AP EURO

Unit #2 - Absolutism

Lesson #5German Powers

Essential Questions1. In what ways were the Hapsburgs and

Hohenzollerns different?

2. How were Locke and Hobbes reacting to political events?

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Holy Roman Empire1. How did the Thirty Years War reduced them to

nothing more than a shell of power?2. How did the impact of the Thirty Years War make

it impossible for Germans to take center stage for a century?

3. How will the Thirty Years War open the stage for a smaller power “with spunk” to dare to become an equal?

4. The empire had been run by the Hapsburgs from Austria; Austria will need somewhere weak to dominate – suggestions?

Hapsburg Family

• Associate them with Austrian monarchy (1438-1740)

• The most powerful region in all of the Empire• Ultra Catholic

• For generations, the HRE was always a Hapsburg– They had the wealth– They had the power– They were bent on controlling all Germans

Hapsburg Family• Known for having taken arranged marriages to a

whole new level• exploiting unions between European royal families

with the aim of forming new alliances and earning new territories

• Their motto was simple and straightforward: “Let others wage wars, but you, happy Austria, shall marry.”

Considered one of the top 5 most influential families in history of the world

Ferdinand II

• r.1619-1637• (reminder: 30 Years War: 1618-1648)• He kinda started the 30 Years War• Eliminated the Protestants in Austrian held

lands during the Thirty Years War.

• What does this say about the Hapsburgs?

Ferdinand III• r. 1637-1657• Centralized the government• Maintained a large standing army• No more internal conflicts

• Of what is this army the beginnings?• What will this do to their image?

Hapsburgs

• Turned power East• Hungary, Balkans and beyond

• Who will the come into conflict with?

• Defeated Ottomans 1699 in Hungary and Transylvania

• Most of Hapsburg lands located outside the Empire• Diverse languages and cultures – had to make deals

with Nobility

War of Spanish Succession

• 1703-1714• Two most powerful families• Spanish Charles had no sons• Next closest heir was grandsons – about equal• Ferdinand Hapsburg’s grandson• Louis XIV’s grandson, Philip

Hungarian Nobility• Resisted Hapsburg absolutism• Hapsburgs allowed them some autonomy – for

a short time• Hapsburgs defeated the, but still had to allow

for some Hungarian independence• Became zealously Catholic• Completely intolerant

• Vienna – became center for culture in the region – Palace at Schonbrunn (like Versailles)

PRUSSIA

HOHENZOLLERN• Disjointed lands• United by family control

Frederick William, Great Elector• 1640-1688• Determined to unite three provinces– Imperial electorate of Brandenburg– Prussia (run by Dukes of Prussia)– Scattered holdings on Rhine River

• Brandenburg and Prussia – Run by Junkers (nobles)

• Powerful man – built up military to 40,000• Allowed Junkers to enserf population• One million population with HUGE army

Frederick I, King of Prussia

• r. 1688-1713• Son of FW, Great Elector• Very cultured• Built palaces, patronized arts, built Univ.• Lived “well”• Offered the Prussian army to assist HRE in War

of Spanish Succession• In return, HRE allowed title: “KING IN PRUSSIA”

Frederick William I• r. 1713-1740• “the soldiers king”• Complete centralization of the State• True Prussian Absolutism• Intensely militaristic; wore uniform• Disciplined life of a soldier• Transformed Prussia into a military state• Eliminated the last of local self-government• Exceptionally loyal and obedient bureacacy• 12 largest population in Europe; 4th largest army• Best equipped, most powerful; precision and dislipline

Frederick II (The Great)

• r. 1740-1786• Young• Immediately attacked Austria upon ascending

to throne• Upset Pragmatic Sanction (Maria Theresa)• Started War of Austrian Succession