Historical assessment of Klemens von Metternich

Prince Klemens von Metternich was a German-born Austrian politician and statesman and one of the most important diplomats of his era, serving as the Foreign Minister of the Holy Roman Empire and its successor state, the Austrian Empire, from 1809 until the liberal revolutions of 1848 forced his resignation. His influence on historical developments on Europe has been the subject a numerous assessments. Some of the subjects that has been assessed are Metternich's over-all diplomatic skills and actual degree of influence, his role in shaping the balance of power in Europe, and his opposition to nationalist and liberal movements. Historians agree on Metternich's skill as a diplomat and his dedication to conservatism. According to Arthur May, he believed that: the mass of Europeans yearned for security, quiet, and peace, and regarded liberal abstractions as repugnant or were utterly indifferent to them. The best of all patterns of government, he insisted, was autocratic absolutism, upheld by a loyal army, by a submissive, decently efficient bureaucracy and police machine, and by trustworthy churchmen. For over two centuries, historians have disagreed on Metternich. Professor Enno Kraehe assembled excerpts from 17 experts, and tagged each one: "Traitor to France" "Wise Appeaser of France" "Unwise Appeaser of France" "Statesman of Philosophical Principles" "Vain Neurotic" "Responsible Statesman of International Order" "Short-range Opportunist" "Reactionary Exploiter of Germany" "Honest Leader Against Revolution" "Bulwark against Potential Fascism "Winner in the Diplomatic Contest for Germany" "Perceptive But Superficial Tinkerer" "Enlightened But Thwarted Reformer" "The Destructive Demon of Austria" "Statesman in Tragic Impasse" "Metternich Guilty" "Metternich Not Guilty" Particularly in the 19th century, Metternich was heavily criticised as the man who prevented Austria and the rest of central Europe from "developing along 'normal' liberal and constitutional lines".