The Holy Alliance, drafted after the conclusion of the French wars with Europe and Russia, was meant to prevent further wars between the nations. The immediate and ultimate purpose was to preserve European order. The rationale used to justify this document was that if a lasting peace was not established, then all nations would fall into chaos. Furthermore, it was rationalized that this alliance was to be formed upon "the sublime truths which the Holy Religion of our Savior teaches". The authors drafting this document wished to achieve a means to eliminate war as a means to solving conflict, and to spread Christian brotherhood to further strengthen bonds of peace between nations. Among the main points of the Holy Alliance were that the wars between their nations were immoral according to Scripture, that the "three contracting Monarchs" would remain united by "the bonds of a true and indissoluble fraternity", that all their nations are but one under God, and that the alliance should be used to preserve the happiness of nations.
The primary rationale given in the document stems from the chaos and devastation seen in the Napoleonic Wars. The authors believed that if recurrences of such wars were allowed to happen, all of Europe would eventually be destroyed as a result, and order would be lost permanently. More immediately, the monarchs of Russia, Prussia, and Austria sought to preserve the safety of their own nations. As the authors were not making a purely logical appeal to other nations to embrace this document, they present Christian principles as reason for foreign monarchs to sign it. The secondary rationale, based on Christianity, was meant to and succeeded in winning over most of Europe.
The intention of the authors of the Holy Alliance was to preserve their own nations' order by preserving that of Europe as a whole. They understood that with Europe united by fraternal bonds, all would be well for them. Without war and chaos present, their own nations could advance culturally, technologically, and politically. In addition, they wished to have an alliance that would ensure they could not be conquered, as so many in Europe had been by the French. They also desired to spread Christian brotherhood among the nations for the same reasons. With Russia and all the nations of Europe united as Christians, there would be no force powerful enough to threaten any one of them.
One of the main points of the alliance, that wars between the nations are immoral according to Holy Scripture and Christian principles must guide decisions, gave credence and justification to their rationale and intent. In the first paragraph of the Holy Alliance it is stated "...the blessings which it has pleased Divine Providence to shower down upon those States which place their confidence and their hope on it alone". This point was made to further encourage monarchs of nations to sign the document, as none could deny the truth in those words. It was well known that for Christians to be killing Christians was seen as a great tragedy and terrible crime.
The second main point of the alliance, that the three nations of Russia, Austria, and Prussia would be united by "indissoluble bonds" further ensured the security of each nation. Not only would each of the three nations defend one another from aggressors, they would lend aid to one another in all times of hardship. As stated in the document, "they will, on all occasions and in all places, lead each other aid and assistance". Whether from invasion, famine, internal strife, or natural disasters, no nation in the alliance would stand alone through it.
Third among the main points of the Holy Alliance is that all the nations would be as one under God. This meant that even in times of peace, they would work together to the benefit of all.
Final among the main points of the document is that the alliance should preserve the happiness of nations. This point was made to reveal a common flaw in international relations, when difficulties began to emerge. Historically, nations that had too many differences grew increasingly discontent with each other and eventually went to war as a result. The last point of the Holy Alliance was that it should resolve minor conflicts between nations before war could break out.
The Holy Alliance most immediately concerned the nations of Russia, Austria, and Prussia. The monarchs contracting this document were first and foremost concerned with protecting their nations from further ravages as had been seen in the Napoleonic Wars. Ideally, all the nations of Europe would follow their example and sign the document. To them, the alliance meant a new measure of safety for the nations as had never before been created. To embrace this alliance and put an end to wars between nations meant that they would be able to advance themselves and one another without deterrence.
