"The Powers who signed the Treaty of Paris of the 30th of May 1814, namely, Austria, France, Great Britain, Portugal, Prussia, Russia, and Sweden — as well as Spain — wishing to complete the dispositions fixed by that Treaty, and adding to them the arrangements rendered necessary by the state in which Europe has been left by the last wars, have assembled in Congress at Vienna. Founding the transactions of the Congress upon the principles adopted by the Treaty of Paris, and which the Powers in their negotiation had for their common object, they have agreed to collect in one general instrument the dispositions of the most important character, accompanied by the acts in which they are confirmed or developed."

Final Act of the Congress of Vienna, signed by Austria, France, Great Britain, Portugal, Prussia, Russia, and Sweden, 9 June 1815. The Congress had met from September 1814; its work was nearly complete when Napoleon escaped from Elba in March 1815, but the Final Act was signed nine days before his defeat at Waterloo.