular the voluptuous Princess Mariya Naryshkina, who now has been his mistress for many years. Many people admire the Tsarina’s patience and the dignity and virtue with which she has borne this situation. Others, while acknowledging her patience and dignity, suggest that she has not always suffered her husband’s straying with virtuous resignation, but consoled herself with his good friend, the dark and handsome Prince Adam Czartoryski. Certainly her father-in-law, Tsar Paul, appeared to think so when Elisabeth’s first child, a dark-haired baby girl, was born in 1799; he exiled Czartoryski from Russia. (The baby, alas, did not live long.) Alexander himself, however, had such faith in his wife’s virtue that, upon succeeding to the throne in 1801, he recalled Czartoryski to his service. Whether or not the rumors about the Tsarina and Czartoryski were true before then, their conduct after his return gave no grounds for scandal; and Elisabeth’s second daughter, born in 1806, was properly blond. (This child, sadly, also died young.)
When Tsar Alexander and Czartoryski did fall out, in 1808, it was over politics, not personal jealousy - although they have reconciled now, and Czartoryski is once again in the Tsar’s service. The Tsarina’s genuine conversion to Russian Orthodoxy, her fluency in the Russian language, and her deep love of her adopted country have made her extremely popular with her people. She also is admired by nearly everyone at the Congress of Vienna, for her kindness and graciousness to all. The one exception to her admirers, ironically, may be her husband, who has been heard to criticize her openly, claiming she is neither as intelligent nor as lovely as the other ladies in Vienna - a statement most people would dispute.
Marie Louise, archduchess of Austria and (titular) Empress of the French: Eldest daughter of Emperor Franz I, Marie Louise was raised in such virtuous seclusion that even her pets were required to be female. Above all, she was taught to be a patriotic and dutiful princess, although such lessons were easily learned because of the great affection she had for her family, especially her father. This shy, innocent girl’s life underwent a dramatic change in 1810 when, as part of the peace settlement Austria was forced to make after its defeat by France the previous year, she was given as a bride to Napoleon - whom she had been raised to view as a monster.
Terrified but dutiful, she was sent to France and there found a husband who was not a monster, but who treated her with kindness and deep respect for her exalted lineage. Marie Louise soon became fond of Napoleon, and a son was born to them in 1811: Napoleon François Charles Joseph, known to Napoleon’s loyal supporters as the King of Rome. This happy family life made things very painful for Marie Louise when, beginning in 1813, her homeland joined the coalition against her husband, for she now felt affection and duty to both sides. After her husband’s defeat and abdication in 1814, she at first thought she should join him in exile on Elba; but her father sent Prince Esterházy and Count von neipperg to bring her and her son home to Austria.
The Austrian people are delighted at her return, yet her situation at the Congress is somewhat uncertain. She has been promised the Italian duchies of Parma, Piacenza, and Guastalla to live in and rule over; yet now rumor suggests that Metternich may have to return those lands to their original pre-Napoleonic rulers. Should that happen, it is not clear what might become of Marie Louise. A diplomatic marriage might be one solution-the widowed Frederick William III of Prussia has been mentioned as a potential groom, even though he is a Protestant-although there is the slight problem that she already has a husband, even if he has been banished to Elba. Some are pointing out that the Catholic Church never recognized her marriage to Napoleon in the first place, though, so this might not be an obstacle after all; although the Austrian Emperor takes a dim view of any suggestion that his beloved eldest daughter was living in sin or that his little grandson is a bastard. He has appointed the stalwart Count von neipperg to be Marie Louise’s majordomo and to represent her interests at the Congress.
Wilhelmina, Duchess of Sagan: (Deborah Schallau).
Eldest and most beautiful of the four famously beautiful, charming, and very rich daughters of the late Prince Paul Biron, Duke of Courland. (Courland is a duchy on the Baltic Sea, formerly subject to Poland when there still was a Poland, since then subject to Russia.) Beautiful, elegant, witty, a social lioness, and a citizen of Europe. She has been married twice and divorced twice already; nevertheless, any hint of past scandal has been buried by the straitlaced Austrian Emperor’s personal insistence that the Congress would not be complete without so charming a lady as the Duchess in attendance. She presently is known to be the object of Austrian Foreign Minister Metternich’s determined romantic pursuit, although rumors also have linked her name currently with those of Austrian war hero Prince Alfred von Windischgrätz and British Ambassador Lord Charles Stewart.
