1. ABSOLUTISM

2. Russia
England
Prussia
Austria
France
Spain

3. Centralize Authority Around Yourself
Sovereignty is embodied in the person of the ruler
Divine Right – Responsible to God alone
Tried to control competing jurisdictions, institutions, interest groups

4. Pacify and Subjugate Your Nobles
Secure the cooperation of the one group historically the monarchy’s greatest threat
THE NOBILITY
Abolish the liberties held by areas/groups

5. Power often results from how financial problems solved
Establish new state bureaucracies that directed the economic life of the country
Bureaucracies composed of career officials appointed and solely accountable to the king

6. Power Results from how financial problems solved cont…
Often from the Middle Class (Fr.) or nobility (Spain & E. Europe)
Served the state as represented by the king (not to enrich selves) – salary paid by state

7. Permanent Standing Armies
In peacetime and wartime
Deployed troops in/out of country in interest of monarchy
Army = basic feature

8. Build Something Worthy of Your Glory

9. Dominate the Cultural Scene
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Who’s the most copied European Monarch of all??

10. Make Religion Work for You
Regulate religious sects
Emphasize ONE Religion

11. Embodiment of the State
LASTLY
Did not have consent of the governed
Lacked idea of rule of law
Embodiment of the State
L’etat, c’est moi!
I am the State!