Absolute Monarchs Ch. 4 Sec. 2,4,5 1

Definitions  Absolute Monarch: Ruler with complete authority over the government and the lives of the people he or she governs  Enlightened Despot: Absolute ruler who used his or her power to bring about political and social change 2

Louis XIV of France  “I Am the State”- believed in his divine right to rule  Known as the Sun King- Just as the sun stands at the center of the solar system, he argued, so the Sun King stands at the center of the nation  He strengthened Royal Power  Built the Palace of Versailles  Ruled for 72 years! 3

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Fredrick the Great of Prussia  Fredrick William I came to rule in 1713 with death of his father  He gained loyalty of the Junkers (Prussian nobles)  Increased military strength and power  William II became king in 1740  Used his military upbringing to seize Silesia from Austria  Used his disciplined army to force European nations to recognize Prussia as a great power 5

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Peter the Great of Russia  Only 10 years old when he took the throne in 1682 and took control of government in 1689  Wanted to learn about Western advancements- traveled to Europe in 1697  Brought back Europeans to Westernize Russia  Became most autocratic of Europe’s absolute monarchs  Controlled Church and nobles  Pushed through reforms 7

 He expands Russia’s borders  Built St. Petersburg on coast of Baltic- “window to the West”  Russia became largest country in the world- and it still is today  His death left mixed legacies-  He used terror to enforce his power  Contributed to gap between Russians and the West by policies that contributed to serfdom  Left no heir or successor- sparked a power struggle 8

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