efenses, then a larger, stronger entity was necessary.
Along with military logic, Napoleon's conquering forces brought with them an even more subtle, more lasting influence: republicanism. Just as Alexander the Great's short-lived sweep across Asia Minor carried along with it the long-lasting influence of Greek civilization, Napoleon's Frenchmen set up in the occupied lands governing organs of effective, republican administration sprung from the French Revolution.
Although the philosophy of liberal republicanism was introduced by a foreign occupier, the conquered peoples of the Napoleonic empire (particularly Germans) had the opportunity forced upon them to participate first-hand in non-monarchical government --- and it proved effective. Even while national sentiment, inspired by opposition to Napoleon, raised native armies to push out the French invaders, local governments tended to retain the foreign-inspired reforms. It was difficult for the noble class resuming its position of leadership, the "Junkers" in the German states, to convincingly argue against the facts of efficiency. To their credit, many did not try.
Instead, following the lead of Austrian diplomat Prince Klemens Furst von Metternich first articulated at the Congress of Vienna (1814-15), they embarked upon an ad-libbed policy of accommodation: accepting non-Junker-appointed participation in government administration, while retaining - to lesser or greater degrees depending upon the principality - the decisive, polity-making powers to themselves. The renowned "Peace of Metternich," grounded in the barrage of treaties and liaisons the Viennese statesman pieced together in the post-1815 era , held for over three decades - until the "revolutionary" year of 1848 - and allowed the Junkers a breathing space in which to consolidate their positions.
It also allowed the non-Junker German "liberals" to define their status. In this they were aided by the ...