Princess Catherine Bagration: (Roselle Hurley)
Cousin of Tsar Alexander and widow of the Russian war hero Prince Peter Bagration, who perished of his wounds after the Battle of Borodino (1812). Beautiful, elegant, witty, a social lioness, and a Russian patriot. Nicknamed “the Naked Angel” for her exquisite beauty and plunging necklines. She is the bitter social rival of the Duchess of Sagan. During the Congress, Princess Bagration resides in one half of the luxurious Palais Palm in Vienna. Her arch-rival, the Duchess, lives in the other half; and these two renowned hostesses have been known to deliberately hold competing soirées on the same night, each in her own half of the palace. Rumor has linked Princess Bagration’s name at various times with Metternich, the Crown Prince of Württemberg, Count von Schulenberg, Lord Charles Stewart, and the Tsar himself - to mention only a few.
Countess Dorothea de Périgord-Talleyrand: (Monica Eiland).
Youngest of the Courland princesses, like her sisters beautiful, elegant, and very rich. She is married to-but currently separated from-Count Edmond de Périgord-Talleyrand, nephew and heir of French Foreign Minister Prince de Talleyrand. She presently lives in the French Foreign Minister’s household at the Kaunitz Palace and is serving with efficiency and charm as his official hostess at all social gatherings the French delegation holds at the Congress. Given Talleyrand’s reputation with women, though, many people are speculating about the exact relationship between him and his niece-in-law; but neither he nor she has seen fit so far to dignify such speculation by responding to it. The countess also is noted for her interest in, and talent for, amateur theatricals. She and her sister Wilhelmina have been estranged for a number of years.
Marie, Countess von Metternich:
17-year-old eldest daughter of Austria’s Foreign Minister, Prince Clemens von Metternich, making her social debut at the Congress. Pretty, charming, and very wealthy, she also is rumored to be so intelligent that, if only she had been a boy, her father would even now be grooming her as his political heir. Alas, she is merely a girl. She and her father are known to correspond frequently, about many different subjects.
Eleonore (Laure) von Kaunitz, Princess von Metternich:
Granddaughter of the famous 18th-century Austrian Prime Minister Wenzel von Kaunitz, she is the loyal and long-suffering wife of Prince von Metternich, the mother of his four children, including Marie. In fact, it was Metternich’s marriage to her, and her family’s resulting patronage of him, that permitted him to get his start in Austrian society and politics. Over the years, she has turned a blind eye to her husband’s many romantic entanglements. While not remarkable for her looks or personal charm, she has become through practice an accomplished observer of political and social affairs; there probably is not much about the leading courts of Continental Europe that she does not know.
Friedrich von Gentz:
Prussian by birth, now Austrian by choice, this writer of political propaganda and professional guest at High Society entertainments in Vienna has been described as loving “men often, women sometimes, and money always.” The description is not inaccurate, but it does not do justice to the considerable power he wields in both society and politics. He is the close friend and confidante of Metternich, who recognizes Gentz’s genuine talents as a political analyst and commentator and has put them to work in the service of the Austrian Empire. Due to both his talents and his friendship with Metternich, Gentz has been named Secretary of the Congress and will be entrusted not just with taking notes of the proceedings but also with placing items on the agenda and drawing up any documents the delegates decide on, including treaties.
Gentz loves the good life and is reliably reported to be open to bribes of many sorts (see the quoted description of him). Other than bribes and free dinners at other people’s houses, in fact, he has few visible means of support-Austrian government service doesn’t pay very well. What he does have, though, is a vast knowledge of social and political gossip. His relationship with Metternich, by the way, is entirely platonic. Metternich is too much the ladies’ man for it to be anything else. Gentz also is a friend of the Russian minister plenipotentiary, Count Nesselrode, with whom he is said to share many political views, and an old acquaintance of Wilhelm von Humboldt.
