The Rise of Austria, Prussia, and Russia and the Changing Power Structure in Europe in the 17 th and 18 th Centuries.

Political Changes in Eastern Europe ► Three aging empires: gave way to new empires of Austria Prussia and Russia ► Holy Roman Empire: religious divisions and war in 16 th and 17 th century ► Ottoman Empire: could not maintain possessions in E. Europe and Balkans ► Poland: liberum veto – voting in Polish parliament had to be unanimous (= weak gov’t)

The Austrian Hapsburgs ► Multinational empire: Austrian, Hungarian, & Bohemian kingdoms ► Cosmopolitan aristocracy: serfdom ► Leopold I ( ),: successfully repelled Turks ► Turkish threat: relatively religiously tolerant empire

The Austrian Hapsburgs ► Charles VI  Pragmatic Sanction (1713) issued by Charles VI: Habsburg territories indivisible; only Habsburgs could rule (daughter Maria Theresa)  War of Austrian Succession ( ) – (King George’s War – )  Prussia, France, Bavaria & Spain vs. Austria and Russia  Prussia tool Silesia from Austria; Prussia now most powerful German state: “Great Power”  Treaty of Aix-laChapelle (1748): legitimized Frederick the Great’s conquest.

The Austrian Hapsburgs ► Maria Theresa (r ): Wars of 1740s led to internal consolidation ► Reduced serfdom (more than any other e. European ruler except her son Joseph II)

The Austrian Hapsburgs ► Joseph II ( ) – greatest of the Enlightened despots (“greatest good for greatest number”)  Abolished serfdom in 1781, freedom of press, freedom of religion & civic rights, more equitable justice system, made German official language (to assimilate minorities), increased control over Catholic education, expanded state schools, left empire in economic and political turmoil: Leopold I rescind many laws (e.g., serfdom)

Hohenzollerns in Prussia ► Frederick William, The Great Elector (r )  Rule consolidated after 30 Years’ War: military force & taxation  Junkers: nobility sided with king for stability; hereditary serfdom in 1653  Created most efficient army in Europe

Hohenzollerns in Prussia ► Frederick I (r )  (Elector Frederick III) “The Ostentatious” ( ); 1 st “King of Prussia”  Allied with Habsburgs in War of League of Augsburg and War of Spanish Succession.

Hohenzollerns in Prussia ► Frederick William I (r ) “The Soldiers’ King”  Established Prussian abolutism  “Sparta of the North”: Largely a military state – best army in Europe  Junkers became officers caste in army in return for king’s absolutism

Hohenzollerns in Prussia ► “Frederick the Great” (Frederick II: ) of Prussia  At war for first half of his reign  Became a reformer during 2 nd half of his reign – ruler was the “first servant of the state”  Religious freedom, education in schools and universities, codified laws, promoted industry and agriculture, encouraged immigration  Social structure remained heavily stratified: serfdom; extended privileges for the nobility, Junkers became heart of military; difficult upward mobility for middle class leadership

Peter the Great in Russia ► Romanov Dynasty ( )  Michael Romanov ( )  Created Russian empire across Asia to the Pacific (largest nation by 1689)

Peter the Great in Russia ► Peter the Great ( )  1698, put down revolt by strelski (Moscow Guards)  westernization (modernization): mostly for military purposes  state-regulated monopolies created; industrial serfdom  Table of Ranks: educational training for new civil service (mostly of nobles)

Peter the Great in Russia ► St. Petersburg begun in 1703 on Baltic; largest city in Northern Europe by his death. ► “Winter Palace” sought to emulate Versailles. ► Great Northern War ( ) ► Charles XII, 18-yr-old Swedish king ► Battle of Poltava, 1709: Peter defeated Sweden ► Treaty of Nystad (1721): Peter gained Baltic states “window to the West”

Alternatives to Absolutism ► Sweden  Nobles use the absence of the king during warfare to reaffirm their power. ► United Provinces  Merchants and landowners in the Estates General held the House of Orange in check. ► Poland  King was elected by nobles, who continued to hold the power.