After the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo, and the French Revolution, there was a need to establish a set of conditions for a long-term peace between European powers. The Congress was convened in November of 1814 by the four powers who have done most to defeat Napoleon (Britain, Russia, Prussia, Austria).
One of the most relevant compromise was to set definite boundaries with the purpose of creating a stable political balance in Europe. This can be noted in the negotiations between Russia, Prussia, Austria in regards to Poland which contained regions that border the three Nations. Eventually the major powers reach a compromise in Vienna, to the expected detriment of Poland.