Count Adam von Neipperg:
Austrian nobleman, gallant cavalry general, and war hero. The loss of one eye to a battle wound has not affected his attractiveness to the ladies; indeed, many would say that the black eyepatch has only enhanced his dashing appearance, and it bears evidence to his soldierly courage and patriotism. Of unshakeable loyalty to the Austrian crown, he has successfully commanded troops in battle on many occasions, and was promoted major-general after his gallant service at the Battle of Leipzig in 1813.
He also has served his Emperor on diplomatic missions best entrusted to a man of action. Most recently, he was sent to France along with Prince Paul Esterházy to bring home Marie Louise after Napoleon’s abdication; he has only just returned from that mission, having safely escorted the former French Empress and her little son back to Vienna. His Emperor has appointed him as Marie Louise’s majordomo and the representative of her interests at the Congress.
Count Alfred von Windischgrätz:
Handsome and dashing Austrian officer who distinguished himself against Napoleon in the campaigns following the unsuccessful French invasion of Austria. Formerly he was the Duchess of Sagan’s lover, but their stormy relationship broke up a couple of years ago. He recently has returned to Vienna, however, and many in society watch with interest to see if their old romance might be rekindled, despite her current close friendship with Prince Metternich.
Prince Paul Esterházy: (NPC played by Ray Lavoie)
Scion of one of the leading noble families of Hungary, and thereby of the entire Austrian Empire.
Princess Maria Theresia Esterházy: (NPC played by Cynthia Chamberlin)
Daughter of the German prince of Thurn und Taxis, wife of Prince Paul Esterházy.
For the purposes of the game, both Prince and Princess Esterházy may be regarded by all players as extensively knowledgeable in all matters political and social, and they are always happy to chat about nearly any matter. They are known for their even-handed approach and ability to discuss several different outlooks on any question, with commentary on who holds which views, and why. (Translation: You may count on your hosts for any in-game reminders or information you might need about the latest rumors, the Saxon question, the proper use of snuff, etc.)
Because the Congress of Vienna was not only a gathering of diplomats, but also a gathering of European high society, many of those who depended upon High Society for their livelihood-including artists, performers, and others who lived primarily by the patronage of the wealthy-flocked to Vienna.
The relationship was symbiotic. Just as artists and performers needed their patrons, High Society (and please recall that the diplomats were on the whole a subset of this second, larger group) also needed artists, performers, and other persons who could provide specialized services. In an age before recorded music and movies, artists provided entertainment to the rich, and, if they were successful, their glory redounded to the taste and generosity of their patrons.
Nathan M. Rothschild: (Hal Bowman).
Senior member of the international Rothschild banking family-which has become well-known, in just a few years, for its deft dealings and enormous profits during the wars-Nathan Rothschild is known to command vast financial resources. Indeed, considering the extent to which the nations of Europe have depleted their wealth in the wars against Napoleon, Rothschild commands financial resources greater than just about any nation, save Great Britain-in whose government he has friends, such as Lord Charles Stewart-and he is constantly seeking profitable places to invest his family’s capital. He additionally is rumored to command resources of information nearly as vast as his wealth. He usually resides in London, but his brothers head other branches of the family firm in Paris, Vienna, and Frankfurt; they have connections in Berlin, St. Petersburg, and other European capitals as well. While Jews in many countries of Europe do not enjoy even civil rights, the Rothschild wealth and influence opens virtually any door to the head of this remarkable firm.
Roksandra Skarlatova Stourdza:
Lady-in-waiting to Tsarina Elisabeth, friend and spiritual counselor to Tsar Alexander. A descendant of Moldavian and Greek nobility and a pious member of the Russian Orthodox Church, Countess Stourdza from birth has revered the Russian monarchy as the defenders of Christendom. Yet she is no ignorant religious fanatic. She is intelligent, well-educated, cultured, wise in the ways of royal courts; and she has an unusual gift for emotional empathy that often allows her to understand another person better than he or she understands himself.
