Absolutism –

Characteristics of Absolutism Sovereignty: –Sole control over instruments of justice – no competitors for the use of force (i.e. permanent standing armies) Sovereignty embodied in the person of the ruler –“divine right” State bureaucracies for the direction of the economic life of the country in the interests of the king

Absolutism in France Louis XIII – –Allowed Cardinal Richelieu to guide policy –eliminated the power of nobles and of Huguenots –Lessened the power of the Hapsburgs of Austria and Spain (30 Years War

Absolutism in France Louis XIV – The “Sun King” –Used the palace at Versailles to awe his subjects and foreign dignitaries, and control French nobles –Imposed a unified and centralized system of administration on the country –Governed without the Estates General –Utilized a secret police, informers, and the reading of private mail

Absolutism in France Results of the reign of Louis XIV –economic decline and national debt Expenses of Versailles Revoked Edict of Nantes Unsuccessful Wars –Ex: the War of Spanish Succession

Absolutism - Prussia Frederick William the Great Elector –Built a large army –Prussian nobles (Junkers) served as officers –Used the army to control the citizens –1701 – Fredericks son recognized as a king

Absolutism -- Russia Peter Romanov – Peter the Great -Primary goal was to “westernize” Russia -Forced western clothing and etiquette on Russian nobles (boyars) -Introduced a newspaper to indoctrinate the public -Hired Prussian generals to train his army -Built St Petersburg as his “window on the west”