Austria, Prussia &

Russia

In the Age of Absolutism

Austria

The Hapsburgs

Austrian Hapsburgs = HRE

Spanish Hapsburgs

Problem: Both collapsed by late 17th C. Peace of Westphalia War of Spanish Succession

House of Austria – Goal: build new empire

Problems with Turks

Constant conflict w/ Ottoman Empire (Turkey)

Turkish Wars: late 17th C. Ottomans Austria Louis XIV supported Turks (Turks in East Austria,

France attacked in West)

Help from the East

Coalition of Polish, Russian Austrian & Pope Beat back Turks Treaty of Karlowitz – Austria gained land

Victorious Jan Sobieski (Poland) – painting in Vatican

Prince Eugene of Savoy

Military leader – saved Hapsburg empire

Reorganized Army (like Louis XIV – structure & pay)

Attacked Turks again – took more land

Make Up of Empire

Serfdom – Feudal Estates Left alone as long as they:

Paid taxes Supplied troops

Diets Local Not national

Religion in Austrian Empire

Repressed Protestants Took lands Burned homes 200,000 left & went to neighboring countries

Austrian Rulers

Tried to control empire

People viewed their leaders as kings of indiv. territories

Charles VI – Hapsburg Emperor Daughter: Marie-Theresa

Maria Theresa

Pragmatic Sanction of 1713

All diets and leaders agreed to regard the Hapsburg territories as indivisible and recognize only one line of heirs.

All kingdoms would be passed intact to a single Habsburg heir (male OR female)

Prussia

Hohenzollerns

15th – 16th C. – family ruled parts of Eastern Germany Electors of Brandenburg Dukes of Prussia Small holdings along Rhine

Frederick William

The Great Elector

r. 1640-1688

Determined to: Unify his 3 provinces Enlarge territory Create a permanent army

Anti-Louis XIV

Religion: Calvinist Welcomed 20,000 Huguenots (Edict of Font.)

Finances: Fiscally frugal

Wars: Against Louis XIV

Prussian Military

Need: Small scattered states No natural boundaries for protection

FW-TGE deal w/ Junkers (landed nobility of Brandenburg-Prussia) In exchange for allowing king to collect taxes,

Junkers got: Complete control over enserfed peasants Exempt from taxes

Consolidating Power

FWTGE

crushed opposition to his power

Consolidated bureaucracy

Taxes him directly

Result Junkers power declined as FWTGE had

Financial independence Superior forces

State revenues tripled 1688: pop 1 mil supported peacetime army of

30,000

King Frederick Wm I

Grandson of FWTGE

r. 1713-1740

“The Soldier’s King”

Established Prussian absolutism

Transformed Pr. into military state

Military State

By 1740: 12th in Euro. Pop. 4th largest Army in Europe

Best in Europe, but…

Made possible by: Forced conscription 1713: consc. declared “life-long” (many

fled/injured self to avoid)

Military State (cont.)

1733: Prussian men must Train in military Serve in reserve

Junkers: led army (commanded peasants on & off estates)

Result Fred Wm I Maintained army size AND ag. production Created rigid, highly disciplined society Never really used army, but maintained balance

of power

Prussian Absolutism in a Nutshell

Policies of Fred Wm I + harsh peasant bondage + Junker tyranny = foundation for highly militaristic state

“Prussia, is not a state with an army, but an army with a state.” - Mirabeau

Russia

Ivan the Terrible

The Rise of Peter the

Great

video – TAKE NOTES

Discussion to follow on video & PSD on PTG