French and Russian Absolutism, Enlightenment, & Revolution Outcome: Absolutism & Absolute Monarchs French and Russian Absolutism, Enlightenment, & Revolution

What is Absolutism?? Absolutism in Europe Absolute Monarch: kings or queens who held all of the power within their states’ boundaries Their goal was to control every aspect of society including religion Most believed they had divine right: belief that God created the monarchy and that the monarch acted as God’s representative on earth. An absolute monarch answered only to God, not to his or her subjects Over the next few centuries, many absolute monarchs would appear in Europe Decline of feudalism, rise of cities, growth of national kingdoms all helped to centralize authority Rising middle class typically sided with the monarchs

Absolutism Result: Absolute monarchs would alter Europe’s future and eventually help bring about massive change such as The French Revolution and American Revolution.

France

Henry II & Catherine de Medicis

Absolutism & Absolute Monarchs Religious Wars and Power Struggles in France King Henry II of France died in 1559 with four sons; real power behind the throne was their mother Catherine de Medicis Religious wars between French Catholics & Huguenots created chaos in France Huguenots were French Protestants

Absolutism & Absolute Monarchs St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of 1572 Massacre of 3,000 to as high as 50,000 Huguenots Occurred when Huguenot nobles were in Paris attending the marriage of Catherine de Medicis’ daughter (Catholic) to Henry of Navarre (Huguenot) Henry of Navarre survived

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

Henry of Navarre

Absolutism & Absolute Monarchs Henry of Navarre Henry inherited the throne when Catherine and her last son died Henry became the first ruler of the Bourbon dynasty in France Many Catholics opposed Henry so he abandoned Protestantism and became a Catholic Henry’s explanation was “Paris is well worth a mass.” Declared Huguenots could live in peace in France by created the Edict of Nantes; a declaration of religious toleration He had restored the French monarchy to a position of strong power In 1610, a fanatic leaped into Henry’s royal carriage and stabbed him to death for his religious compromises

Death of Henry

Absolutism & Absolute Monarchs Result: Henry had restored the French monarch to a strong position and created one of the most famous ruling families in Europe. Even the king of Spain today is a member of the Bourbons. Juan Carlos of Spain

Louis XIII (13th) & Cardinal Richelieu

Absolutism & Absolute Monarchs The Bourbon Dynasty’s Power Louis XIII (13th) was a weak king He appointed a strong minister to help: Cardinal Richelieu Cardinal Richelieu became, in effect, the ruler of France Richelieu moved against the Huguenots by forbidding Huguenot cities to have walls He also moved against the nobles’ power by having them take down their fortified castles and used government agents instead of using nobles in bureaucracy Richelieu felt the only thing standing in France’s way of becoming the most powerful country in Europe was the Hapsburg rulers (Spain, Austria, Netherlands, H.R.E.)

Hapsburg Dominance

Louis XIV (14th)

Absolutism & Absolute Monarchs Louis XIV (14th) Was 4 years old when he became king Richelieu’s successor, Cardinal Mazarin, had increased taxes and strengthened the central government which led to anti-Mazarin riots During the riots, Louis’s life was threatened; Louis vowed revenge The noble’s rebellion failed for 3 reasons They distrusted each other The government used violent repression Peasants and townspeople grew weary of fighting

Absolutism & Absolute Monarchs Louis’s Power Louis took total control at age 22 He excluded the nobles from his councils to strengthen his own power Increased the power of the intendants, or government agents, who collected taxes and administered justice Louis made the nobles dependent on him by making them live with him in the palace Wanted to make France self-sufficient (Mercantilism: wealth = power) to prevent wealth from leaving France so they manufactured everything needed in France

Absolutism & Absolute Monarchs Louis built Versailles, perhaps the biggest and most beautiful palace on earth

Aerial look…

Versailles

Hall of Mirrors

The Signing of the Treaty of Versailles

Absolutism & Absolute Monarchs Louis’s Power (continued…) France had 20 million people (more than England or the Dutch) The French army was far ahead of other states’ in size, training, and weaponry

