Charles maurice de talleyrand biography of michael j

After studying theology, he became Agent-General of the Clergy in In , just before the French Revolution , he became Bishop of Autun. He worked at the highest levels of successive French governments, most commonly as foreign minister or in some other diplomatic capacity. Those Talleyrand served often distrusted him but, like Napoleon, found him extremely useful.

The name "Talleyrand" has become a byword for crafty and cynical diplomacy. He was Napoleon's chief diplomat during the years when French military victories brought one European state after another under French hegemony. However, most of the time, Talleyrand worked for peace so as to consolidate France's gains. He could not prevent the renewal of war in but by he opposed his emperor's renewed wars against Austria , Prussia , and Russia.

He resigned as foreign minister in August , but retained the trust of Napoleon.

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He conspired to undermine the emperor's plans through secret dealings with Tsar Alexander I of Russia and the Austrian minister Klemens von Metternich. Talleyrand sought a negotiated secure peace so as to perpetuate the gains of the French Revolution. Napoleon rejected peace; when he fell in , Talleyrand supported the Bourbon Restoration decided by the Allies.

He played a major role at the Congress of Vienna in —, where he negotiated a favorable settlement for France and played a role in unwinding the Napoleonic Wars. Talleyrand polarizes opinion. Talleyrand was born in Paris into an aristocratic family which, though ancient and illustrious, was not particularly prosperous.