On 26 June 1813, Napoleon and Metternich met at the Marcolini Palace in Dresden. The Austrian chancellor went there with the aim of mediating between the main contenders, France on one side and Russia, Prussia and Great Britain on the other, possibly to Austria's advantage. In fact, he had in mind that the European system should return to a situation of balance, without a clear hegemon, as France was at that time (whose power extended from Spain to eastern Germany, after losing Poland following its defeat in the Russian campaign). His demands to the Emperor were to return to France's historical borders, between the Pyrenees, the Alps and the Rhine, thus evacuating Italy, Spain and, above all, Germany, a decisive area for the existence or otherwise of a balance of power in Europe as it was located at the centre of the continent. Napoleon flatly refused, explaining that 'my power will not survive the day I cease to be strong and, consequently, to be feared'. His power, therefore, had precarious roots, born of military strength and victories, and existed only in the present; his defeat would trigger bitter revolts not only in the occupied territories, but also among the French, who had been at war continuously for over 20 years and would see their children and relatives fall in vain.

Nine hours passed, but no one had budged from their position; so Metternich took his leave with a tone of finality: "You are lost, Sire. I had a feeling about it when I came here; now that I am leaving, I am certain of it."

Metternich and Emperor Francis I of Austria suffered greatly under their alliance with France, after being defeated militarily three times (Marengo 1800, Austerlitz 1805, Wagram 1809) and risking the dismemberment of the Austrian Empire, which was only averted by granting Napoleon permission to marry Francis I's daughter, Marie Louise. The defeat in Russia and the formation of the Sixth Coalition against France, initially comprising Russia, Great Britain and Prussia, gave Metternich considerable room for manoeuvre in Dresden, presenting Napoleon with two options: withdraw from Germany, Italy and Spain, or Austria would join the Sixth Coalition.

Napoleon refused and Austria joined the coalition, which defeated the French armies on 19 October 1813 at Leipzig. This led to the gradual withdrawal of French forces from the occupied territories, culminating in Napoleon's abdication on 6 April 1814.