AP EURO Unit #1 – Renaissance and Reformation Lesson #5 Northern Monarchies during Renaissance (Politics &the State in Western Europe)

Essential Questions What were the four major power of N. Europe during the Renaissance? How did the nobles challenge the power of the monarchies during this era? What did Bodin and Boussuet say about monarchs?

History of Europe European history is a history of struggle Struggle for dominance, recognition and power… … and money! What are some examples so far? Crusades Hundred Years War Huss and Wycliffe Italian Wars

Hundred Years War

Something to notice: Power shifts move in cycles, like a pendulum It’s like our American political fickleness Example: Hundred Years War: King has enormous power Hundred Years War: King needs support of nobles – gives them land, $$, influence in return for support… King’s power diminishes, Noble’s power increases After war, King’s use position to pass laws, force marriages, cause destruction of powerful nobles How are kings Machiavellian?

Inconsistency is the norm Peasants will also gain, lose, then gain power again Chaos and war will be the norm, interrupted by brief periods of stability… … usually at the expense of liberty for the masses, and in favor of power to a monarch

Leaders assert power Leaders are found in “common” man Nobles are not common – they are born with title, rank, privilege and hierarchy Nobles need the king, but also assert power over him whenever given the chance Common man learns to use them against each other… in time, they will become the masters

Nobles organize Form organizations to: SPAIN: Cortes Challenge King’s power, and Remain superior to peasants SPAIN: Cortes FRANCE: Estates General and Parlements ENGLAND: Parliament (Magna Carta) HRE (Holy Roman Empire): the Elector System (Golden Bull) Most land – given to nobles to treat like their own little kingdoms – tax peasants

Monarchs establish supremacy Insist their position is religious in nature All monarchs are ordained All monarchs are offspring of monarchs Emphasized majesty and mystery John Bodin (essay on THE SOVERIGN) Bishop Jacques Boussuet (essay on MONARCH = GOD) Controlled all land and taxes Attempted to appoint Bishops in their cities Incorporated towns

People “are wrong to support the idea that the [Estates General] is more important than the prince. Such ideas make obedient subjects revolt when they should obey their sovereign prince… These notions are absurd.” ( 1576 - Six Books of the Commonwealth) John Bodin

Bishop Jacques Benign Bossuet “Something indescribably divine is attached to the prince and inspires fear in the people. …you are gods, that is, you have in your authority and you carry on your forehead a divine quality.” (1680s) Divine Right of Kings

Ultimate goal of Monarchs Create Stability Avoid wars Avoid challenge to their power (reduce power of greedy nobles) (befriend the masses) Promote harmony and appearance of unity Promote the arts … gives the appearance of stability and harmony and unity Expand Kingdom, when possible Find weakness in the enemy, and ATTACK Repeat #2 – by whatever means necessary

France Charles VII (r. 1422-1461) Louis XI (r. 1461-1483) Crowned at Reims Defeated English in Hundred Years War Joan of Arc Louis XI (r. 1461-1483) “the Spider” Used standing army against nobles Ruthless Machiavellian Eliminated Burgundy Had been poised to swallow HRE and France

Questions to ponder… Why would the masses unite around a nasty and brutish ruler? Why would a ruler rule in such a brutish manner? What excuse could he possibly give for such behavior?

Holy Roman Empire (HRE) Established 12/25/800 by Charlemagne as the “new” Roman Empire (united with The Church) The Golden Bull (1356) – HRE forced to get approval from 7 “Electors” Electors negotiated power in each election (they did NOT “vote”) Hapsburg family

Holy Roman Empire (HRE) Mainz Trier Cologne Saxony Brandenburg Palatinate Bohemia CONTENDERS: Frederick of Saxony Francis I of France Henry VIII of England

Questions to ponder… No other monarchy had weakness at this level. Why would this matter for the Reformation? What does it say about the power of the Emperor?

England Wars of the Roses (1455-1471) Richard III of York, vs. Rival “Houses” (branches of royal family) Each: Rose on family Crest York: White Rose Lancaster: Red Rose Richard II of York vs. Henry IV of Lancaster Richard III of York, vs. Princes of the Tower Henry VII of Lancaster Court of the Star Chamber

York vs. Lancaster

Questions to ponder… Why would a king go to Parliament to confirm laws? How would this increase his power? How would this DECREASE his power? Why would nobles demand all taxes go through them… that they be used to collect taxes? (think power AND money!)

Spain United by leaders of Castile and Aragon (1492) Ferdinand and Isabella Reconquista (1492) Moors Granada Grandson, Charles V Ruler of Spain, Naples, Burgundy, Netherlands, HRE and the Americas

Empire of Charles V

Family Tree of Charles V (Grandfather: (Philip’s father) Maximilian, HRE)

Questions to ponder… Why would Ferdinand and Isabella want their daughter to marry Henry VII of England? Why would it be good for her to then marry Henry VIII? What motivates the disunified Spanish to unite in 1490s?