Hardenberg

Hardenberg, Karl August, Prince von (1750-1822), Prussian statesman, was born in Liineburg. After residing in London as Hanoverian minister, he transferred his services to Brunswick in 1781. In 1790 he was selected by the Markgraf of Anspach-Baireuth as his prime minister, on the recommendation of Frederick William of Prussia. When these provinces became a part of the latter state in 1791 Hardenberg was appointed a Prussian minister. He superintended the campaign against France in 1793-94, and brought about the treaty of Basle in 1795. In 1803 he acted as foreign minister during the absence of Haugwitz, whom he succeeded in 1804. His policy was at first animated by hostility to Hanover, and he showed no opposition to the schemes of Napoleon till the French troops were marched through Anspach, in defiance of Prussia's neutral position. In 1806 he was removed from office by Napoleon's command, and henceforward showed himself one of his most determined opponents. His efforts to maintain a steady alliance with Russia were frustrated by the Peace of Tilsit (1807), and soon afterwards he was banished from Prussia through Napoleon's influence, but in 1810 he returned to office as Chancellor, and proceeded to carry out his schemes for the reorganisation of Germany. He was compelled to take part in the invasion of Russia, but he afterwards formed alliances with Russia and Austria, and signed the Peace of Paris in 1814. In 1817 he was appointed president of the Council of State. Although Hardenberg's policy was often feeble and temporising, he certainly took a leading part in laying the foundation of the Prussian dominion.