'Signing the Treaty of Peace at Vienna'

Coloured aquatint by J C Stadler after William Heath, published by Thomas Tegg, 1 April 1818.

The Duke of Wellington signs the treaty, which was aimed at redrawing the continent's political map after the defeat of Napoleonic France. Across from him sits Tsar Alexander of Russia with King Frederick of Prussia standing to the Tsar's right. Behind the table stands Marshal Blucher. The Congress of Vienna (November 1814-June 1815) and the earlier Treaty of Paris (30 May 1814) restored the Bourbon monarchy to the French throne and withdrew the nation's borders to their 1792 locations.

The peace terms were hugely unpopular in France and helped mobilise support behind Napoleon on his return from exile and resumption of power in March 1815. On learning of Napoleon's return to France, the Great Powers agreed to mobilise against him once more and signed the Treaty of General Alliance on 25 March 1815.