Absolute Monarchs in Absolute Monarchs in EuropeEurope

What is absolutism?What is absolutism?

Period of time when Europe’s Period of time when Europe’s monarchs got strongermonarchs got stronger• Monarchs ruled with absolute powerMonarchs ruled with absolute power

Divine Right TheoryDivine Right Theory• Idea that God had chosen the monarch to ruleIdea that God had chosen the monarch to rule

Everyone believes the theory during this Everyone believes the theory during this periodperiod

If you question the king, you question GodIf you question the king, you question God

Europe During the Europe During the Age of AbsolutismAge of Absolutism

Strengths of Absolute MonarchiesStrengths of Absolute Monarchies

EfficiencyEfficiency• Decisions are made by one personDecisions are made by one person

NationalismNationalism• Promoted a common culture and identityPromoted a common culture and identity

StabilityStability• The ruler stays in power until deathThe ruler stays in power until death

WealthWealth• No resistance means a large and No resistance means a large and

powerful empirepowerful empire

Weaknesses of Absolute Weaknesses of Absolute MonarchiesMonarchies

UndemocraticUndemocratic• No collaboration of ideasNo collaboration of ideas

Individual rightsIndividual rights• Often violatedOften violated

StabilityStability• If the ruler was poor, it could affect the If the ruler was poor, it could affect the

country for decadescountry for decades

How to achieve more power?How to achieve more power?

Monarchs gained power generally in Monarchs gained power generally in one of two ways:one of two ways:• Raising taxesRaising taxes

Increased their overall wealth and treasuriesIncreased their overall wealth and treasuries

• Waging warWaging war Victory often led to richesVictory often led to riches

Absolute Monarchy in FranceAbsolute Monarchy in France Religious Wars and Power StrugglesReligious Wars and Power Struggles

• Henry of Navarre-converted to Henry of Navarre-converted to CatholicismCatholicism

Survived the 1572 St. Bartholomew’s Day Survived the 1572 St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre (of Huguenots)Massacre (of Huguenots)

• Edict of Nantes (1598)Edict of Nantes (1598) Henry’s declaration of religious tolerationHenry’s declaration of religious toleration Allowed Catholics and Huguenots to live in Allowed Catholics and Huguenots to live in

peacepeace

Henry of Henry of NavarreNavarre

Louis XIV Comes to PowerLouis XIV Comes to Power Louis XIV, the Boy King Louis XIV, the Boy King

(1643)(1643)• Was not the true leader Was not the true leader

until 1661until 1661• Cardinal Marazin ran the Cardinal Marazin ran the

countrycountry Louis Weakens the Louis Weakens the

Noble’s AuthorityNoble’s Authority• Excluded the Nobles from Excluded the Nobles from

his councilhis council

The Sun King’s Grand StyleThe Sun King’s Grand Style

King Louis spent much money on his King Louis spent much money on his personal life (servants, food, etc.)personal life (servants, food, etc.)• Especially the Palace at VersaillesEspecially the Palace at Versailles

Louis Controls the NobilityLouis Controls the Nobility• Forced Nobles to be at the palaceForced Nobles to be at the palace

Making them dependant on the KingMaking them dependant on the King Forced them from their homesForced them from their homes

Patronage of the ArtsPatronage of the Arts• Palace was the center of European artsPalace was the center of European arts

The Palace at Versailles

The Palace at VersaillesThe Palace at Versailles

Bedroom of Louis XIV

Death of Louis XIV and LegacyDeath of Louis XIV and Legacy

Louis died in 1715Louis died in 1715• Positive LegacyPositive Legacy

France much more powerfulFrance much more powerful At the top of art, literatureAt the top of art, literature Military leader of EuropeMilitary leader of Europe

• Negative LegacyNegative Legacy Constant warfare and construction Constant warfare and construction Deep debtDeep debt Unfair tax system Unfair tax system

Central Monarchs ClashCentral Monarchs Clash

The Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648)The Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648)• Fought between Protestants (Hapsburgs) and Fought between Protestants (Hapsburgs) and

Catholics in the Holy Roman EmpireCatholics in the Holy Roman Empire• Naval warfare expanded its destructionNaval warfare expanded its destruction• Helped to shape colonial formation of future Helped to shape colonial formation of future

nationsnations• First 12 years, Protestants are successfulFirst 12 years, Protestants are successful• Next 18 years, Catholics eventually gain the Next 18 years, Catholics eventually gain the

advantageadvantage

Hapsburg Crest – Hapsburg Crest – Dual Headed EagleDual Headed Eagle

Spain Austria

The Thirty Years’ War

The Peace of WestphaliaThe Peace of Westphalia

Ends the Thirty Years’ WarEnds the Thirty Years’ War• Hapsburgs of Spain and Austria weakenedHapsburgs of Spain and Austria weakened• France was strengthenedFrance was strengthened• Religious wars in Europe endedReligious wars in Europe ended• German princes were independent of HREGerman princes were independent of HRE• Peace negotiation to end war startedPeace negotiation to end war started

Beginning of Modern StatesBeginning of Modern States• Ended the idea of a Catholic empireEnded the idea of a Catholic empire

Russian HistoryRussian History Russia Contrasts with EuropeRussia Contrasts with Europe

• EconomicallyEconomically Still heavily reliant on serfdomStill heavily reliant on serfdom

• SociallySocially Mongols kept Russia isolated from Mongols kept Russia isolated from

Renaissance and Age of ExplorationRenaissance and Age of Exploration

• GeographicallyGeographically Ports froze during winterPorts froze during winter Size of Russia was a problemSize of Russia was a problem