Absolutism & Absolute Monarchs Louis’ Legacy Louis invaded the Spanish Netherlands and gained 12 towns in 1667 He tried to fight more wars but the rest of Europe allied against him to ensure France would not dominate all of Europe The King of Spain died after promising his throne to Louis’s 16 year old grandson Led to the War of Spanish Success; fear the Bourbons would control Spain and France The Treaty of Utrecht terms stated that Louis’ grandson could have Spain as long as France and Spain did not unite

War of Spanish Succession 1701-1714

Absolutism & Absolute Monarchs Louis’ Legacy (continued…) When Louis died in his bed in 1715, people rejoiced in France He had left France a very powerful state France ranked #1 in Europe in art, literature, and statesmanship France was the military leader of Europe Due to warfare and the palace at Versailles, France was deeply in debt Resentment over the tax burden of the poor was plague his heirs and lead to revolution

The Sun King’s Deathbed

Outcome: Absolute Rulers of Russia   Russia’s Monarchy Outcome: Absolute Rulers of Russia

Russia Today

Former Soviet Region Compared in Latitude & Area with the United States

Early Russia

Early Byzantine Influences: Orthodox Christianity

Early Byzantine Influences: Cyrillic Alphabet

Absolute Rulers of Russia Setting the State Czar: Russian emperor (from Roman title Caesar) Russia had been controlled by the Mongols and Tatars Large region that is often cold and covers 15 time zones

Russia’s Time Zones

Ivan the Great

Absolute Rulers of Russia Ivan III (The Great) Ruled Russia from 1462-1505 Conquered much of the territory around Moscow Began to centralize the Russian government Succeeded by son Vasily who ruled for 28 years

Ivan the Great (r. 1462-1505) Ivan III Tearing the Great Khan’s Letter Requesting More Tribute in 1480.

Ivan the Terrible

Absolute Rulers of Russia Ivan The Terrible Came to throne in 1533 at age 3 Ivan the Great’s grandson At young age, was controlled by boyars or Russia’s landowning nobility At age 16 he seized power and had himself crowned Czar First Russian to use title Czar officially 1547-1560 was “good period”

Absolute Rulers of Russia Ivan The Terrible Continued… Bad period began in 1560 Wife Anastasia dies  Accuses boyars of poisoning her Organizes police force to hunt down and murder people Ivan considered traitors: dressed in black and rode black horses Many executed by secret police Accidentally kills oldest son and heir Ivan dies 3 years later leaving his weak second son to rule

Romanov Dynasty (1613-1917) Romanov Family Crest

Peter the Great

Absolute Rulers of Russia Peter the Great and Russia Romanov dynasty begins in 1613 Romanovs strengthened government by passing a law code and putting down revolts which paved way for absolute rule of Czar Peter I Peter the Great is known as one of Russia’s greatest reformers Russia had adopted the Eastern Orthodox branch of Christianity (Western Europe was mostly Catholic or Protestant) Peter was only 24 when he became sole ruler Reforms: reduced power of great landowners, recruited men from lower classes and promoted them with grants of land, modernized his army

Absolute Rulers of Russia Peter visits western Europe and comes back ready to westernize Russia Introduces potatoes- staple part of Russian diet (vodka  ) Started Russia’s first newspaper and edited first issue Raised women’s status by having them attend social gatherings Ordered nobles to give up traditional clothes for Western fashions Advanced education by opening a school of navigation and introducing schools for the arts and sciences

Absolute Rulers of Russia St. Petersburg Fought Sweden to gain land on Baltic Sea Built new capital on swampy site Would be an important shipping hub that would allow Russia to trade more easily 25,000-100,000 died building the city Ordered nobles to leave Moscow and move to new city

Catherine the Great

Absolute Rulers of Russia Catherine the Great Daughter of minor German prince 15 when married to Grand Duke Peter, heir to Russian throne Peter was mentally unstable Mere months after her husband became Czar, she had him arrested and confined Peter conveniently died soon after, murder? Sought access to the Black Sea- fought two wars with Ottoman Turks to get it Expanded empire into Poland Overall, had impressive reign that added a lot of land to the empire

Result: Peter had introduced Western ideas and reformed the culture and government of Russia with much success. By the time of his death in 1725, Russia was a force to be reckoned with. St. Basil’s Basilica in Moscow Russia