Absolute Monarchs in Europe

Absolutism Form of government that placed absolute, or unlimited power, on the monarch and his or her advisers. Factors Strengthening Royal Rule: Decline of feudalism Rise of Cities Reformation Crises in nations

Divine Right of Kings Theory that attempted to justify unlimited royal power: The king ruled by god’s authority as god’s representative on earth. Obedience to king was obedience to god. The king could do no wrong. An absolute monarch answered only to god, not his subjects.

Spain’s Empire and European Absolutism Powerful Spanish Empire Charles V

Charles V Grandson to Ferdinand and Isabella Nephew to Catherine of Aragon Controlled Spain and HRE Signed Peace of Augsburg He would divide his empire in two and retire to a monastery. His brother, Ferdinand, got Austria and HRE His son, Philip II, got Spain, Americas, and Netherlands

Philip II

Philip II Issues Faced: Religion: Issues between Muslims & Protestants Loss of the Netherlands Spanish Armada Conflicts with the Ottoman Empire

Spanish Armada

Spanish Golden Age Monarchs and nobles were great patrons of the Arts 16th and 17th Century lots of achievements in art and literature. Most well known was: El greco Diego Velazquez Cervantes

Spain Weakens Inflation and Taxes Enemies get rich from Spain Dutch Revolts Spanish Armada

Diego Velazquez

El greco

Cervantes

Cervantes

Henry Navarre Became king of France in 1589 He founded the Bourbon Dynasty Robust, Athletic, Handsome, decisive, fearless, politician He converted to Catholicism Promoted religious tolerance Issued Edict of Nantes Things he did: rebuilt France, restored monarchy, restored treasury, repaired roads, supported trade and industry, restored discipline to army.

Henry Navarre

Cardinal Richelieu

Cardinal Richelieu Became “ruler” of France He set out to build an absolute monarch: he limited influence of Huguenots, and weakened the power of the nobles

Louis XIV The most powerful French monarch Ruled for 72 years Known as the Sun King Longest ruling European monarch Became king when he was 4. His mother and Mazarin ruled in his place. Mazarin was hated by the nobles. Louis would come to distrust the nobles.

How Louis XIV established absolute power in France. Limited the power of the nobility. Increased the power of the intendents. Controlled the economy. Regulated worship. Built a magnificent palace to show his wealth.

Versailles: Home of the "Sun King"

Versailles Statistics 2,000 acres of grounds 12 miles of roads 27 miles of trellises 200,000 trees 210,000 flowers planted every year 80 miles of rows of trees 55 acres surface area of the Grand Canal 12 miles of enclosing walls 50 fountains and 620 fountain nozzles 21 miles of water conduits 3,600 cubic meters per hour: water consumed 26 acres of roof 51,210 square meters of floors 2,153 windows 700 rooms 67 staircases 6,000 paintings 1,500 drawings and 15,000 engravings 2,100 sculptures 5,000 items of furniture and objects d'art 150 varieties of apple and peach trees in the Vegetable Garden

Hall of Mirrors

Louis’ Wars Dutch War – Louis tries to expand France’s borders. War of Spanish Succession; Causes – Louis’ grandson inherited the throne of Spain and other countries banded together to prevent the union of the two powerful nations. Effects – Phillip could inherit the throne of Spain and France promised not to unite, Britain got Gibraltar, Britain allowed to import enslaved Africans to Spanish colonies, Britain gained French territories in North America, Austrian Hapsburgs took Spanish Netherlands, Prussia and Savoy recognized as independent kingdoms.

Legacy of Louis France was a power Art, Literature France was military leader Colonies Debt Resentment over taxes Peasants and middle class resent privileges of nobility’ Nobles can’t rule by themselves.

Peace of Augsburg- Peace then Tensions Peace was short lived Protestants and Catholics continued to be iffy with each other Protestant Germans weary about Calvinism Over time Prot. and Cath. tried to gain followers in German States Alliances formed 30 Year War will occur between the Protestants and Catholics

30 Years War HRE Ferdinand becomes king of Bohemia Ferdinand was a Hapsburg and a Catholic, most of the people in Bohemia were Protestant Ferdinand closed Protestant churches In 1618 a war broke out between Catholics and Protestants

Peace of Westphalia Weakened Hapsburgs Strengthened France Made German princes independent of HRE Ended religious wars Came up with of peace talks Recognized Calvinism Recognized nations of Europe as equal and independent Abandoned idea of a Catholic empire

Habsburg Dynasty