1. Absolutism + Enlightenment
Lesson 2: Absolute Rulers

2. bellwork
“The royal power is absolute…The prince need render account of his acts to no one...Without this absolute authority [he] could neither do good nor repress evil. It is necessary that his power be such that no one can hope to escape him...The prince...is not regarded as a prviate person: he is a public personage, all the state is in him; the will of all the people is included in his. As all perfection and all stregnth are united in God, so all the power of individuals is united in the person of the prince.” “Politics Drawn from the Very Words of Scripture” Bishop Jacques benigne Bossuet According to Bousset, what is the role of a king?

3. The Age of Absolutism

4. Louis XVI: What is this picture trying to convey to the observer
Louis XVI: What is this picture trying to convey to the observer? What do you see? How does it convey power?

5. Terms to Understand Divine Right Absolute Monarchy Monarch
The belief that God chose a ruler to rule.
Absolute Monarchy
A monarch who has unquestioned, absolute rule and power.
Monarch
A ruler who is part of a ruling family that passes down power from generation to generation
Balance of Power
Countries have equal strength in order to prevent any one country from dominating the others.

6. Phillip ii Spain Absolute Rule Successes Failures
Focused on religious unity (Roman Catholic)
Successes
Boosted economy—silver/money from colonies in America
Failures
Picked a fight with Elizabeth I (Great Britain) who was Protestant

7. Louis xiv France Phillip II’s grandson
#sassy
France
Phillip II’s grandson
Epitome (typical example) of absolute rulers
Absolute Rule
“Sun King”
Used military to enforce his rules

8. Peter the great Russia Absolute Rule Successes Failures
Autocratic ν ruler
Successes
Improved education
Improved infrastructure + trade
Built mighty military
Failures
Strengthened feudalism
Western reforms faded after his death

9. Catherine the great Russia Absolute Rule Successes Failures
Western influence
Controlled law/education
Successes
Codified the law
Required education
Failures
Husband’s murder + her affairs
Sought to expand borders

10. Louis xiv Successes Failures Versailles: used it to woo nobility
Mercantilist economy
Failures
Wars  debt
Religious persecution against Protestants

11. England
Queen Elizabeth of England produced no children, so the crown of England passed to James I, a Stuart (Scottish)
Parliament was the government body made up of representatives who advised the king or queen on how to run the country
James would struggle with Parliament to take more power

12. James of Scotland
James asserted his authority over the government, and this led to conflict with Parliament
James believed in the principle of divine right – God made him king
He spent lavishly on his lifestyle, and ran up England’s expenses
Also ended a war with Spain that forced England to pay war reparations to Spain

13. Absolute monarchies with centralized governments began to rise to power in Europe.
The dominant forces in Europe were England, France, Prussia, Austria, and Russia.
Religious divisions were evident Protestants (England + Prussia), Catholics (France + Austria), and Eastern Orthodox Christianity (Russia).
Competitions formed between certain nations England v. France- in the new world Prussia v. Austria over the German States
Alliances were formed between these powers constantly to preserve a balance of power in Europe. These alliances would also shift depending on the goals of the leaders involved.

14. Louis xiv quote
“The head alone has the right to deliberate and decide, and the functions of all the other members consist only in carrying out the commands given to them... The more you grant... [to the assembled people], the more it claims.. The interest of the state must come first.”
Q: Why does Louis XIV say that absolute rule is necessary?
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