1. Absolutism

2. Conflicting Viewpoints
Absolutism
Constitutionalism
Ruler claims sole and uncontestable power.
Central, Eastern Europe
There is no parliament
Or if there is, power is very weak
Divine Right of Kings
France, Austria, Spain, Prussia, Russia
Often Catholic
Ruler shares power with an assembly of elected representatives.
England
Dutch Republic
British North American Colonies
(all above – Protestant)

3. Leadership in France Louis XIII (r. 1610-1643), Cardinal Richelieu
Oversaw involvement in Thirty Years’ War
Anne of Austria, Cardinal Mazarin
Rule until Louis XIV is older
Faced with paying for war
Created problems  revolts across France

4. Cardinal Richelieu Finance minister Centralizing the state:
French Academy
Royal Council
Intendant system
Creation of nobles of the robe
(as opposed to the older nobles of the sword)
Judicial/admin positions

5. The Fronde (1648-1653) A series of revolts that threatened France
Louis was 5 when he became king (1643)
Nobles saw opportunity to gain control lost after French Wars of Religion (1598)
Parlements, local councils fought as well
Middle and Lower classes protested higher taxes
Nobles did not want to overthrow king-
Simply wanted a greater share of power

6. Louis XIV Model of absolute monarchy
Tells the Paris high court of justice:
“I am the State”
Misleading? Needs:
Local officials
Peasants/Artisans
Soldiers
Tax Payers
Clergy
Nobles

7. Weakening the Nobles’ Authority
When Mazarin died, Louis took control
weakens the power of nobles by excluding them from his councils
Increased the power of intendants, who collected taxes and administered justice
Intendants were like “civil servants”; they were appointed by the king to make sure his rule was being followed all over France
He made sure that local officials communicated with him regularly

8. The Sun King’s Grand Style
Louis spent a fortune surrounding himself with luxury
Built the palace at Versailles near Paris
Palace was 500 yards long
Ornate decoration and furnishings
Intended to clearly show Louis’s wealth and power

12. Patronage of the Arts Versailles was a center of arts
Louis made opera and ballet more popular
Most famous writer – Moliere
Wrote comedies
Louis supported the arts as a way to glorify the king and promote values that supported his absolute rule

13. Louis Controls the Nobility
Louis required hundreds of nobles to live at Versailles
Nobles kept busy with elaborate rituals surrounding Louis
The Levée
Increased royal authority in two ways:
Made the nobility dependent on Louis
Took them away from their homes so the intendants had more power
Kept them under Louis watchful eye

14. War: The Key to Absolutism
Why does war aid in absolutism?
Securing loyalty
Professionalization of military
Louis XIV’s Wars: aiming for the universal monarchy
War of Devolution ( ): Aix-la-Chapelle
Dutch War ( ):Nijmegen Franche-Comte
War of the League of Augsburg ( ): Rijswijk France must return most of their gains

16. How does he pay for war? Jean Baptiste Colbert and the Tax Problem
Nobility and the Estates General
Tax Farming
Who bears the burden of French Taxes?
Mercantilism
Wealth = Power
Encourages the growth of colonies
Governs colonial trade and manufacturing

17. New types of Conformity
Religious
Revocation of the Edict of Nantes
Jansenist persecution
Political
Using Versailles to tame the nobles
The Intendant system
The rise of the bourgeoisie

18. Louis’s Death (1715) & Legacy
Positive legacy:
France was a great power
Leader in European art and literature
Military leader of Europe
Had a strong empire of colonies
Negative legacy:
Left huge debt from wars and building Versailles
Resentment by the poor over taxes and Louis’s abuse of power eventually led to revolution

20. Central Europe: Austria
Louis XIV serves as powerful model
Hapsburgs significantly weakened by 30 Years War
prompts a reorganization of their governing style
Leopold I ( )
Retreat to establish absolute rule in Austria, centered at Vienna
Recruits and trains a permanent standing army
“Replaces” nobility that supported the 1618 Bohemian revolt
Vs. Ottomans for control of Hungary; establishes a dual monarchy

21. Central Europe: Prussia
Hohenzollern family becomes politically important with the creation of the independent state of Prussia.
Fredrick William (r ): “The Great Elector” also a Calvinist.
Junkers
What does it mean to be an army with a country, rather than a country with an army?

22. Prussian Militarism
King Fredrick William regularly appears in court in military uniform
18th century expansion
Abolition of luxury industries in Berlin in favor of military workshops

23. Prussia & the Austrian Empire: 1721-72