# Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord: Napoleon's Treacherous Foreign Minister — WHE Definition Discussion (1-26126)

**URL:** <https://community.worldhistory.org/t/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand-perigord-napoleons-treacherous-foreign-minister-whe-definition-discussion-1-26126/18842>\
**Category:** WHE Articles\
**Created:** [April 20, 2026, 8:57am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand-perigord-napoleons-treacherous-foreign-minister-whe-definition-discussion-1-26126/18842 "2026-04-20T08:57:13Z")\
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**Author:** ![harrisonwmark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/harrisonwmark/32/186_2.png) [@harrisonwmark](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/harrisonwmark)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 8:57am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand-perigord-napoleons-treacherous-foreign-minister-whe-definition-discussion-1-26126/18842/1 "2026-04-20T08:57:13Z")

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Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838) was one of the most significant political figures in modern French history. Beginning his career as the cynical bishop of Autun, he went on to become a revolutionary leader, a diplomat, and ultimately, foreign minister under Napoleon I. Despite his reputation as a schemer and backstabber, Talleyrand always claimed to put the national interests of France first, informing his decision to turn against Napoleon. He played a major role in the Congress of Vienna, helping France get the best possible outcome after Napoleon's defeat.

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_This is a companion discussion topic for the original definition at [https://www.worldhistory.org/Charles-Maurice\_de\_Talleyrand-Perigord/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Charles-Maurice_de_Talleyrand-Perigord/)._

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**Author:** ![system](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/system/32/30_2.png) [@system](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 7:03am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand-perigord-napoleons-treacherous-foreign-minister-whe-definition-discussion-1-26126/18842/2 "2026-08-01T07:03:42Z")

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