• Religious differencesReligious differences Europe: Catholic or ProtestantEurope: Catholic or Protestant Russia: OrthodoxRussia: Orthodox

The Absolute Rulers of RussiaThe Absolute Rulers of Russia The First CzarThe First Czar

• Ivan IV (“The Terrible”)Ivan IV (“The Terrible”) became czar in 1533became czar in 1533 Took control over the Took control over the

noblesnobles

• Rule by TerrorRule by Terror Police force organized to Police force organized to

track down and murder track down and murder “traitors” to Ivan“traitors” to Ivan

Killed many nobles Killed many nobles (boyars) and gave the land (boyars) and gave the land to new, more loyal noblesto new, more loyal nobles

The Absolute Rulers of Russia The Absolute Rulers of Russia (cont)(cont)

Rise of the RomanovsRise of the Romanovs• Ivan IV’s death (1584) “Time of Ivan IV’s death (1584) “Time of

Troubles” – nobles struggling for powerTroubles” – nobles struggling for power• 1613 Michael Romanov was chosen as 1613 Michael Romanov was chosen as

the next czarthe next czar Romanov Dynasty 1613-1917Romanov Dynasty 1613-1917

Peter the Great Comes to PowerPeter the Great Comes to Power1689-17251689-1725

Peter visits the Peter visits the WestWest• Wanted to learn Wanted to learn

about European about European customs and customs and manufacturing manufacturing techniquestechniques

Peter Rules AbsolutelyPeter Rules Absolutely

Peter’s ReformsPeter’s Reforms• Russian Orthodox Church under state controlRussian Orthodox Church under state control• Reduced the power of landownersReduced the power of landowners• Hired European military officersHired European military officers

Westernizing RussiaWesternizing Russia• Introduced potatoesIntroduced potatoes• Women’s status increasedWomen’s status increased• Nobles had to give up traditional dressNobles had to give up traditional dress• Advanced education Advanced education

Peter Rules AbsolutelyPeter Rules Absolutely

Establishing St. PetersburgEstablishing St. Petersburg• Wanted to establish a seaportWanted to establish a seaport

Make it easier to get to EuropeMake it easier to get to Europe Warm water port – would not freeze in Warm water port – would not freeze in

winterwinter

• Built on a swampBuilt on a swamp• 25-100K people died to build the city25-100K people died to build the city• Became a very important port cityBecame a very important port city

St. PetersburgSt. PetersburgThe Cathedral of the Spilled Blood

The English Civil WarThe English Civil War

War Topples a KingWar Topples a King• Parliament tried to limit the powers of Parliament tried to limit the powers of

King Charles I – starts a war insteadKing Charles I – starts a war instead• English Civil War (1642-1649)English Civil War (1642-1649)• Royalists (Cavaliers) vs. RoundheadsRoyalists (Cavaliers) vs. Roundheads• Puritan Roundheads wonPuritan Roundheads won

Tried, convicted and executed Charles ITried, convicted and executed Charles I• Never had a monarch been tried and executedNever had a monarch been tried and executed

English Civil War (cont)English Civil War (cont)

Oliver Cromwell’s RuleOliver Cromwell’s Rule• General during the war who now led the General during the war who now led the

countrycountry• Established a republican governmentEstablished a republican government• Had to squash a rebellion in IrelandHad to squash a rebellion in Ireland

Puritan MoralityPuritan Morality• Sought to reform societySought to reform society• Abolish sinful activities – sports, theaterAbolish sinful activities – sports, theater• Religious toleration for all except CatholicsReligious toleration for all except Catholics• Cromwell ruled until death, gov’t collapsedCromwell ruled until death, gov’t collapsed

The Restoration and RevolutionThe Restoration and Revolution King Charles IIKing Charles II

• Restored the Monarchy of Restored the Monarchy of EnglandEngland

• Reformed the legal Reformed the legal systemsystem

King James IIKing James II• King James offended King James offended

many b/c of his many b/c of his CatholicismCatholicism

• Parliament worried of a Parliament worried of a Catholic line of KingsCatholic line of Kings

The Restoration and RevolutionThe Restoration and Revolution King James II and the Glorious RevolutionKing James II and the Glorious Revolution

• Parliament asked James’s Protestant daughter Parliament asked James’s Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William to overthrow JamesMary and her husband William to overthrow James

• William invaded, and James fledWilliam invaded, and James fled• It was a Bloodless Revolution It was a Bloodless Revolution

Known as the Glorious Revolution Known as the Glorious Revolution

Limits on Monarch’s PowerLimits on Monarch’s Power

Bill of RightsBill of Rights• William and Mary established a constitutional William and Mary established a constitutional

monarchymonarchy• Limits on royal power increasedLimits on royal power increased• Establishment of the English Bill of RightsEstablishment of the English Bill of Rights

Cabinet System DevelopsCabinet System Develops• Became the link between the King and Became the link between the King and

Parliament - advisors to the KingParliament - advisors to the King• Leader of the majority party heads the cabinet Leader of the majority party heads the cabinet

– Prime Minister– Prime Minister

English Bill of RightsEnglish Bill of Rights

Ruler cannot:Ruler cannot:• Suspend Parliament’s Suspend Parliament’s

lawslaws• Levy taxes without Levy taxes without

permissionpermission• Interfere with Interfere with

freedom of speechfreedom of speech• Penalize a citizen Penalize a citizen

who criticizes the who criticizes the KingKing

• THE ENDTHE END