Absolute Monarchs

Phillip II – Spain (Hapsburg) Father was Charles V – Holy Roman Empire Great grandparents – Ferdinand and Isabella Aggressive; added territory for Spain Married “Bloody Mary” (Tudor) Europe’s “most Catholic King” Persecuted and expelled Muslims/Jews – hurt economy Incredible wealth in gold, silver through exploration Golden Age of art and literature (Don Quixote by Cervantes, Velasquez, El Greco)

Phillip II Population increase; inflation; competition from other countries in trade Conflicts with the Cortes (legislature) Improved the navy Dutch Protestant revolt Defeat of his Spanish Armada 1588 (by England - Elizabeth) – permanently weakened Spain Strong centralized government Heavy taxation Built “El Escorial” palace

Louis XIV – France (Bourbon) Mazarin helped rule from age 5-23 Strengthened French power Increased military Weakened power of nobles (appointed intendants – gov’t officials) Colbert - Finance Minister furthered industry, built roads, canals, trading posts in N. America; mercantilism The Sun King built palace at Versailles Revoked Edict of Nantes – lost thousands of Protestants which hurt science, culture, etc. Flowering of French art and literature Wealth from trade with Canada Fought costly wars; heavy taxation

Louis XIV Henry or Navarre (Henry IV) had passed Edict of Nantes – religious toleration Louis revoked the Edict of Nantes Heavy debt from spending, extravagant lifestyle Lost much land due to 7 Years’ War against GB (also fought in America – French and Indian War) Thirty Years’ War – religious wars; costly L’etat c’est moi – I am the state Protestants suffered (Huguenots) Never called the Estates General into session

Maria Theresa – Austria (Hapsburg) “Enlightened Despot” Increased royal power; weakened nobles Abolished local self-govt. Seized Church lands, controlling Church Standardized currency; reduced taxes Tried to reform government Improved economy; taxed nobles & clergy Lowered taxes on the people Staunch Catholic; seized Church lands and controlled the Church

Maria Theresa Intolerant of other religions Lost 7 Years War with Prussia, lost Silesia Stopped Prussia from taking Austria Daughter was Marie Antoinette! (future Queen of France) Created Codex Theresianis to improve civil rights Outlawed torture and capital punishment Supported public schools (government)

Joseph II – Austria (Hapsburg) “Enlightened Despot” – Single leader but did good things for the country Strong central government Strong Catholic Many reforms for Austria Abolished serfdom and feudal dues Abolished hereditary privileges – upset nobles Funded hospitals, orphanages, insane asylums, poor houses

Joseph II Free food for the poor Supported parks, gardens, arts Lifted restrictions on Jews Educational opportunities Loved by the commoners but not the nobility

Frederick the Great – Prussia (Hohenzollern) “Enlightened Despot” Autocratic rule (non democratic)– forced to watch friend beheaded as a child Believed ruler should be like a father Allowed Junkers (landholding nobility) to be officers in army Rigid society and military Produced strong militaristic state Expanded Prussia’s size; unified provinces Created modern bureaucracy (agencies/depts.)

Frederick the Great Imposed high tariffs (tax on imports) to control foreign trade – helped economy Supported industry Took Silesia from Austria (rich in minerals) Encouraged religions toleration Fought Seven Years’ War with Britain (and won) Fought against Maria Theresa (Austria) and won Calvinist

Ivan III (the Great) – Russia (Vasilyevich) Refused to pay tribute and freed Russia from Mongol rule Faced off but both sides retreated Extended Russia’s borders through conquest Moscow becomes most important city Byzantine crumbled – many Orthodox fled to Moscow Became center of Royal Court; city flourished Built autocratic government Trivia: first marriage at age 12

Ivan the Terrible – Russia (Vasilyevich) First to be crowned czar (tsar) Grand Prince of Moscow at age 3 Good period – added lands to Russia, revised Russia’s code of law, ruled justly Reformed tax collection Bad period – after wife died – executed many boyars (landowning nobles); used secret police (Oprichnina, later Cheka, KGB) Killed own son in an argument Construction of St. Basil’s Cathedral Turmoil after Ivan’s death – grandnephew, Michael Romanov began Romanov Dynasty (will last until the Communist Revolution in 1917!)

Peter the Great – Russia (Romanov) “Enlightened Despot” Period of serfdom & agriculture Mongol rule had cut Russia off from Renaissance & Age of Exploration Visits west and sought western influence Westernization and modernization of Russia Introduced potatoes, first newspaper, improved women’s status, encouraged education Needed warm-water ports (“windows” to the west) Heavy spending, inflation, taxation

Peter the Great Could be cruel and tyrannical Made men dress like Europeans, shave beards Modernized and strengthened army Built St. Petersburg on Baltic coast (after Saint) Built St. Basil’s Cathedral Thousands of serfs died from disease, work, etc. Eastern Orthodox Died rescuing a man from drowning (became sick)

Catherine the Great – Russia (Romanov) Most educated, cultured, well read; wrote several books Some reform attempts – religious toleration, abolition of torture, capital punishment; most not enforced Crushed peasant rebellions Gave power to nobles over serfs Strengthened and expanded Russia Longest ruling female leader Supported arts; impressive collection Promoted Russia’s first standard currency

Catherine the Great Supported education Expanded trade Crushed peasant rebellions harshly Did little to alleviate suffering of the people Strictly controlled the Orthodox Church Intolerant of Muslims and Jews Leader of Russia during the American Revolution

Henry VIII – England (Tudor) Act of Supremacy – Broke with Catholic Church Became head of Anglican Church; wanted to marry Anne Boleyn Seized and sold Church lands; burned monasteries Expanded Royal Navy Centralized government Forced nobles to pay for wars and expenses

Henry VIII Imprisoned, tortured, executed enemies (& wives) Religious conflicts between Protestants and Catholics Marries 6 times Ignored Parliament at times Had 6 wives, two beheaded Built many palaces

Elizabeth I – England (Tudor) Powerful and popular Queen “The Virgin Queen” (colony of Virginia) Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn Strong leader; expanded central govt. Strengthened military, especially navy Economic prosperity Supported voyages of exploration (& raids on Spanish ships – Sir Francis Drake)

Elizabeth I - England Popular – aroused British nationalism Inflation due to conflicts with Catholic Spain and Ireland Supported the arts: The Elizabethan Age – golden age (Shakespeare) Defeated Spanish Armada in 1588 – turning point for England...exploration/colonization Never married – ruled 34 years Supported Dutch Revolt against Spain

Ferdinand (Aragon) & Isabella (Castille) - Spain Financed voyages of Columbus Claimed New World for Spain Huge Spanish empire; great wealth due to exploration Strong Catholic nation Reconquista – Defeated/expelled Muslims (Moors) from Spain Lost merchants, artisans, professionals Hurt the economy and culture of Spain Ruled without the Cortez (legislature) Spanish Inquisition – Church court that executed thousands (Muslims, Jews, heretics)