Although she is deeply religious, she is neither rigid nor dogmatic; to her mind, a sincerely devout Christian of any sect is equally acceptable to God, and she is dubious of cultish excesses. She cares nothing for wordly rank or material possessions, except as they might aid her in her mission of guiding the Tsar through the world’s many pitfalls to his God-given destiny: to unite all Christian nations in peace and brotherhood.
She entered the Tsarina’s service as a lady-in-waiting in 1806, where her piety, virtue, and disregard for the frivolous and corrupt pleasures enjoyed by most courtiers earned her royal mistress’s favor. She only came to the Tsar’s notice during the crisis of 1812; unexpectedly, he made her his confidante, and she in turn revealed to him her inner conviction that he was God’s own champion against the forces of Darkness led by Napoleon. As this echoed what was already in his heart, the Tsar was vastly impressed and ever since that occasion has made Countess Stourdza his spiritual advisor. It is primarily in this capacity, and only secondarily as the Tsarina’s lady-in-waiting, that the countess has accompanied the Russian royal household to Vienna. Here, she must not only steel herself against the wearisome round of social frivolity, but also struggle to keep the Tsar on his destined path: hardly an easy task, given both the obvious political pressures being put on him by the other countries’ diplomats and the blandishments of all those beautiful, immoral society ladies who keep throwing themselves at him.
Jakob Grimm:
A philologist by training, native of the electorate of Hesse-Kassel, he served as Court Librarian of Westphalia under the rule of Napoleon’s frivolous brother Jérôme (1808-1813). After Jérôme fled in 1813, along with the rest of the French, Herr Grimm returned to Hesse-Kassel; he has entered the service of its ruler, Count-Elector Wilhelm IX, who has commissioned him to try to recover German books and manuscripts looted by the French. Together with his brother Wilhelm, Herr Grimm for several years now has been collecting and writing down fairy tales and other traditional stories, and is always on the lookout for another addition to his collection. His project is not only scholarly in nature, but also has as a purpose heightening Germans’ sense of ethnic and national identity. Both the Brothers Grimm are supporters of German nationalism.
Ludwig von Beethoven: (Ryan Oba)
A famed but controversial composer, Beethoven relocated to Vienna from his native Bonn in 1792. A musical innovator, Beethoven is at the height of his popularity with the common people of Vienna in 1814. His “Wellington’s Victory”-composed in honor of the Duke of Wellington’s famous victory over French forces at the battle of Vitoria in Spain (1813)-premiered last year, to considerable acclaim; but, regrettably, he is currently involved in a lawsuit with a former business associate, Johann Nepomuk Mälzel, over rights to the music. Not everybody, however, is enamored of Beethoven’s music. He is the most famous proponent of the new Romantic style, and conservatives used to the more harmonious sound of Mozart and Haydn regard Beethoven’s compositions as cacophonous noise. Problems also arise from Beethoven’s politics. He is a notorious radical, who considered dedicating his 1804 Eroica symphony to Napoleon, until the general crowned himself emperor that same year-thereby, in Beethoven’s opinion, betraying the values of the French Revolution. Those very conservatives who have reason to dislike Beethoven for his musical innovation have even more reason to be turned off by his politics. Beethoven enjoys the patronage of Count Razumovsky, however, so debates about the merits of his music are guaranteed to circulate in the highest social circles in Europe. Beethoven has been losing his hearing since 1802 and no longer performs, although he does conduct concerts of his own music and, of course, continues to compose. But thanks to hearing trumpets (some designed by his former friend and current litigant Mälzel), he can still function in society. Indeed, in certain circles, he has something of a reputation as a ladies’ man.
