ABSTRACT
Charles Maurice Prince de Talleyrand spent much of the post-Napoleonic period in the political wilderness, close to the centre of power as always, but flirting with the opposition, working against various conservative governments until their politics became so intolerable that he decided it was time to work towards the overthrow of the Bourbons. The Congress of Vienna greatly increased Talleyrand's prestige, both at home and abroad. Talleyrand had been eager to lay the blame for the mistakes made during the First Restoration squarely at the king's feet, probably in the hope of gaining some forgiveness for the monarchy from the people of France. Talleyrand consequently reacted strongly to the conditions that were presented to France. Talleyrand stepped forward on a number of occasions to defend the principles of liberalism so despised by the ultras. Talleyrand courted the ultras assiduously for years and, when it seemed necessary, allied him self with them.
