A very strong national feeling had been aroused by the war against Napoleon.

This found no satisfaction in the new political institutions.

The discontent was increased when it was discovered that the Diet, so useless for all else, was active only against liberty.

Prince Metternich, a very able diplomatist, knew that the Liberal and National ideas, which were so generally held at that time, would be fatal to the existence of the Austrian Empire; he therefore attempted to suppress them, not only in Austria, but also in Germany, as he did in Italy.

Unfortunately the King of Prussia, Frederick William III., whose interests were really entirely opposed to those of Austria, was persuaded by Metternich to adopt a repressive policy.