1. Absolute Monarchs

2. Philip II (Spain)
Took between 20-25% of all gold and silver coming from the New World “It’s good to be king.”
Spanish Armada
Golden Age of Spanish Art

3. Maria Theresa (Holy Roman Empire/Austria)
Ruled for 40 years
Reorganized Austrian economy and military, turning Austria into a European power
Won the War of Austrian Succession & lost the Seven Years War
16 children, including Marie Antoinette

4. Frederick the Great (Prussia)
United Prussian territories
Enlightened Absolutism – modernized bureaucracy, reformed judicial system, supported arts and philosophers (that he liked)

5. Ivan the Terrible (Russia)
Became king at the age of 3
First czar
Married into the Romanov family
Before his wife died: code of laws, doubled size of Russia
After his wife died: secret police, killed most of the boyars, killed his own son

6. Louis XIV (France)
Weakened power of nobles by excluding them from his councils
Highest privilege for a noble was helping him dress in the morning
Built Palace of Versailles (equivalent of $2 Billion today)