The Monarchs of Europe 1500-1800 Absolute Rulers & Enlightened Despots

What is an Absolute Ruler? Absolute Monarch: a ruler (king or queen) who holds all power within the boundaries of their empire. Control every aspect of society Based on the idea of divine right, the idea that the monarchy was created by God, and that the ruler was God’s representative on earth. Absolute Monarchs answered only to God, not their people.

Was Absolutism a New Idea? Absolutism was not a new idea. Divine Right in Europe was the same idea as the Mandate of Heaven in Ancient China, as well as the Caesars of Ancient Rome.

What caused Absolutism in Europe? Decline of feudalism Rise of cities & middle class Loss of church authority Growth of nations (Spain, France, England, Russia) Religious conflicts Buildup of armies & navies to protect new territories Need for increased taxes Revolts by peasants or nobles

What were the effects of Absolutism? Regulation of religion & society through the monarchy Larger more elaborate courts require more $$ Huge building projects (Palace at Versailles) $$ Loss of power by Nobility & Legislatures (Parliament, Estates General) American & French Revolutions Influence of Western Europe on Russia

Absolutism of Spanish Hapsburgs Phillip II inherited Spain and its territories from his father, the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V in 1555. This land included Spain, the colonies in the Americas, Spanish Netherlands, and parts of Austria and Italy The colonies had yielded vast wealth He inherited the strongest navy in Europe He was Catholic, and married another Catholic (who soon died) Mary of England Together, they sought to purge their countries of Protestantism… Until Mary died & Elizabeth took over!

Philip II of Spain

Spanish Absolutism cont’d Defeat of the Spanish Armada:1588 England’s Protestant Queen Elizabeth had aided Protestant Spanish Netherlands in achieving its independence In revenge, Philip sent his Armada to England, where most of his ships were destroyed Spanish Hapsburgs maintained Absolute Rule until the War of Spanish Succession in 1701 The king of Spain at the time, Charles II, was mentally incapable of making a good decision, and willed the throne to the King of France’s Grandson, Philip of Anjou. War ensued (to be continued…)

Absolute Rule in France: The Bourbons Henry IV (1589-1610) First Bourbon Monarch Converted to Catholicism to unite France Issued the Edict of Nantes which decreed religious toleration to Huguenots (French Protestants) Religious zealot murdered him in 1610 Louis XIII (1610-1638) & Cardinal Richelieu Louis XIII was weak until he appointed Richelieu, a Catholic Cardinal, in 1624 Richelieu passed several measures to persecute Huguenots and take power away from the Nobility Involved France in the Thirty Years’ War to limit the power of the Hapsburgs… made France extremely powerful

Louis XIII (left); Richelieu (right)

Bourbon Monarchs cont’d Louis XIV “The Sun King” (1643-1715) The most powerful ruler in French history once declared, “I am the state.” Became king at age 5, but Cardinal Mazarin ruled in his stead until 1661 Mazarin ended the Thirty Years War, but the nobles revolted against his oppressive rule until 1653 Louis takes control at age 22 Weakened the power of the nobles, gave more power to the intendants, or government official Structured country to be mercantilist, and to be self-sufficient Cancelled the Edict of Nantes Many Huguenots fled the country to pursue religious freedom

“The Sun King” This opulent palace occupied 5,000 acres Built Versailles (estimated cost: $2.5 Billion) This opulent palace occupied 5,000 acres Louis XIV hated the Nobility b/c they threatened his life all through childhood; required hundreds of them to live at Versailles to keep close watch on them Huge Patron of the Arts War of Spanish Succession (1700-1714) Louis’ grandson was willed the Spanish throne. England, Austria, Netherlands, and others united to prevent the union of Spain and France’s empires Treaty of Utrecht ended war, said Philip could have Spain as long as he didn’t unite with France Great Britain did well; they got Gibraltar and a major stake in Spain’s slave trade

