Paths to Power Fredrick the Great

Policies to strengthen Central Government Louis IV (FRANCE) –Intendants –Revocation of the Edict of Nantes –Economic policies of Colbert –Versailles Peter the Great (RUSSIA) –“alliance” with nobility –Control of Orthodox church –Attempts at modernization –New capital city (St. Petersburg) Frederick the Great (PRUSSIA) –Promote agriculture & industry –Military improvements (rule should be a military commander) –Freedom of religion

Maintaining Absolute Monarchies Similarities –Maintained armies But, Prussia was dominated by military –Developed bureaucratic systems Varied BUT supported royal policies Difference –Louis XIV and Peter the great: Control religion of people

France after Louis XIV Louis XV: Great-Grandson (5) –Duke of Orleans Undermined prestige of monarchy –Increase Parlements activity »Power to recognize law, not MAKE law »Goal  decrease royal power –Cardinal Fleury Fixe economic system –Vices, not virtues Absence of political leadership

Great Britain George I (Hanoverian) –Robert Walpole (1 st Prime minister) Political Parties Developed –Whigs  supported monarchy, wanted Parliament –Tories  supported monarchy, low taxes, Anglican church Strong political freedom

Poland Monarchy was elected –Distrust and division prevented election Aristocratic independence –Sejm, or Diet Legislature –Nobles, excluded town representatives A veto could disband/end Diet

Succession in Austria Habsburg Empire

Pragmatic Sanction Territory problems (300 Territories) –Little commonality (language, culture, geography) –Calvinist Magyar (nobility of Hungary) Did not want Austrian control Dynasty to a Girl? –Pragmatic Sanction: Legal guarantee –Left with military and $$$$ Prussia Invades (Frederick the Great)

Maria Theresa’s children –Leopold II (HRE) –Joseph II (HRE) –Marie Antoinette (Fr.) –16 children, 13 survived

Prussia Hohenzollerns –ARMY!!! Frederick William I –Economic and political power was for the army »Bureaucracy based on military –Symbol of POWER not an instrument (avoid war) Frederick the Great –War and territory gain

Peter the Great Russia –Romanov Family Wanted Russia to be like Western Europe Struggle for Power –Streltsy: Garrison Guards (military)  GREED –Boyors: old nobility  JEALOUSY Developed Navy Built St. Petersburg Reforms: –Administrative colleges (councils) –Table of Ranks –Secular control of Church

Westernization Canals: Like Venice Fountains: Like Versailles

Aleksei suspected of Alliance with Charles VI (Austria) sentence to death (died suspiciously)

Which ruler provided the greatest benefit for his nation? Why? –Louis IV –Peter the Great –Frederick the Great Thesis #4 –Analyze the role of absolutism in the 17 th century in two of the following countries: France, England, Prussia, Russia and Austria Thesis #5 –How was the age of absolutism a reaction to the age of religious wars?