Klemens von Metternich was an influential Austrian diplomat and statesman in the early 19th century. He played a key role in shaping European politics after the Napoleonic Wars. As the foreign minister and later the chancellor of the Austrian Empire, Metternich aimed to maintain a balance of power in Europe and prevent the rise of any single dominant nation. Metternich is best known for his leadership at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, where he helped establish a new political order in Europe. His conservative policies emphasized stability and the restoration of monarchies, which influenced European diplomacy for decades.