Monzhela, Maximilian von

Maximilian von Montzhel ( German: Maximilian von Montgelas ; 1759-1838) - Count, Bavarian statesman.

Maximilian von Montzhela
Bavarian Prime Minister February 21, 1799 - February 2, 1817
Monarch	Maximilian I
Predecessor	Matteus Karl Anton von Wiregg
Successor	Heinrich Alois von Rygersberg
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French by birth; more freely expressed in French than in German. Serving in Zweibrucken , he entered the mercy of the heir to the ducal crown, Maximilian Joseph .

Upon the latter's accession to the throne in 1795, Montzhela was appointed Zweibrucken Minister of Foreign Affairs, and when Maximilian Joseph became Bavarian Elector (1799), Monzhela received the same post in Bavaria, where he often headed other ministries. He found Bavaria a weak elector with a territory of 1507 square meters. km, and left her kingdom in 2232 square meters. km, with undoubted influence in German affairs.

His ideal was powerful Bavaria with strong royal power; in internal affairs, he was an adherent of enlightened absolutism and was ready to conclude deals with all parties and aspirations, if only they would lead to a once-set goal. At the very beginning, he opposed France and revolutionary ideas, but very quickly changed direction and embarked on reforms. The university was moved from Ingolstadt to Landshut , where it was further from various clerical influences; the school was transformed in an anti-clerical spirit, book censorship was abolished, and only police newspaper censorship was retained. In 1808, these reforms culminated in the publication of a constitution , which, however, remained only on paper.

In foreign policy, Montjela became a decisive ally of Napoleon; From 1805 to 1812, the forces of Bavaria fought alongside the French against the Austrians, Prussians and Russians. In 1812, the 30,000th Bavarian Corps almost completely died in Russia. In 1813, Monzhela betrayed Napoleon 10 days before the Battle of Leipzig and switched to the side of the Allies. His influence shook at this time; Crown Prince Ludwig and Prince Wrede acted against him. Monzhela was not sent to the Vienna Congress , and in 1817 he had to abandon the post of minister.