<P> In 1814 diplomats recognised five Great Powers: France, Britain, Russia, Austria (in 1867--1918, Austria - Hungary) and Prussia (in 1871 the German Empire). Italy was added to this group after its unification and on the eve of the First World War there were two major blocs in Europe: the Triple Entente formed by France, Britain and Russia and the Triple Alliance formed by Germany, Italy and Austria - Hungary . The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland were smaller powers . Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Montenegro initially operated as autonomous vassals for they were legally still part of the declining Ottoman Empire, which may also be included among the major powers, before gaining their independence . By 1905 two rapidly growing non-European states, Japan and the United States, had joined the Great Powers . The Great War unexpectedly tested their military, diplomatic, social and economic capabilities to the limit . Germany, Austria - Hungary and the Ottoman Empire were defeated and lost their great power status, as well as great deal of territory . The winners Britain, France, Italy and Japan gained permanent seats at the governing council of the new League of Nations . The United States, meant to be the fifth permanent member, decided to operate independently and never joined the League . For the following periods see Diplomatic history of World War I and International relations (1919--1939). </P> <P> For the previous diplomatic era, see International relations, 1648--1814 </P> <P> As the four major European powers (Britain, Prussia, Russia and Austria) opposing the French Empire in the Napoleonic Wars saw Napoleon's power collapsing in 1814, they started planning for the postwar world . The Treaty of Chaumont of March 1814 reaffirmed decisions that had been made already and which would be ratified by the more important Congress of Vienna of 1814--15 . They included the establishment of a confederated Germany including both Austria and Prussia (plus the Czech lands), the division of French protectorates and annexations into independent states, the restoration of the Bourbon kings of Spain, the enlargement of the Netherlands to include what in 1830 became modern Belgium, and the continuation of British subsidies to its allies . The Treaty of Chaumont united the powers to defeat Napoleon and became the cornerstone of the Concert of Europe, which formed the balance of power for the next two decades . </P> <P> The Congress of Vienna (1814--1815) dissolved the Napoleonic world and attempted to restore the monarchies Napoleon had overthrown, ushering in an era of reaction . Under the leadership of Metternich, the prime minister of Austria (1809--48), and Lord Castlereagh, the foreign minister of Great Britain (1812--1822), the Congress set up a system to preserve the peace . Under the Concert of Europe (or "Congress system"), the major European powers--Britain, Russia, Prussia, Austria, and (after 1818) France--pledged to meet regularly to resolve differences . This plan was the first of its kind in European history and seemed to promise a way to collectively manage European affairs and promote peace . It was the forerunner of the League of Nations and the United Nations but it collapsed by 1823 . </P>

During the first half of the eighteenth century the four major powers in north america were the