Absolute Monarchs v Enlightenment Enlightened Absolutists –‘–‘We will reform our societies to reflect reason, but the power will remain with us’ Unrepentent Absolutists –‘–‘Our power is from God, so poo on you.’

Foreshadowing of Revolutions Ultimately, despite the efforts of Enlightened Absolutists, the attempt to reconcile Absolutism and the Enlightenment will prove impossible Why? –Carlos Hechizado Example

Carlos Segundo of Spain aka Charles II aka Carlos ‘Hechizado’ Habsburg Inherited vast territories Spain, Naples, Sicily, nearly all of Italy and Spain's overseas Empire

Hechizado??? Disfigured jaw- couldn’t chew, hard to understand Mentally disabled Didn’t walk until he was 7 years old So why called ‘El Hechizado’? It means _____________________ What do scientists today think was the real problem??? –inbreeding

Charles II’s father died. Who should rule? What do you mean? Carlos II! –Don’t forget Divine Right

Carlos ‘El Hechizado’ Was Not a Good Ruler He was depressed by his condition and became stranger and stranger –He had bodies of dead family members dug up so he could look at them/talk to them He couldn’t have a child (impotent?) –When he died without an heir a thirteen year war (called the War of the Spanish Succession) started

Is your brain on? Why are Absolutism and the Enlightenment bound to clash? Absolutism is not rational or scientific. It is religious and superstitious. Enlightenment philosophes criticize absolutists. Not such a safe thing to do, because… The clash will cause the American and French Revolutions and start the beginning of the end of the political strand of the Great Chain of Being … –…which, by the way, is the only strand… …left!

THE END