1. Absolutism: The Divine Right of Kings

2. Absolutism
The theory that all power in a state rest in the hands of the King or Queen.
Devine Right: The idea that God created the monarchy and that the monarchy acted as God’s representative on earth.

3. The Meaning of This? To question the King, is to question God.
God is infallible, so the King can never be wrong.
In certain lands the Kings were to uphold justice and fairness, however Kings often forgot about fairness.

4. Famous Quote…
'Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.‘
- Lord Acton, 1887

5. Examples: Absolute Monarchs
Louis XIV
France
Known as “the Sun King”

7. Maria Theresa Queen of Austria
Mother of Marie Antoinette (Future Queen of France)
Had 16 Children

8. Fredrick the Great
King of Prussia
Years of War with Austria

9. Ivan the Terrible Ruler of Russia
Ruled under two periods: “the Good” and “the Bad”

10. Read selections on monarchs and fill in the sections of the chart.
What led to Absolutism?
Read selections on monarchs and fill in the sections of the chart.

11. Why Important Today?
Will help us better understand the French Revolution.
We still have Absolutism today (Totalitarianism)
Example: North Korea