1. Absolutism in Central Europe
Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY
Adapted by Mr. Reiner Kolodinski

2. The Habsburgs
& the
Holy Roman Empire

3. Habsburg Family Crest

4. Austrian Empire:

5. Leopold I Holy Roman Emperor (r. 1658-1705)
HRE Controlled:
Bohemia, Silesia, Moravia, Hungary, Croatia, Transylvania, Netherlands, Lombardy & parts of German area

6. Schönbrunn Palace

7. Schönbrunn Palace

8. Schönbrunn Palace

9. Prince Eugène of Savoy: 1718
Military leader for HRE defeated Ottoman Turks
Privy Counsel to HRE
Negotiated Treaty of Rastatt w/ France
Governor of Austrian Netherlands

10. Prussia & the Austrian Empire: 1721-72

11. The Hohenzollerns
&
Brandenburg-Prussia

12. Prussian Family Crest

13. Growth of Austria & Brandenburg-Prussia to 1748

14. Poland: Target of Conquest
1683 King John III Sobieski helped rescue Vienna from Ottoman Turks
Elective Monarchy = Rule by outsiders
Polish Diet crippled by Liberum Veto
Resources, fertile land, no naturally defensible borders = target

15. Prussia: Frederick William “the Great Elector”
Unified Prussian lands
Royal bureaucracy
Military buildup
Obtained loyalty from nobility – the Junkers

16. Frederick I of Prussia (r.1701-1713)
Formerly: Frederick III of Brandenburg
(r )
Focused on Arts, Education & Culture

17. Frederick William I Created the modern Prussian State
Nobility+ Army + Monarchy
Militaristic Society

18. Frederick the Great (r. 1740-1786)
Developed modern Prussian army
Became a successful military leader
Invaded Silesia
Gained Territory for Prussia
Brought potato to Prussia
An Enlightened Monarch

19. Frederick the Great & Sans Soucci

20. Frederick the Great (r. 1740-1786)

21. Frederick the Great’s Court

22. Europe in 1740

23. The War of the
Austrian Succession

24. Charles VI (r. 1711-1740) No male heir
Pragmatic Sanction gives daughter legal right to succeed
Approved by Hapsburg family & nobles of HRE

25. Maria Theresa of Austria (r. 1740-1780)
Inherited HRE throne from Charles VI – 1740
Weak army + No $$ = target for aggression
Attacked by Frederick II of Prussia 1740… lost Silesia to Prussia

26. War of the Austrian Succession

27. Maria Theresa & Her Family
Her Notable Children:
HRE Joseph II
HRE Leopold II
Queen Marie Antoinette (Fr.)