Johann Nepomuk Mälzel:
A mysterious mechanician who has earned his fame devising a wide array of unique mechanical clockwork devices, many having to do with music. He specializes in mechanical military bands, but that is scarcely the limit to his talents. In 1809, he was appointed Court Mechanician to the Austrian Empress at Schönbrunn, for whom he constructed a mechanical chess player that reputedly could beat human opponents (some suspect that there was a person inside the device, who operated the arm that moved the pieces). In 1810, when Napoleon married Marie Louise of Austria, Mälzel constructed mysterious figures of the royal bride and groom, which appeared in the window of his residence, to which the public’s attention had been drawn by a mechanical bird singing songs in honor of the new couple. The automatons were so realistic, waving to the gathering crowd, that they mystified onlookers, some of whom mistook them for the genuine imperial couple (who were actually in Paris…). Rumors began to fly that Mälzel might have command of more than merely mechanical knowledge. In 1812, more prosaically, he devised a chronometer for keeping musical time, which was well-received, and he also has conducted experiments with electricity. He used to be associated with Beethoven, devising mechanical musical instruments on which to play Beethoven’s music. The two have since fallen out, however, over legal issues. Mälzel will no doubt be on the lookout for patrons who can help him, both in his financial difficulties and in his legal struggles against Beethoven.
Giuseppina Grassini: (Colleen Kennedy).
Renowned Italian opera singer (a contralto), famous throughout Western Europe. She was the leading lady of opera in Italy when Napoleon conquered it; and after a special concert at La Scala in his honor, Madame Grassini became his mistress. She then accompanied him to Paris, where through a combination of his influence and her own talent, she proceeded to become the leading opera singer in France as well. Although her personal relationship with Napoleon soon ended, amicably, she continued to enjoy his patronage and during his Empire several times toured Germany, the Netherlands, England, Italy, and France, giving concerts and playing the leading female role in numerous operas. Her acting talent and expressive voice best suit her to grand, tragic opera rather than comedic productions. She is beautiful, witty, spirited, and cosmopolitan. It is said she always chooses her own lovers, rather than submitting to be any man’s plaything. She has arrived in Vienna in the Duke of Wellington’s coach, having traveled all the way from Paris with him. (The Duchess of Wellington remains in Paris.)
Elisabeth Vigée-LeBrun: (Naomi Weiss)
Born in Paris, this court painter specializing in portraits of royalty and the nobility acquired fame in her homeland as well as throughout Europe. Vigée-LeBrun is mostly a self-taught artist, although she received some artistic training from her father; nonetheless, she is one of the few female painters to have been admitted to the most prestigious academies of art. Despite her middle-class upbringing, her talent has made her famous and in demand by royalty and socialites throughout Europe. A professional portrait painter by the age of 15, she made considerable amounts of money and achieved economic independence for her family. A prolific artist, her work came to the attention of Marie Antoinette, and in 1778 Vigée-LeBrun became court painter to that Queen. She became a member of the French Royal Academy in 1783 but was forced to flee France in 1789 because of the Revolution and her close ties with the Queen. During her years in exile, Vigée-Lebrun traveled to Italy, Vienna, Prague, and Dresden. She traveled to St. Petersburg and London, painting portraits, before she was permitted re-entry into France, after 255 of her artist colleagues petitioned for her return. She continues to paint portraits and also teaches young artists, many of them women. (Historical Note: In real life, Vigée-LeBrun remained in Paris after her return in 1805, but it is entirely plausible that she, or someone like her, would have taken the opportunity to come to Vienna at the gathering of so many wealthy and influential people.)
Not everyone who seeks the patronage of the wealthy has a readily discernable gift such as musical, artistic, mechanical, or financial talent. Many people instead have to get by on their charm, good looks, skill at cards, etc. Before his rise to prominence, some might have placed Friedrich von Gentz (see above) in this category. Certainly there is ample room in the game for “professional guests,” gamblers, courtesans, and even less savory characters who try to make their living off the rich by their charm and wits.
Of course, the most successful of such people are never identified that way by history, but become, like Gentz, known as diplomats or members of society. How will history remember your character?
This catch-all category refers to all those who are either working for one of the established powers in a less than formal capacity, or who are working for a group that does not have the formal recognition of the European diplomatic community (i.e., groups with nationalist aspirations like the Italians, Poles, Germans, etc.) but which has hopes of achieving national independence at the Congress.