Louis XIV

Versailles

Legacy of Louis XIV France considered military and artistic leader of Europe HUGE debt War of Spanish Succession Construction of Versailles Huge tax burden placed on the poor of France Helps contribute to the unrest of the people for the French Revolution

Hapsburgs in Central Europe Thirty Years War 1618-1648 Ferdinand II (Hapsburg) Catholic ruler of Bohemia begins it by closing Protestant churches, in violation of the Peace of Augsburg In the beginning, the Hapsburg armies won by all-out war. Once the French and the Swedes got involved, the Hapsburgs lost Peace of Westphalia 1648 Ended the Thirty Years War Weakened Hapsburg Austria & Spain Made Germany independent of the Holy Roman Empire Awarded German territory to France

Austrian Hapsburgs The Hapsburgs reconquered Bohemia and Hungary, uniting them as Austria under one absolute ruler: Charles VI (1711) Charles VI made the national religion Catholicism Challenge: uniting the many different ethnic groups in his country under his rule Leaves Austria to be ruled under his daughter, Maria Theresa Maria Theresa (1740-1780) She decreased the power of the Nobility Limited the amount of labor their serfs could be forced to do

Prussian Hohenzollerns Frederick William & Frederic William I (1714-1740) Decided that a strong army was the only way to ensure safety Gave the Junkers permanent officer positions in the military Prussia becomes rigidly controlled, highly militarized society Frederick II “Frederick the Great” (1740-1786) Starts War of Austrian Succession (wanted the throne of Austria) (1740-1748) Wanted Silesia, an Austrian-held territory. Won Silesia in Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle

Seven Years War Austria, France and Russia had formed alliances Prussia & Britain had formed alliances. 1756- Frederick II attacks Saxony, an Austrian ally. Soon, all of these countries and their colonial holdings were involved in war. Known as French & Indian War in the US Treaty of Paris, 1763 French lost holdings in North America Britain gained all North American colonies & sole trade rights in India Austria gets Silesia back

Absolute Rulers of Russia Ivan the Terrible (1533-1584) Inherited the throne at age 3 First to call himself “czar” Killed his wife and oldest son Used terror to rule Would seek out “traitors” and have his secret police murder them Peter the Great (1672-1725) Became czar at age 24. Was almost 7 ft. tall, strong, and bright. Established St. Petersberg Went on a trip to Western Europe, brought back & instituted Western reforms for industrialization & culture Made Russia a European Power by 1725.

Ivan & Peter

England Elizabeth I (1558-1601) James I (1603-1625) Elizabeth left no heir, crown goes to nearest relative, James I (Stuart) James I (1603-1625) Struggled with Parliament over money Initiated the translation of the bible into English (King James Version) Offended Puritan members of Parliament puritan: wanted to “purify” the English church of Catholic practices 1630’s: Great Migration: 30,000 Puritans leave England and settle in the English Colonies in America. Salem, Boston, etc… all Puritan communities

Charles I & English Civil War Biggest problem: dissolved & recalled Parliament 3 times over money issues Forced him to sign the Petition of Right, which he ignored now part of the English Constitution Tried to arrest Parliament members; spurs English Civil War Roundheads: Puritans against the king. Led by Oliver Cromwell Cavaliers/Royalists: Loyal followers of the king. Charles loses; is put on trial and beheaded in 1649

The Restoration Charles II (1660-1685) “Merry Monarch” Son of Charles I, restored to throne after the oppressive Puritan rule of Cromwell Restoration: period of time when the English Monarchy is restored Parliament passes habeus corpus gave any prisoner the right to be informed of charges against them in a court of law, and receive just trial James II (1685-1688) Catholic Monarch: England is divided Tories: supported James Whigs: against James When James has a son in 1688, he and his family flee to France b/c the English don’t want another Catholic monarch

The Glorious Revolution William & Mary (1688- James’s Protestant daughter, Mary, had married William of Orange of the Netherlands. They marched into London in 1688, in a bloodless revolution. Parliament became their partner in governing; thus becoming a Constitutional Monarchy Establish the English Bill of Rights to place limits on royal power