The Age of Absolutism

Absolutism During the Age of Absolutism, monarchs had absolute power – kings and queens make every decision Monarchs goal was to centralize their power Monarch believed in the divine rights of kings – idea that power was bestowed from God – everyone must obey God’s pick – similar idea to the Mandate of Heaven of China

Thomas Hobbes was a British philosopher. He wrote in the 1600s that a powerful monarch was the best way to unify a nation.

Absolutism is a political system where a monarch has absolute power over his or her subjects.

Historians call this period of absolute monarchs the Age of Kings.

In the Age of Kings, many monarchs had absolute power over their subjects. People often believed that a monarch’s power came from God.

The belief that a monarch’s power came from God was known as Divine Right Theory.

The king was God’s deputy on Earth. The king’s commands expressed God’s wishes.

Monarchs also gained power due to the belief in Divine Right.

The king could not be questioned.

Monarchy in France King Louis XIV – known as the “Sun King” – believed everything revolved around him – known for saying “I am the State!” Persecuted the Huguenots – Huguenots: French Protestants Repealed/took back the Edict of Nantes – Edict of Nantes: allowed Protestant worship Fought numerous wars and fell into debt Spent a lot of money on the Palace of Versailles – more debt

Louis XIV was a divine ruler in France. He was an absolute ruler.

Louis XIV of France provided a model for other absolute monarchs. Under his rule, the king’s command was law. As the monarch said, “L’etat C’est moi” or “I am the state.”

Louis XIV was called the “Sun King” because of his absolute power.

To control France’s nobles, Louis XIV built a huge palace at Versailles. Leading nobles were expected to spend most of the year at Versailles under the watchful eye of the king.

Louis XIV built a palace at Versailles.

Louis XIV also demanded that French Protestants convert to Catholicism or leave France!

Louis XIV chose the sun as his emblem. The sun gave life to all things and regulated everything as it rose and set. Like the sun, life in France revolved around the king.

Louis XIV’s wars cost French taxpayers a tremendous amount of money.

Monarchy in Russia Led by Peter the Great and Catherine the Great Both modernized and westernized Russia Brought Russia in the mainstream of civilization Forced men to shave their beards Forced people to act more “western” Established St. Petersburg as Russia’s “Window to the West”

A tsar or czar was the Russian title for a king. Russian tsars had absolute power.

The tsars or absolute rulers of Russia also were absolute monarchs. Peter the Great forcibly westernized and modernized Russia. Catherine the Great continued to modernize Russia.

Peter the Great was an important Russian tsar. He tried to modernize and westernize Russia.

Russian nobles were forced to cut off their beards!

During Peter the Great’s reign, Russian nobles were forced to dress and look Like Western Europeans.

Can you see why St. Petersburg gave Peter the Great a “window on the West”?

Russia is a country on two continents: Europe and Asia. Under Peter and Catherine, Russia turned towards Europe.