Members of this category may be high-ranking members of the aristocracy, or they may be far less savory characters. It is up to you to decide. Their motives for their actions may also vary widely.
NOTE: We would be very interested in receiving character ideas for Italian, German, and other nationalists.
Prince Adam Czartoryski:
Scion of one of Poland’s most prominent noble families, handsome, intelligent, intellectual, with liberal political views, he became in his youth a close friend of Tsarevich Alexander of Russia, with whom he shared many liberal views. Rumors claim that he became an even closer friend of Alexander’s young wife, Elisabeth, and that that was why Alexander’s father, Tsar Paul, exiled him from Russia in 1799. Alexander clearly didn’t believe those rumors, though, for when he became Tsar himself in 1801, he recalled his friend from exile and gave him high office; indeed in 1803-1806, Czartoryski served as Russia’s Foreign Minister.
Despite his friendship with Alexander, however, Czartoryski has never failed to speak his mind, even to the Tsar himself: a factor that contributed to his fall from grace in 1808. At that time, Russia had become France’s ally (see Countries page for details), a development that Czartoryski deplored - he despises Napoleon, and saw Napoleon’s promises of an “independent” Grand Duchy of Warsaw for the sham they were - and did not hesitate to say so to the Tsar.
At the time, it was a very politically incorrect stand at the Russian court, and Czartoryski was obliged to go into exile again. Only after Russia’s break with Napoleon and the latter’s disastrous invasion attempt in 1812 did Czartoryski slowly begin to regain favor with Alexander.
Prince Czartoryski has always been a dedicated advocate of Polish independence under a liberal constitutional monarchy; and, under his influence, Tsar Alexander now has declared his support for the idea-with himself as that monarch, of course. Currently Russian troops occupy the Grand Duchy of Warsaw - the supposedly independent Polish state created by Napoleon after his conquest of the area in 1807, out of territory seized from Prussia, but really ruled until 1813 by the King of Saxony as Napoleon’s vassal - and it is widely anticipated that the Tsar does not intend to give it up. Czartoryski supports Alexander’s bid to become King of Poland because it seems the only way both to restore Czartoryski’s native country and to protect it from another division. Prince Czartoryski has just arrived in Vienna as the Tsar’s Special Advisor for Polish Affairs.
Baron Franz Hager von und zu Altensteig:
President of the High Police and Censorship Bureau of Austria - in other words, head of the Austrian secret police. A genial former cavalry officer, Baron Hager was severely injured in a fall from his horse and had to resign from active military service. It seems hard to believe that so cordial and charming a gentleman could be the head of the ubiquitous secret police, but his agents are rumored to be everywhere in Vienna. Your footman could be one. The owner of your favorite tavern or café could be one. Or even the person you are dancing with at the most elegant soirée could be one....
Agent ** (Double-Asterisk).
Historically, this person’s true identity remains unknown to the present day. He or she was someone at the Congress with complete access to High Society, who, unknown to everyone else, was the best spy in the Austrian Secret Service. In-game, only Baron Hager will know his or her true identity. By prior consultation with the GMs only, this secret role may be assumed, in addition to one’s public role, by anyone who believes his or her character is capable of, and has motive for, being an Austrian secret agent.
Ambassadors and ministers-plenipotentiary may not play this role! But anyone else can. It does not matter whether you are playing an actual historical figure or a player-generated character. Your character need not necessarily be a subject of the Austrian Empire; you could be a foreigner secretly in Austrian pay. But you do need to have a good reason to be working for the Austrians. Those players interested in being Agent Double-Asterisk should contact the GMs and explain why they think their character could be this mysterious spy. If we receive requests from more than one player for this secret role, we will award it to the player who makes the best case for why his or her character would be this Austrian Secret Agent. Talk to the GMs if you are interested.
Note: Besides Agent Double-Asterisk, who spies for Austria, anyone who is not actually an ambassador or minister-plenipotentiary can be a secret spy for any of the countries or organizations represented at the Congress. If you are interested in being a spy, please contact the GMs.