Rise of Eastern Absolutism

Rise of Prussia Treaty of Westphalia (1648) ended Thirty Years War and weakened role of HRE Hohenzollern family ruled Brandenburg since 1400s Hohenzollerns controlled disparate lands, with little sense of nation Unified lands through administrative efficiency, military might, and personality of leader

Frederick William, the Great Elector (ruled ) Raised taxes on peasants and urban class to fund large, well disciplined army Co-opted nobles: demanded their loyalty, but allowed them to oppress serfs Used sons of landed nobles (“Junkers”) as army officers Junkers tended to be landed, classist, and deeply conservative

Frederick I (r ) Frederick I (later known as Frederick I in Prussia, ruled ) Son of the Great Elector Provided army to HRE during war of Spanish Succession, Thereby titled “King in Prussia” in exchange

Frederick William (r ) Increased bureaucratic efficiency, and increased loyalty to monarch, but not to his person Always wore an officer’s uniform: Prussian army grew to 4th largest in Europe Army to FW was a symbol of Prussian strength, but not a tool of aggression

Frederick II “The Great” (r ) 1740: assumed power and almost immediately seized Silesia from Austria, starting the War of Austrian Succession, later allying with France Known as “enlightened” despot for his reforms and use of rational conclusions Guided Prussia through several wars, and preserved its integrity

Rise of Austria Recall that after 1648 Holy Roman Empire was made of over 300 principalities Austrian Hapsburgs controlled position of Emperor, but not absolute power Treaty of Utrecht (1713) granted Hapsburgs control of Netherlands, much of Italy The Surrender of Breda, by Velasquez

Rise of Austria: Maria Theresa (r ) Hapsburgs consolidated control using new and hereditary lands Charles VI had no male heir: won support in family for “Pragmatic Sanction” Document declaring daughter Maria Theresa to be legal heir 1740: Maria Theresa became empress, and immediately defended reign in War of Austrian Succession, allying with England Breathed a spirit of courage and confidence in life, a sort of natural trust in the world Reign saw rise of South German Rococo art form: angels, joy, gilt

Rise of Russia Peter The Great (ruled ) transformed Russia into major European power Nearly 7 feet tall, with impressive energy and desire to reform Russia Toured western Europe in supposed disguise to learn of western methods Childhood similar to Louis XIV’s Fronde experience Tamed the “boyar” nobles by creating official government ranks to correspond to privilege

Rise of Russia Controlled the “streltsy” guards of Moscow garrison by brutally repressing their rebellion Asserted control over Orthodox church through changes in text and ritual and abolished patriarch Created modern navy and army Attempted to gain a warm-water port, either in north or in Black Sea Defeated Sweden to take control of Baltic countries Built new capital, St Petersburg: almost a Versailles for Russia