1. Absolutism in
Austria & Prussia
AP Euro
Unit 2 Part I CBHS

2. The Habsburgs
& the
Holy Roman Empire

3. Habsburg Family Crest
Like all of C. Europe, Habsburgs emerged from Thirty Years’ War impoverished and exhausted.
Defeat encouraged them to abandon imperial dominance and to focus inward and eastward to unify diverse holdings.
Ferdinand II (r ) reduced power of Bohemian Estates (mostly Protestant rep. assembly)
Confiscated their landholdings and gave them to loyal Catholic nobles and foreign aristocratic mercenaries who led his armies.
This led to direct rule over Bohemia, stamped out Protestantism.

4. Leopold I (r. 1658-1705) Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III (r ) centralized the govt. in the Empire’s German-speaking provinces.
Built a permanent standing army to put down any opposition.
Leopold I inherits the HRE shortly after 30 Years’ War.
Between , Habsburgs pushed out the Ottomans, and by 1718 recovered all of the former kingdom of Hungary.
In 1703, Hungarians revolted against the Habsburgs while War of Spanish Succession was occurring.
Rebels were defeated, but Leopold granted aristocratic privileges in return for acceptance of hereditary Habsburg rule.
At end of War of Spanish Succession, Austria gained land in Spanish Netherlands and divided Italy.
Leopold I (r ) Holy Roman Emperor

5. Austrian Empire:

6. Schönbrunn Palace

7. Schönbrunn Palace

8. Schönbrunn Palace

9. The Hohenzollerns
&
Brandenburg-Prussia

10. Prussian Family Crest
When 20 year old Frederick William, later known as the “Great Elector,” came to power in 1640, goal was to unite his 3 provinces—Brandenburg, Prussia, and holdings along the Rhine and enlarge them.
The estates of Brandenburg and Prussia were dominated by nobility and landowning classes, known as the Junkers.
Met in parliamentary estates and approved new taxes

11. Consolidation of Power
In 1660, Frederick persuaded Junkers in the estates to accept taxation without consent in order to fund an army.
They agreed in exchange for reconfirmation of their privileges, including authority over serfs.
The elector, having one over the Junkers, crushed potential opposition to his power from the towns.
The Estates’ power declined rapidly, state revenue tripled and the army expanded.
Frederick had financial independence and superior force
Frederick William, the “Great Elector”

12. King Frederick I of Prussia (r.1701-1713)
Frederick I received title of King of Prussia after giving his military to the Habsburg’s in War of Spanish Succession.
He was then able to pass on his royal title to his son Frederick William I, the “Soldiers’ King” in (r )
He eliminated last traces of parliamentary estates and local self-govt.
Transformed Prussia into a military state, by introducing new forms of discipline and war techniques.
Founded a cadet corps to train the sons of Junkers to lead his armies
Established conscription to fill armies.

13. Frederick the Great (r. 1740-1786)
Frederick William I more than doubled the of the army, and Berlin grew to be a city of 100,000 of which 20,000 were soldiers.
He fought very few wars and spent money frugally which left his heir Frederick II with a huge war chest.
Frederick II (The Great) moved forces into Silesia, a part of Bohemia in 1740 which doubled the population and added valuable industries.
Prussia established itself as a great power.

14. Prussia & the Austrian Empire: 1721-72

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

16. Frederick the Great’s Court